After the July 2007 Reunion, John Bailey updates us on changes in RLS uniform and apparel:-
So what has changed uniform-wise that we would notice ? Well firstly of course the school blazer is now black not blue, but that one's been done to death already on this list so I won't dwell on it. Personally I think the black blazer looks smart in a way which the blue ones never did - I thought the same when I was patiently waiting to reach 6th form so that I could wear one - but I don't want to start World War III so let's move on.
The School tie remains the same. ( The Pr*f*cts tie also follows the design familiar from my youth, although to my rheumy old eye it's not as well made as its predecessor - thankfully I just managed to avoid saying this to the H**d B*y on Saturday. ) It seems that only white shirts are now permitted , no more pale blue or mid-grey like we were allowed - although, leave us face it, those grey shirts were truly disgusting weren't they ? The afore-mentioned pale blue polo shirt with School Badge is also an item of uniform, for the Summer only it seems. Whether this is a Summer alternative to shirt and tie or whether it's an alternative to the blazer as well during the Summer term is unclear - however the photos in the prospectus imply the latter since nowhere is there a photo of a boy wearing both polo shirt and blazer.
Jumpers are still permitted but must be black (no more blue or grey) and must also "bear the school logo" i.e. the badge. Having looked closely at the photographs once again, there are one or two pictures of boys wearing their jumpers, and a rather nice little touch comes to light - the school badge on these jumpers appears in its older form, with all four arms of the cross of equal length, the three point of the crown at equal heights and the motto ribbon only gently curved. Perhaps someone actually does look into the files occasionally!
Sports kit has changed with the times as one would expect. Here the school colours are very definitely still blue and yellow ! Gym kit is now blue shorts and a blue t-shirt which once again bears the school badge, in the same format as that on the jumpers. The school football shirt is in the pattern adopted in the late 60's ( which will please a certain HM who still wears his ! ) that is to say a blue shirt with yellow colloar and cuffs. It is of course made from a polyester concoction like all modern footy kit. There appears to be no requirement to purchase cricket kit any more, which must save some parents unnecessary expense - even in my day those not of school team standard were only allowed to play cricket for half a term, due to the rigid insistence that we waste half a term doing s*dd*ng Athletics ( and no, I don't care if HM Dave Collins is watching.) Oddly though parents are now required to purchase a "reversible rugby shirt" although the prospe ctus gives no clue as to what this is used for.
( John Bailey
1963-70)
It was strange little shop, very small, was it sandwiched somewhere near
Fine Fare (which is now
Bob Tucker has finally put me out of my misery with: 'I think the little
shop at the top of the Market Place which sold RLS gear in the mid '50s was
called Jarvis's. (Derek Humphrey)
”Does anyone recall the blazer ripping incidents, when somebody would cut a
small incision about an inch long , 2 sides of a square, in other boys' blazers
? I remember a lot of us being "done", but never knew who was doing
it.” Yes, I do remember that, in fact I think I was "done
" myself at one stage. I
don't ever recall anyone's name being put in the frame for that - maybe not
surprising as there were too many angry parents out there for anyone to have
ever owned up. Do any other HMs have any light to thow on
this one ?? (John Bailey)
(re blazer ripping): I think the last day of Summer
Term was when this plague descended on our year. End of 5th year, some folks knew or at least
hoped that they would not be back for the 6th, others would I suppose reckon on
parents forking out for a black blazer for the next year. As to who did it,
well I could speculate about the usual suspects in our year. Some were in shreds by the time final
assembly took place. I think there were
indeed a few letters from angry parents, although I don't know if anyone was
caught or punished.
On the subject of black blazers, I suppose we were not tied to the usual
suppliers for these as they would have been a standard item in most shops, not
special like the blue ones. Then you
would need to get a school badge from somewhere. I think some boys may have re-used the badge
from their blue blazer. Did RLS supply
them with black background?I
had a Saturday job in Stones/Debenhams for a few
months, (about the time of the change of name as it happens). It was very useful to have a black blazer to
wear, though the school badge had to be removed on Saturdays. Somehow or other it would be reinstated for Monday
- Friday at RLS. (Tim Knights)
When it happened to us we were still wearing blue blazers, which would mean
it could not have been later than June 1968.
