Figure 1.--.
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Figure 1.--. |
I suppose it might seem a little unbelievable nowadays but in my time at school, late 1950s and early 60s, uniform was a totally constant factor. Certainly at my own boarding school, we had very little in the way of anything else. My own school’s definition of ‘casual clothing’ was the privilege of being allowed to change into Grey Corduroy Shorts, House Shoes (for most of us brown "T"-bar sandals) and to also remove our ties. (This
privilege could be withheld as a form of punishment) This form of dress was only acceptable after evening meal and prep and it could only be worn in the dormitory or common rooms, e.g. Games Room. If one wished to go (or was summoned to) another ‘public’ part of the school, then one was obliged to dress properly. Even with the foregoing relaxation, ‘Stockings will remain correctly worn at all times!’ Yes even the pyjamas were of a regulation type as well as the underwear. And the reason I suppose is found in the school uniform regulation which stated, ‘All items of clothing must be clearly labelled with the owners name and be capable of being processed through the school laundry system. Special washing instructions cannot be catered for in any way. To that end it is suggested that only the recommended items of clothing supplied by the official school outfitters be purchased.’
As one progressed to the status of senior boy, it was very unlikely that infringements with respect to underwear would be reported, however if you decided to bring back nylon brief underwear, you would have to wash it out by hand yourself as the laundry would not touch it. You might also consider the effect that a pair of lets say bright red non colour
fast pants would have in a large vat of a hundred other boys small wear. At that time no one in the fourth form or below would ever have dared to flout these rules. It was considered a ‘perk’ by the fifth and sixth formers and these were also the forms, which supplied the prefects. Sixth formers were also allowed the privilege of wearing ‘mufti’. A form of quite clearly defined non-uniform clothing. We used to say that when you got to the sixth form you could go out dressed just like your dad. This privilege could also be withheld and this actually happened to me as a seventeen year old (along with a visit to the Headmaster in PE Kit) for being caught with two other boys drinking under age in a local pub. Also ‘gated’ until the end of term.
had reached my full height of 5ft 9inches by the time I was 14 years old. I still wore grey corduroy shorts in my room in the summer right up until I left school and so did many of the other senior boys. I can remember many of my school chums still wearing shorts in school uniform at well over 6 feet tall.