It has been over 40 years now, but I still remember my school
uniform clearly. Its funny how some things stick with you despite
the passage of time.
I remember going to the store with mam to buy my new school
uniform. Not perhaps not as vividly as my final visit. Both occasions
were miserable for me at the time, the last, because I really thought I
might get some long trousers, the second because I was being put back into
short pants after thinking I had outgrown them.
This first event was
probably the worst, even though I was younger, because I had not worn
shorts for some time and I can certainly recall trying them on in the
shop. It was really horrible when I put my legs in only to see them
reappear from the
other end! I can remember my Mam and the assistant viewing me from all
angles deciding what they looked like. They should have asked me; I knew
what I looked like! Although I am not so certain about this, I feel they
were on the big side, my Mam being of the "he's growing so quick, they'll
soon fit" brigade. More than one pair was bought, plus some khaki shorts.
Back home over the next few days I dreaded the start of my new school
when I would have to venture out in these pants, made worse by the fact,
that I still possessed more than one or two pairs of old longs. I was not
allowed to wear these once I went back to short trousers, except, to play
in during winter, just to wear them out I suppose.
Incidentally, from your expanded site I was very interested reading
about grey school "rugby style" shirts, which I also wore, but had forgotten
about. Mine, again, were undoubtedly hand downs from my brother. They were
grey and a very thick, itchy material. Ugh!!
My Secondary Modern generally speaking was not real strict about the
uniform, black blazer and their own badge,any
shirt, black and grey tie and, grey trousers. My form were only required to be
similar to the Grammar in one aspect ... those awful short trousers!
The only aspect of the school uniform that my school was really strict
about was the shorts for our pants. I think this is because it was the
headmaster at the Grammar School insisted. We used the facilities at
the Grammar, thus my school more or less had to conform to the regulations
there. I don't know the details, but I believe that is the situation.
The school was fairly
rigid regarding some aspects of uniform. Blazers with school badge were
definitely required and, you had to wear your school tie, but what happened
if you did not I cannot recall. Some boys in my school did not comply, as I
can remember individuals in 'ordinary' clothes, but looking back, I suspect
this was because of financial constraints. It would be certainly the case
that some of my generation was poor enough not to be able to afford new
clothes. (In junior school, when I was about 10, I can remember one boy
coming to school with no underwear or coat during winter months.) I do not
know what happened in these circumstances. However, I cannot recall seeing
any Grammar boys without uniform, a good indicvator of their better circumstances
in life.
Again, I do not know who's idea it was that our form had to wear
short pants
like the Grammar boys (but if I ever find out…..) I suspect that as we
shared some of their school facilities they did not want any contention
about uniform. May be it was just a courtesy to the Grammar authorities. I
would say that it was a general feeling amongst all us boys, Grammar and M
forms, that short trousers were undesirable. I cannot recall one boy who
liked wearing shorts. I must admit when I first went into longs I did find
them uncomfortable and irritating, but they made you look grown up, so you
suffered in silence. Interestingly, HBC supports this general unpopularity
regarding this fashion; short pants appear almost universally disliked, at
least by the wearers of my generation.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main Secondary Modern page]
[Return to the Main English page]
[Introduction]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Biographies]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[Movies]
[Activities]
[Countries]
[Boys' Clothing Home]