Sounds like someone revived the "tradition" for your 5th year,
Tim! Tim. K. went on: "On the
subject of black blazers, I suppose we were not tied to the usual suppliers for
these as they would have been a standard item in most shops, not special like
the blue ones. Then you would need to get a school badge from somewhere. I think some boys may have re-used the badge
from their blue blazer. Did RLS supply
them with black background?" In 1968 both Meakers
and Debenhams supplied a black badge for 6th for
blazers. In those days (unlike now) the
school took no direct part in supplying uniform (other than the Pr*f*cts ties.) Strangely I remember buying my badge from Meakers despite not only knowing that the Debenhams one was superior but actually working for Debenhams at the time (see below.) I think they ran out before term
started.... Oh, and I was quite possibly the only HM to
have bought my own 6th form blazer out of my own earnings. My stepmother did not approve of
"staying on at school" - not that it was any business of hers, but
that was enough to stop me pestering my Father for the money. Strangely, at that age I always had
ambitions to be self-sufficient ASAP. This is a concept which still fills my
own Son with terror at the age of 21. Tim
K. also wrote: "I had a Saturday job in Stones/Debenhams
for a few months, (about the time of the change of name as it happens)" Me too!
I worked there from early Summer 1968 until August 1970 when I left to
start my first real job. I had the
"privilege" of carting furniture around the top floor and to/from the
loading bay. In theory you can't have
worked there before 1970 because they wouldn't employ anyone under 16 - did the
name "Stones" really last that long?? (John Bailey)I believe that I
caused the school rules to be changed following my arrival at school one day -
probably 1967/8 - in regulation blazer, tie, cap etc., but sporting a rather
foul brick-red shirt. As I recall, the school rules didn't mention the colour
of the shirt, so I was not in breach; JPC threw a wobbly, but couldn't punish
me, although I was warned NOT to wear it again! Subsequently, the rules were
altered to require a white or grey shirt. Can any Hon Mems
(John Bailey, Keith Daultrey et al.) help me out?
(Martin Jacobson)
In 1968/69 Rule 5 read: "All boys must wear a school tie, school
blazer, grey flannel trousers, grey stockings if short trousers are worn and
black shoes. Pullovers, if worn, shall
be blue, grey or black and shall not obscure the tie. School caps must be worn by boys in the fifth
forms and below. Instead of a blue
school blazer boys in the sixth form may wear a black blazer with the appropriate
school badge." No mention that you had to wear a shirt at all! As long as
your tie was not obscured!!
There was a significant re-phrasing of the entire set of Rules in 1969/70 -
changes of words and structure but little change in spirit. The reference to
short trousers was abandoned. About time too. Then, in
1971/2, the Uniform Rule was promoted to number 2 and read "The wearing of
these items of school uniform is compulsory:
school blazer, school tie, PLAIN WHITE, CREAM, BLUE OR GREY SHIRT [my
capitals - Ed.], plain grey trousers and black shoes. Pullovers, if worn, are to be blue, grey or
black AND MUST NOT OBSCURE THE TIE [my capitals - Ed.]. Sixth formers may wear a black blazer with
the appropriate school badge."
There we are then. The moral is clearly
"Keep Martin Jacobson on your side - he's a man who gets things
changed!" (Andy Lee)
I recall wearing only grey or white shirts, grey my mother's choice (doesn't
show dirt/stains, you know what boys are), white mine, and I always assumed this
was cast in tablets of stone.
And in today's politically correct society why is it acceptable for women to
wear trousers but not for men to wear skirts, this is discrimination. Discuss.
(Chris Broadbridge)
Wasn't the fashion accessory that accompanied the cutaway collar the
"Windsor knot" in the tie? I remember being distinctly envious of
older boys who could fashion this symmetrical knot - such an improvement on the
old "gymslip sash" knot with which most pupils were satisfied. A boy in my year - Graham
(?) Watkins learnt the technique from his elder brother and gave break time
and lunchtime lessons to the rest of us.
I still use the Windsor knot having quite forgotten how to tie a tie any
other way! (David Maltby)
Chris Pearson wrote: "You needed a Windsor knot to cover the top shirt
button if like many of us, your school tie had shrunk
to bootlace proportions." There were two versions of the school tie that I
recall. The first that I had was made of some silky material and the quality
was crap! In no time at all these things
looked like old rags around your neck and even a Windsor knot couldn't help
them to look smart. The other type was a woven wool/terylene
mix that stood the test of time rather better.
These were ideal for the Windsor knot as long as you began it with a
VERY short end. (David Maltby)
You'll have read Andy's post saying that shirt colour didn't appear in the
1968-69 version of the rules, and indeed it doesn't in
the 1970-71 version on the web site either.
