Figure 1.--

Once back in England we moved around a couple of times usually staying with relatives as my Father had not received his latest posting details yet. He worked on a couple of Stations whilst we lived reasonably close by. The schools I attended did not have formal uniforms and the conventions varied from school to school. Thus there was some overlap between what I wore at home and at school. Several topics occur to me here. One interesting topic is the play clothes that my brother and I wore as wll as our mates. We also had dress-up outfits. I recall in some detail our bed-time and bath routien at home.

Week Day Routine

We'd also make the fire in the morning and take turns going outside to collect the coal or coke for the fire which not only provided the heat but also the hot water. Later we had a house with electric heaters and thought that the height of luxury especially as it used to be horrible having to leave a warm spot in the living room to go out in the cold and dark to fill the coal scuttle. I would have been about 12 before we had a house with gas central heating. Mothers did not usually go out to work but mine had a part-time job during school-time on the Station and later in a local shop. from 11 I had my own house key but was never left alone for longer than an hour at that age. I can't remember having to get changed after school until I was 11 when it was expected by my Mum. All underwear and socks had to go straight in the wash along with shirts. School trousers tended to last several days. PE kit had to go in the wash after use that day. Washing was done in a tub washing machine. I think automatics were starting to appear but were very expensive and we certainly did not know anyone who had one. Drying was done on the line or on stands by the heaters or near the fire. One of our jobs was pegging out and bringing in the laundry. All mealtimes were eaten around the kitchen or dining-room table. Sitting in front of the TV eating was not something we did until I was in my 20's. At school we would also sit at a table to eat, even snacks. We were not allowed to eat in the street other than ice creams. There were a steady stream of ice cream vans doing the rounds on an evening and weekends with various cornets, lollies and specialities like screwballs which included some bubble gum in the bottom. We were never allowed chewing gum so this was one way of getting some! At the NAAFI we would buy Lucky Bags with our pocket money. these would include various 'penny' sweets, sherbet, a plastic toy and a bar of chocolate such as fudge. We escaped washing and drying after meals as our parents did that together but most children had that as one of their jobs. prior to that upstairs rooms were heated with paraffin heaters on the landing and we had electric blankets on our beds to warm them before we went up. Try as we might socks were not allowed to be worn in bed! We never had double glazing until I was at least 14 or 15 years old.

School Life

Dad had several shorttime postings when we first returned to Britain. This meant that I sampled more schools. Not being at either of them particularly long and only being about 6 or 7 at the time there is not much to say other than it was always good to be the centre of attention as the new boy, especially as these schools were not populated by Station Brats (occasionally called Runway Brats) so my lifestyle was something very different. Having a deep tan, blonde hair and (to them) a strange accent all added to the fun. I attended several different state primary schools. My early memories are a liitle vague, but as I began to set them down on paper, more came to me than I expected. For some reason I seem to recall PE more than classroom activities. I started at a state secondary, but was not very happ there so my parents transferred me to a day prep school and then I began to board. My brother and I often were in the same schools, but he began to board at a prep school before I did, so we were separated for a few years.

Play and Play Clothes

I recall a good bit about our play time. In season we would join the older children such as my brother in the local fields and build dens inside the haystacks. The teenage boys would heave the bales about and make all sorts of tunnels to explore inside the stacks and we'd climb up on to the top of them. We would have been given a really good hiding if our parents had found out what we were doing because it was so dangerous and because it was (unintentionally) damaging the farmers crop. I can remember being given my first bike when I was about 9 years old. I had wanted a Chopper like the bigger boys and one of my friends had but I received the smaller version, a Tomahawk, even if it did not have the fancy gear stick I really loved it and it became my prized possession.Sometimes my brother and his friends would take me and a couple of my friends to the local woods. We'd go on our bikes and end up maybe 3-4 miles from home. Here we would climb trees, build dens, play tag and hide and seek as well as explore the old gun emplacements and bunkers as well as pick blackberries. Living on base meant that there were always other children to play with and there was usually a play area with large grassed area to run around on with a set of swings, roundabout and slide to play on. when around 11 I remember playing in a nearby quarry collecting frog spawn, tadpoles etc and generally exploring, this was one of a few places where we would run up against other lads and had the occasional fight but skirmishes were usually avoided or relatively minor affairs. Playing out like this we'd have our play clothes. These were older shorts, trousers, shirts or jumpers that were usually not good enough for school anymore and worn with wellies, old shoes or plimsolls. The concept of trainers was yet to come. When younger balaclavas and woollen gloves were often worn by younger boys but they were considered a bit sissy as you grew older, ie at the old age of 8 or 9 up!!! LOL Then even wearing a coat was seen as being soft.

