Figure 1.--

Sunday was a special day for seceral reasons. I don’t think we were a particularly religious family but we did all go to Church on a Sunday morning, though I’d usually do just the first part of Church before going to Sunday School. This was a time when you had to dress up. I was very aware that my appearance and behaviour at such times was directly reflected with regard to who my father was and his rank. Afterwards we wee free to play. But then there was our evening bath. Before we had a water heater, daily baths were not practical. Sunday evening was always bath and hair wash night and we children used to get called in early from whatever we playing. Nobody ever wanted to be the first to be called in even if we all knew each of us was to get the same fate as you would be made fun of by the others about having to go to bed earlier than them.

Church and Dressing Up

I don’t think we were a particularly religious family but we did all go to Church on a Sunday morning, though I’d usually do just the first part of Church before going to Sunday School. This was a time when you had to dress up. I was very aware that my appearance and behaviour at such times was directly reflected with regard to who my father was and his rank. At school nobody cared who or what your father was but when on base it was very different, even more so when off the Quarters (residential housing) past the Station gates. Wow betide any child who showed their parents up! Irrespective of their parents rank. With me it was just the implied thought; I rarely earnt a smack but we kids knew our place. Sunday meant a morning bath and hair wash, clean white shirt with a tie (I never wore one to school at this age), pressed shorts, knee socks and polished (by Dad or my brother for me) shoes or in the Summer sandals. I may have once or twice worn trousers but it certainly was not usual. Later I also had a smart jacket to wear. Shane wore the same as me so would have been in shorts at least in the Spring to early Autumn until he was about 13 or 14 but he boarded from after his first year at senior school so did not come home every weekend. I really don’t remember much about this as at the time it was just the way it was and we boys really didn’t give much thought about what we were expected to wear. We would never have won even if we had dared question or answer back to our parents. It was always an occasion to dress up so I suppose I enjoyed it. I certainly did not resent or dislike what I wore… so long as they did not look like girls clothes! LOL I must have been going through a rebellious stage as I can remember being told off because I’d refused to wear my school sandals and wanted to wear my shoes instead. I no doubt lost the argument despite the attempted tantrum. All school shoes & sandals were Clarks as they provided a proper fitting service and must have cornered the entire children’s market.

Sunday Play

Bath Night

Sunday evening was always bath & hair wash night and we children used to get called in early from whatever we playing. Nobody ever wanted to be the first to be called in even if we all knew each of us was to get the same fate as you would be made fun of by the others about having to go to bed earlier than them. Late bedtimes gave excellent bragging rights. Who’d have guessed the whopping lies told to save face! In bathtime routines all the kids in the road would be subject to pretty much the same regime, it was not just Shane and I who would get called in. There were no showers; the first time I ever used one was when visiting my Aunt when I was about 10 and she made me and my cousin share. I had shared a bath before but sharing a shower made me feel a bit exposed… for all of a minute, especially as my Aunt stayed in the bathroom with us to make sure we behaved, washed and didn’t waste the water by splashing or taking too long. My parents would go in and out of the bathroom while I used it, wash my hair etc and I would dry off in the living room with nothing on. The living room was the warmest room in the house. Children back then were far less self or body conscious. Until I was around 11ish or so, I was not bothered about others within the family seeing me with nothing on. We never had a shower installed in our house until I was 12 or 13. Hair washing was accomplished with a jug using the bathwater. I remember being rationed on the amount of water in the bath. I liked them deep but we were a fair few years off having hot water on demand, central heating etc. An immersion heater in the airing cupboard on top of the stairs had to supply the hot water. I’d often share with my older brother or we’d have to take turns with the same water. Not wanting the dirty water or to miss TV sharing was the best option.

Created: 6:50 PM 3/28/2007
Last updated: 1:48 AM 3/31/2007