I don't know whether this is relevant or just the imaginings of a
diseased brain, but I seem to remember the "valid" colours appeared
in the Uniform list sent out to parents of boys joining the school for the
first time, and that the choice in 1963 was white, grey or pale blue. I can't
begin to imagine how evil the school tie looked with a brick-red shirt -
although a BP tie would have gone with it quite nicely! (John Bailey)
(John wrote of Jake allowing black blazers) The black blazer era was also a feature of George's reign (sorry Mike and others, to this day I cannot bring myself to call him Scruff although the nickname was in vogue while I was in school! To me he was always "George" and I was amazed to discover recently that to the staff he went by the name of "Reg"). Both fifth and sixth years were allowed the black blazers between 55 and 62 and it was even optional whether or not you had the school badge sewn onto the pocket. Some sixth formers even wore sports jackets - mostly sober brown checks, as I remember - without giving George any cause for grief. I don't ever recall any purge on standards of dress by him. Somewhere I have my 5th form school photo in which I am wearing a green sports jacket! (DGM)
I recall two competing
official uniforms in my time. Most boys had the Stones (Debenhams)
version which was a good blue, with bright yellow badge, and a thick soft
material. The competition was a thinner, harder material in faded blue colour.
Was that the Curtis version? Where was Curtis, &
what became of it? (John Hawkins)
I believe that in my time,
the official suppliers were Stones (Debenhams) and Meakers. (Vince)
The "Curtis" Blazer
came from Curtis in Hornchurch.. It was a magnificent
garment. A dark "royal" blue color with the
crest in thick (as compared to the thin Stones version)gold
thread. It was rather like the difference between O/R uniforms and officers
togs. These Curtis Blazers commanded a high price and were worn only by the
well-off. I believe they made a cap in similar material and again with the
thick emblem. The Stones caps were pretty shabby, they did however have the
advantage that you could bend them about and tuck the back under to let the cap
rest on the back of the head where it could scarcely be seen by anyone
approaching you from the front. Because of the shortage of ready cash etc. lots
of boys wore sports coats or similar garments with (or in many cases, without,)
the school badge sewn on to the top pocket. Grey trousers seemed to be the rule, I can't remember anyone in moleskin or any other such color or material. Rainwear was pretty much the standard
dark blue item with the belt and a pair of
Black blazers were fairly
common in my time (1951-59), though they were not restricted to Fifth and Sixth
Formers and I don't recall any edict 'allowing' them to be worn. There was a
requirement to wear School Caps and Ties (an open-necked shirt was permitted in
the Summer Term). In practice, I suspect that School Blazers were bought for
First Formers but, in place of the second or third replacement, a black blazer
was bought as a cheaper alternative. (JAS)
Sorry Folks but I must claim
the first black blazer at RLS, it went like this: If you had been to the School
pre-1939 you would have seen a 100% appearance in the regulation royal blue
uniform. As the war proceeded, however materials became more and more difficult
to obtain and I can remember the quality of the cloth deteriorating. There was
also the introduction of clothes rationing (a typical book of coupons is on
show in the Cabinet War rooms,
John Jennings piece about WW
II clothing and our exterior appearance at school is 100% correct. Upon being
awarded my scholarship to the RLS I received a listing of the required
clothing, even down to the black bathing trunks with white belt and chrome
buckle. Needless to say we did what we could to meet the specifications in
mid-1940, but with only 26 clothing coupons available, and with other
government regulations in effect, anything that wore out was not replaced with
"school uniform" clothing. In my final years I remember wearing a
khaki US Army shirt acquired I don't know where, short
grey pants, black shoes that had been repaired countless times and any
coat/jacket that I might have had (that still fitted me) by 1945/1946.
