Hertford uniform

[midget]

I've just been loking back over this topic and can conform that "own dress" for the fearsome Founder's Day dance was introduced, supposedly as a one-off for 1952 to celebrate the 400th anniversary. I can remember the shock at my last endof term Mark Reading when DR made the announcement. She then added, in her inimitable way that it was to be a simple cotton frock and that we were not to ask our parents for a new one for the occasion.
One other thing came back to me- the fuss over curling hair. You were allowed to have a perm on going into the UVI, but until then you kept your hair short, ir put it in bunches as soon as it was considered long enough. I can remember at the end of one term, when most of us had our hair in curlers the previous night, Miss Norris (3's) going round behind us during breakfast, and then while we were waiting to go to the station, she combed out our hair with a wet comb- not a pretty sight.

[Vonny]

Did you still have the zip up towelling all-in-ones or had they fallen to pieces?

We went from 'Blues' to those, sounds as though you went back again.

Oh my God - I remember those - we had to wear them for gym

[englishangel]

I've just been loking back over this topic and can conform that "own dress" for the fearsome Founder's Day dance was introduced, supposedly as a one-off for 1952 to celebrate the 400th anniversary. I can remember the shock at my last endof term Mark Reading when DR made the announcement. She then added, in her inimitable way that it was to be a simple cotton frock and that we were not to ask our parents for a new one for the occasion.
One other thing came back to me- the fuss over curling hair. You were allowed to have a perm on going into the UVI, but until then you kept your hair short, ir put it in bunches as soon as it was considered long enough. I can remember at the end of one term, when most of us had our hair in curlers the previous night, Miss Norris (3's) going round behind us during breakfast, and then while we were waiting to go to the station, she combed out our hair with a wet comb- not a pretty sight.

We had to tie our hair back as soon as it was long enough and could put it up in Sixth form. I had mine cut in a very trendy cut at the vidal Sassoon school on the way home for the summer before Lower Sixth, then had it cut again before returning to school so it was all ends. It looked such a mess that i think it was decided that it was not necessary to put it up. the beginning of the end for that particular rule.

I have a pic somewhere of St Matthews Day of me with a Vidal Sassoon haircut.

[J.R.]

Oh happy days! Shoes were passed on from one to the next - and God help you (literally) if they were no clean and sparkly - cleaning the shoe brushes was a foul punnishment !

until we were in the 5th form we had to wear socks - when finally a "senior" and allowed to wear "tan or American Tan" tights we thought we were in heaven - until they laddered - then Miss Morrison (FM??) would tear a strip off us... The grey tunics were fine - I don't know what the problem regarding yellow socks is - we in 5's had canary yellow games socks even though our house colour was purple.. no sock maker made purple games socks.... can't think why not!!!!

Sundays had blue pinafore - basically a sack with no arms and a rounded neck, depending on the Sunday it was either spotty or striped blue and white shirts, and cherry red blazers - well looking back they were incredibly good as were the tweeds - it was a dare to take a tweed home when you left - I didn't dare as my father would have beaten me to a pulp.. but what about the blues knickers for games???? anyone remember them???

Who's hidden me pills ???????

[Jude]

This is awful - although I guess it is a sort of catharsis! we didn't have the zip up towels - and as I was a swimmer for Hertfordshire I was allowed to wear T's!!! (it took some doing and the games mistress was on my side to let me use them - mind you, I left at 16 thinking I could get pregnant by sitting on a dustbin lid - so ????!!!! ) but i can remember going up to Ashbourne in the heat of '75, having to run the 1500m (those games teachers were total monsters!) having an asthma attack and being kicked in the ribs by a member of the games staff who thought I was putting it on... Matron was not impressed! But going on to hair - all girls had to have either short hair, or hair tied up - only U6th and Prefects were allowed to wear buns... I sort of challenged this having the gresiest hair in the school and only allowed to wash it once a week! (ARGH!!! my daughter would die if I told her she could only wash her hair once a week!!!), and having long hair, I plaited it then pinned up the plait.. I guess I was a rebel although compared to what happens at schools these day's I was an angel!

[Rex]

A great mate from my Col. B days, (No names - No pack drill) did film extra work as a lad, AND was in one of the St Trinians films. He's now quite successful in films and television.

(I can hear you all scratching yer heads now !)

I suppose the obvious suspect is the producer and writer Robert Buckler (CB 1959-65).

[J.R.]

A great mate from my Col. B days, (No names - No pack drill) did film extra work as a lad, AND was in one of the St Trinians films. He's now quite successful in films and television.

(I can hear you all scratching yer heads now !)

