I never quite got used to the idea of going back into short
trousers. But in shorts I was and I remained thus dressed
until I
turned 15. By that time I was a fairly big lad, who look very
incongruous, even, with my similar dressed class mates. It was with great
relief, at 15, to at long last get my desired long trousers for
school. The rule at school was that you could wear longs when you
turned 15. That was not always the rule. Some schools did it by
form and others by the boy's height. The neighboring
Grammar School, for example, had a
height rule
Well, since this was a very important occasion for me, I am completely
baffled that I cannot remember the circumstances of my first longs.
Certainly, I have no recollection of going to the store for them, or trying
them on. Nor can I really recall Mam bring them home for me. However, I am
almost positive that these to where grey flannel long trousers, which is
rather odd also, being that my last short trousers were Terylene. This, is
somewhat of a guess, but from the above facts, I am inclined to think my
first longs were 'hand-me-downs' from my older brother. It would certainly
explain why I cannot remember buying them and, why at this time still
flannel.
Figure 1.--Here I am in my long trousers. Making girl friends was a bit easier with longs. They took you a bit more seiously I think. |
They were certainly baggy, no creases and a bit itchy. I felt very
odd in longs. In truth, I don't think they were nearly as smart, or as
comfortable as my last short trousers, but no way was I going to confess
that!! Once I went into longs, for the second time, I never wore short
pants again, even on hot summer days. Indeed, I think I was almost paranoid
about wearing shorts, even as a young adult. Not many men did wear shorts in
those days, if I'm not mistaken, probably because they were still considered
juvenile garments.
One, nice memory, is getting my first 'grown up' suit with long trousers at
about 16/17. Perhaps as a treat, Dad (and not Mam as in the past) took me
to a gents outfitter in the city, recommended by Dr. Porteous (Graham's
father) called "Caslaw, Haytor and Tate". This was charcoal grey, which was
made to measure, and, I had to revisit the shop when it was half made up for
a further fitting. I remember I had to get made to measure because it proved
impossible to find a 'off the peg' suit in those days, for a young man, as
tall and thin waisted as me. I was 40" chest, 30" waist and 6ft tall. When I
returned, to collect my completed suit, I was allowed to go alone and I can
remember looking in the window at all the local school uniforms. This shop
was rather posh in my view and, probably, supplied local private school
uniforms. I was very pleased with my new suit.Even so,I did think the
colourful uniforms looked very nice.
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