(Geoffrey Styles)
Then I started school, I was
so poor, my mother made my first, new, royal blue blazer. She embroidered the
badge by hand, a faithful copy of one she had bought earlier in Stone's of
Romford. Imagine my embarrassment on the first day to find that I was the only
one with 'Sempar Procedens'
spelled correctly! Clearly, she never had a PhD in Latin grammar. (David
Silverside)
One day my parents were
scanning the small ads. in the Recorder (which at that
time probably amounted to some 6-8 pages) and found that a Wanstead County High
jacket had become too small for its owner and was up for sale. A return trip on
a No.66 bus to the
John B said "Presumably
the same applies to Debenhams, too? When I was at the
school you could tell approximately how well off a boy's family was by looking
at their blazer - a Debenham (or Stones for the
oldies) blazer meant you were a rich bastard, Meakers
blazers were worn by the middle layer, and the urban poor got theirs from that
shop at the top of Romford Market whose name escapes me, and who couldn't make
the badge straight." Was Curtis of Hornchurch out of business by then? In
my day they were the cats whiskers of blazers. A deep
royal blue and magnificent fat gold cross and crown. I only ever had one of
those in 5 years. On joining I recall going to the school one Saturday and
picking up cap, tie and blazer from where they were being hawked in the small
dining room. They were not very good quality. (Mike Merry)
Sadly, Mike, it seems that
they were gone by then. I don't remember
that name on the list of suppliers. A
great shame too, if your description is anything to go by. I don't suppose they did a superior version
of the tie, too? (John Bailey)
During the 60s the suppliers
were Stones and Meakers. The majority of boys wore
Stones blazers, which were of a soft thick rich blue material, with a large
badge of bright yellow thread. In contrast the Meakers
blazers were of a thin hard faded blue material with a smaller gold thread
badge, and were presumably harder wearing but dearer. The caps and ties were of
matching appearance from the two suppliers. After Coles’ arrival the sixth form
blazers became black, and they were no longer required to wear caps as the
lower school were. The special sixth
form and prefect caps therefore disappeared. (John Hawkins)
A lad in my class who shall
remain nameless (Alan Langstone - oops) arrived on
the first day with a blue blazer. Christ knows where it came from, but in light
of the above it must have been Meakers, because he
was still wearing it 5 years later and was if I recall was just about the last
person to do so. By the time 5 years had elapsed this blazer was covered on
more bits of leather than a whole S&M convention I would be interested to
know if he took it up to the 6th form, or did his parents push the boat out and
get him a black one? (Richard Marsh)
I had the regular Stones
Blazer in years one and two, and, after a win at Romford dogs, in 1953, I actually joined the elite and had a Curtis blazer. I
recall that sports coats were permitted during these years but the tie and cap
were absolutely necessary. I wore short grey pants for my first year at the
school. That long alleyway between Gidea Park Station
and the school with the wicked December wind whipping up your legs and playing
tunes in your aertex underwear made it even pleasant to arrive at the school. I
don't remember black blazers being part of the uniform but I'm sure a few of
the pupils had them for one reason or the other. (MJM)
SCHOOL CAPS
(latest round of inserts at top)
I recall that sometimes there
was a widespread cap check by prefects.
This involved ambushes being spread all over the
Can any of our prefect members
tell us how these originated? Was there
an instruction from the Head, the Head Boy, some planning meeting of prefects?
Did the prefects keep a league table of lines/detentions imposed? (John
Hawkins)
The question is asked about
cap checks. In my time it was decided by the Headboy
or by general consensus amongst the Prefects. As I recall records were kept of
lines and detentions. (Ken Saxby - guilty 1950-57)
My recollection is the same
(as Ken Saxby's). As well as the record of lines and detentions I also recall
the league table in our days. (Mentioned before a year or so
ago). I also seem to remember, Ken, that you
and Trev Norman used to vie for top place! Am I right
about this? (Geoff Smith Guilty 50/57)
As a former
H... B..
I have to say that I remember no such nefarious practice. But then, that may be
the result of a guiltily repressive selective memory! (Graham Jackman)
Graham remembered:
"...no such nefarious practice." But I remember passing in through
the school gates early in the Autumn term, cap
dutifully on head I'm proud to say, beneath the flinty stare of the 1955 Head
Boy! (David Maltby)
Living locally, I used to
walk to school through the back doubles and only emerge onto Upper Brentwood
Road from Compton Avenue [he says after quick look at A-Z to refresh memory of Gidea Park geography]. Therefore cap was not placed on head
until the last minute. I recall prefects lurking by the school gates on the
look out for offenders but don't remember them roaming the streets - the ones I
used at least. (Roger Jacobson)
Graham wrote that he could
not remember the activities which I recounted. I would ask one and all to
remember the days of 1955-57 when I served as a p.......under Graham and Roy.