I suppose the obvious suspect is the producer and writer Robert Buckler (CB 1959-65).

As I said earlier, No Names.... No.......................

[Alex vS]

New subscriber - and reading with great nostalgia!

I'm with Vonny (being 37 and there at the same time), Cherry red blazers over blue tunics on Sundays, grey tunic in the winter of which I have a great photo of me looking like I think I'm the bee's knees plus pink and black striped tie for House 7. We were allowed our own knickers by then! I remember wearing the school stockings in the winter because they were really quite warm and everyone at home being gobsmacked that I wore stockings and suspenders AT SCHOOL!!

As for whether the uniform was nice or hideous, don't remember thinking about it as we all looked the same. I don't remember much abuse from kids in Hertford about it. But I do in a way wish I'd stayed on after fifth form and gone to Horsham. My husband's step-brother and -sister were there and the photos look great!

[Vonny]

I'm with Vonny (being 37 and there at the same time), Cherry red blazers over blue tunics on Sundays, grey tunic in the winter of which I have a great photo of me looking like I think I'm the bee's knees plus pink and black striped tie for House 7.

Do you remember the blue tweeds we had for Sundays and special occasions in the winter?

[Alex vS]

Not yet, but the more threads I read, the more comes back to me. I guess we must have had something warmer than the cherry reds for the winter. But then I don't remember hot breakfasts either!! (Too much wine for the brain cells).

[Jude]

I'm with Vonny (being 37 and there at the same time), Cherry red blazers over blue tunics on Sundays, grey tunic in the winter of which I have a great photo of me looking like I think I'm the bee's knees plus pink and black striped tie for House 7.

Do you remember the blue tweeds we had for Sundays and special occasions in the winter?

Those Blue tweeds were Harris Tweeds - you couldn't have got a more expensive and brilliant brand - however, trends as they are today I really wish I had knicked mine now as it would be totally in fashion again!

We were allowed our own underwear from 1975 - although vests were still given out for the cold winter days - and yep they might not have been the sexy things our daughters (or ourselves ) wear these days, but they were warm!!!

We were allowed bread and Marmite or marmalade in house during hte morning break - which we had in the cloak room as a "junior" and TOAST and hot milk in the kitchen as a senior! Wow - the little things that impressed us SO much!!

[Vonny]

I'm with Vonny (being 37 and there at the same time), Cherry red blazers over blue tunics on Sundays, grey tunic in the winter of which I have a great photo of me looking like I think I'm the bee's knees plus pink and black striped tie for House 7.

Do you remember the blue tweeds we had for Sundays and special occasions in the winter?

Those Blue tweeds were Harris Tweeds - you couldn't have got a more expensive and brilliant brand - however, trends as they are today I really wish I had knicked mine now as it would be totally in fashion again!

We were allowed our own underwear from 1975 - although vests were still given out for the cold winter days - and yep they might not have been the sexy things our daughters (or ourselves ) wear these days, but they were warm!!!

We were allowed bread and Marmite or marmalade in house during hte morning break - which we had in the cloak room as a "junior" and TOAST and hot milk in the kitchen as a senior! Wow - the little things that impressed us SO much!!

I kept my tweed although I'm not sure what happened to is as I don't have it now I remember that juniers were FORBIDDEN from using the house kitchens at most times although I do recall sneaking in there occasionally

[englishangel]

I'm with Vonny (being 37 and there at the same time), Cherry red blazers over blue tunics on Sundays, grey tunic in the winter of which I have a great photo of me looking like I think I'm the bee's knees plus pink and black striped tie for House 7.

Do you remember the blue tweeds we had for Sundays and special occasions in the winter?

Those Blue tweeds were Harris Tweeds - you couldn't have got a more expensive and brilliant brand - however, trends as they are today I really wish I had knicked mine now as it would be totally in fashion again!

We were allowed our own underwear from 1975 - although vests were still given out for the cold winter days - and yep they might not have been the sexy things our daughters (or ourselves ) wear these days, but they were warm!!!

We were allowed bread and Marmite or marmalade in house during hte morning break - which we had in the cloak room as a "junior" and TOAST and hot milk in the kitchen as a senior! Wow - the little things that impressed us SO much!!

I know I wotre my own knickers in 1972, my mum sent me some (red, yellow and green) for my 18th birthday. She also sent me a birthday cake carefully wrapped and 'Fragile, this way up'


















written on the bottom.


She is still daft today, it was not a sign of early Alzheimers.

[J.R.]

I am NOT going to comment on your above post, Angel !!!

[englishangel]

I am NOT going to comment on your above post, Angel !!!

Yes I DO take after her.