Music

I was never expected to learn an instrument when in Cyprus. Back in the uK at primary school we all had to buy and learn to play the recorder. Probably the devils own musical instrument other than violins in the hands of similarly aged children! We had to practice endlessly and I'm sure my parents must have reverted to ear plugs to cope. At the time I thought I could play but in reality music was never going to be my fortay! Talk about understatements! At primary we also learnt to play the glokenspiel, tambourines and other percussion instruments. My music teachers must have either been deaf or highly tollerant. Once a boarder we were very strongly encouraged to join the choir, orchestra etc and there was also a marching band within the CCF. Music was a big thing but the staff soon learn't that despite my attempts at piano and then drums I had absolutely no sense of timing or tune ad I was left alone to listen to others, cassette tapes and records (no CDs until well past leaving school). Shane was in the band but I was never good enough or interested enough in music for that. the school band performed all over the place and even went away on tour. He was probably in the orchestra as well but don't know for sure. I love music but unlike my brother who seemed to have a talent in that regard I was never will be a musician. Shane was fanatical about Showaddywaddy well before they became famous. I never took to his obsession with music. In the late 70s he was into punk but only the music as there was no way on earth he would ever have been allowed to wear the fashion etc!!! We were both members of the CCF at different times which was good fun.

Saturdays

On a Saturday we used to go into the local town shopping. Not always but often good behaviour would be rewarded with a toy car or similar gift which was then the centre of attention when we arrived home and my father watched the score draws. We'd then have tea before Shane and I would get ready for bed before sitting with our parents to watch TV or play board games until bedtime. We never had sleepovers but occasionally if a neighbour was going out for the night their children would come round after tea, also already for bed, to be babysat. They'd sometimes stay overnight. We also did the same if our parents went out but such times were not often. When outside we always had to be polite and give up our seats on the bus, hold doors open and things like that. On shopping trips we did not dress up but had to wear smart clean clothes rather than play clothes. These were just the same things but less worn.

Sundays

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.

Weddings

I remember the white clothes I wore as a boy. Boys didn't wear white much, except PE suits and white shirts, among other colors, for school. There was one outfit boys might wear, with some resistance--formal wedding outfits. I remember in particular a page boy outfit I and my cousins wore and really disliked. At first we were going to wear kilts. In retrospect, the kilts would have been preferable.I've just followed this link on the film "Pennies from Heaven and read the comment reference costumes here. I thought the comments from 'an English reader' possibly worthy of further comment.

Holidays

In the holidays Shane and I were usually out playing but were sensible enough to be left on the days my Mother worked. Although we used to play out with friends I can't remember any trouble with neighbours, ( they usually all kept an eye on everyone else's kids anyway) and no complaints about 'gangs' in the play park or around the place.

Youth Club

Shane used to attend a youth club when were in East Anglia.

Reader Comments

A reder writes about Richard's account, "Just to say how much I appreciate Richard making the time to pass on his memories to HBC. I have vivid and happy (mostly!) memories of my own boyhood and like to compare them with others no matter what time period or country. As expected (perhaps!) those here in England chime with me most and also around the time that I was growing up - Richard may be ten years later than me and he is of a different background but much of what he says does stimulate memories (although I shall not add yet more to what I have already but I *could* tell you stories about cross country running - the "country" in my case being the banks of the River Thames and,like he recalls, running through housing estates!). I enjoy all personal accounts and,as I think you say,that is a way of recording history that magazine accounts and so on never will - one up for HBC and those who do take the time to write in! Also the background is fascinating and also relevant (in my opinion).The plans for "two story bungalows" Richard mentions in his brief description of his time in Cyprus is so interesting and we had to read "My Family and Other Animals" in the first year of Grammar School.I loved it but most London boys found it "boring" - Richard at least got *some* of that life! Oh well - mainly to thank him for contributing and your for recording this fascinating real history of clothing (and a lot else too!)."