Whilst the regime may have been paternalistic and non-repressive in the eye of
the leader it was in fact not the case and "uniform checks" "cap
checks" " lateness purges" and even "bus pass checks"
were all determined from above. (Ken Saxby)
In my time as prefect (there,
I've spelled it out loud!), which was 69-70, cap checks were ordained from on
High (well, J.P. Coles, if you must know), and we foot-soldiers of the
counter-revolution would have to go out and at least pretend to try to catch
offenders. Naturally, the worst were the fourth year louts. Now let me see...
that would be... well, well, well, the year of '66. No surprises there, then!
(Martin Jacobson)
How were the 66'ers expected
to keep all that hair under a cap! Anyway I am sure caps went out before our
4th year - can anybody remember exactly. (Chris Fribbins)
I'm afraid I've got to side
with Chris here (and not just because we both work in the same place) - I feel
fairly sure that JPC had abolished caps by 1970 and I'm not even totally sure
we had to wear them when we were in 5th year.
I suspect that, as usual, the truth is far more complicated than my
memory allows.
Come on chaps, plenty of us
Hon Mems were around during this period - can anyone
remember what really happened ? Mr
I certainly had to wear my
cap until the 5th form, but that year I remember there was a great cap-burning
ceremony and I think we might have been the last year to wear them - at least for
so long! (Paul Harrison R 64-71)
I joined in
1971............... caps were definitely optional by
then. (Mark Huxley)
'The question is asked about
cap checks. In my time it was decided by the Headboy
or by general consensus amongst the Prefects. As I recall records were kept of
lines and detentions.'
I recall that the memorial window
was the focus of attention at morning assembly on the Friday before Remembrance
Day, when we all turned to face it whilst appropriate hymns and prayers were
said. Does this practice still continue? On the opposite wall to the memorial
window were a number of photos of Old Boys. I recall Ken Farnes
as one. Does anyone recall who the others were, and what they had done to
achieve this distinction? Are they still there to this day? (John Hawkins)
There were three caps: The ordinary,
unadorned, cap for everyone up to 5th form.
The BP cap with a 1/4" gold band and the TGB 6th former cap with the
piping. I also have a supplementary question for the Old Teds
- what was the significance of the yellow piping on old caps, (Peter Monk)
The Cap
How well I remember that first day of school,
Determined to do well, obey every rule,
The first thing I did when I climbed out of bed,
Was to clamp me new school cap secure on me `ed.
Stomach a'churning with
undisclosed fears,
I used the old washcloth to clean behind ears,
Quick look in the mirror, cap big, but on straight,
Out of the front door and down to the gate.
In me new Curtis blazer, I `urried
along,
But as I was running, I felt something wrong,
Me cap was a'jumping up and
down on me `ed,
And I `ad to 'old it down as to the station I fled.
Sat down on a bench to wait for the train,
And would you believe it, it started to rain,
I took off me cap, and stared at the size,
And that's when you readers, I `ad a surprise.
Bad fitting `eadgear is one
thing I `ates,
And the label in this one said 9 and 3/8ths,
In one swift moment my `opes
turned to fears,
This RLS cap would `ang down
over me ears!
British Railways of course were `aving
a strike,
The train came at last, I was
all of a'fright,
At
With me cap in me `and I ran for the gate.
Approaching Bob's stable (a `orrible smell)
I `eard the last chimes of
Bert Peade's school bell.
"I made it!" Thought I as I passed the bike
shed,
But `ope turned to fear as a
bloke stopped me dead.
"e was wearin' a cap with stars and gold ring,
An' in his lapel was a small silver thing,
"You ain’t got your cap
on, that's reason enuff.
For a quite little talk with the `eadmaster,
Scruff.
`e took me inside and said
"Stand there and wait",
"George`ll be down to
see all those who were late".
`an into the room came this
man in a gown,
`e stood there and carefully
looked us up and down.
"Wot
side would you like it? The man said to me,
"Not wearin' a cap I
don't like to see,
An' as I was standing there in me place,
I caught a right `ander
along the side of me face.
It was only September but I fort' Christmas `ad come,
There was flashes and bright
stars by the time `e was done,
Bells, Roman Candles came into me sight,
`an I saw Santa Claus in a
great flash of light.
All of the schoolboys that stood in the line,
Got a swipe round the face, the same way's as mine,
`an we learned very quick, if
you don't wan't the wahck,
Don't get caught by a Pr*f*ct when you ain’t got a cap!
