Club Foyer>Uniform gaberdine raincoat>
Dear Lorraine,
I have been reading some of the messages on your pages, and find many of them
fascinating. In particular, I love to read of people's early memories, especially
of wearing gaberdine and riding macs.
My brother and I grew up in a small village, where there was no village school.
The nearest state school was about half an hour's walk away, but a lady called
Mrs Bolton ran a private prep school in her house, for about a dozen pupils.
My brother and I went there, and I still remember it well. The uniform was
a grey gymslip (shorts for my brother), white blouse and green cardigan. We
also had a green gaberdine with a hood, which had to be worn every day of the
year, buttoned up and belted. When my brother started, he was the only boy
there, and had to wear a hooded mac like the rest of us! He never seemed bothered,
but I think he was happy enough not to have to wear a hood when he went to
the High School. I loved my hooded gaberdine, and would always wear it buttoned
to the neck in the summer, when we were usually allowed to leave the top button
undone. Winter time was my favourite, when I would have my face wrapped up
in a warm scarf inside my hood - and sometimes an extra scarf outside too,
if I got the chance!
At the High School, I had to wear a grey and navy uniform, with a grey gaberdine.
The school hat was a big wide brimmed affair, which I disliked, and I asked
Mummy if I could wear my hood instead. As the hat was quite expensive, she
agreed, but asked me if I really meant to wear a hood for five years. I actually
wrote a promise to Mummy and Daddy, and signed it, undertaking to wear my hood
and scarf every day for school without argument. I am pleased to say that I
managed it, too.
Going shopping with Mummy was wonderful, as I would happily dress myself in my green gaberdine under my grey one, all buttoned and belted up, with my hoods up and my mouth covered up, with my gloves and wellington boots on. I used to go out on my bicycle similarly dressed up, to the amusement of some of my friends, but they simply got used to my outfit. Indeed, one friend and I would go out for a ride together, both buttoned and hooded up, and we loved it.
I hope this is of interest - I still love my rainwear, but that is another letter's worth!
Kind regards,
Philippa.
Dear Philippa
Lovely to get your e-mail - thank you.Don't quite understand what made you double up for shopping though - did your mother insist or was it your idea? If yours, where did you get it from, I wonder?Hope it's a hint at the end that there is more to come!
Best wishes
LE
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