(Mike Merry)
1) Can anyone remember when
compulsory caps (up to 5th form) were abolished? I believe Jake Coles did away
with them during my time at the school, but I can't remember for sure.2) Given
that all boys at the school now wear black rather than blue, what does the
current cap actually look like ? Has
anyone ever seen one? I also have a supplementary question for the Old Teds - what was the significance of the yellow piping on
old caps, like the one I have seen pictured either in the "Timeless
Artefacts" section or on Geoffrey Styles' head in the "Rogues
Gallery"?? (John Bailey)
Caps were optional (for the first
time?) when I started in 1970. I'm glad to say I never wore one. During my
time, the uniform changed in colour from blue to black blazer (to save parents
money, destroying the Meakers dependency). Not sure
of the year, maybe 1973? (Ian Puxley)
I didn't mind our uniform (cap
apart). I thought the colours had a certain class when compared to the mainly
black blazers of the surrounding schools. For me, it had an additional bonus. I
used to watch Romford in the old Southern League (we won the title in 1967) and
Romfords colours were conveniently royal blue and gold.
No having to buy a team scarf for me. Are there any other old Romford
supporters out there. (Richard Hall)
I think I admired your Royals
plain caps so much that I saved up the stupid amount of cash required (8 guineas
I think) and bought some from the Bronx shop down by Ilford Palais.
My mum thought I'd gone all sensible. She also approved of Harrington jackets
and sta-prest trousers ( "casual
but smart" comes to mind). (Andy Ellis)
Thanks to very many contributors
for your recollections of the various caps, particularly the 6th form/BP
ones. I still haven't heard from anyone
who's ever seen a current (optional) RLS cap though. Thanks particularly to Ian Puxley for pointing out that the change from blue to black
blazers broke the dependency on Meakers. Presumably the same applies to Debenhams, too? When I was at the school you could tell
approximately how well off a boy's family was by looking at their blazer - a Debenham (or Stones for the oldies) blazer meant you were a
rich bastard, Meakers blazers were worn by the middle
layer, and the urban poor got theirs from that shop at the top of Romford
Market whose name escapes me, and who couldn't make the badge straight. Needless to say my old man bought my first
blazer from the latter! So much for school uniform removing such distinctions - that always
was a lot of cobblers. AHL wrote:- "BP
ties were worn (by BPs of course) until well into the
late 60s (see the evidence provided by GAL [BP]) in the Library under 'Timeless
Artefacts'." Indeed. BP ties also went infinitely better with a
black blazer than did the standard RLS blue-and-yellow ones, and I'm surprised
they weren't adopted as the standard school tie once everyone started wearing
black. (John Bailey)
I seem to recall that: Plain blue
cap with gold cross and crown at front = Forms 1/5 Blue cap with gold piping
from crown to rim = 6th Form Blue cap with gold band and two gold stars = BP I
do not recall any special blazers or ties, in fact, in the 50's a sports jacket
or suit was acceptable wear. (Mike Merry)
I can't remember when caps were
abolished. However I do recall caps with yellow piping. I think that they were
either to denote the role(?) of pr*f*ct or else that
one had represented the school First XI at football or cricket. I am fairly
sure that yellow piping went out some time during my sojourn at RLS. Speaking
of caps, one of the reasons for my "Defrocked" designation is that I
never gave out any punishments to little kids during my one term with the
silver badge. Several of my so called brethren used to arrive at the school at
Is this yet another thing which changed
around the time of my arrival at RLS, but which I assumed was cast in stone
? In my day (just after John's) CCF
parades were always on Thursdays. (John Bailey)
John B. asked if Curtis made a
superior tie. The answer is yes. They did the cap in the same material as the
blazer with the chunky cross and crown and a tie which was of the same colour.
The other suppliers, as has been mentioned, produced a much lighter colour blue
and a thinner version of the badge. (Mike Merry)
OTHER APPAREL
A confession
that I featured, not by name, in the Romford recorder, cometh forth. We were amused back in 1958, to read of the indignation of
a reporter who had seen a yob, in Edwardian attire, sporting one luminous
orange and one ditto lime green sock, between the 12" bottoms and the lairy suede shoes. Twas I m'lud, bang to rights. (Phil Kingham)
I don't remember your lighter
shade of pale green shirt but I do remember the uniform checks. At one point I
had made myself a badge bearing the likeness of Andy Kopp (Head Boy at the
time) with the logo "I'm a Kopp Kid" underneath. I was reported to Bullethead, who (politely I must say) demanded that I
remove it. (Ian Kill)