School Longs

I never quite got used to the idea of going back into short trousers. But in shorts I was and I remained thus dressed until I turned 15. By that time I was a fairly big lad, who look very incongruous, even, with my similar dressed class mates. It was with great relief, at 15, to at long last get my desired long trousers for school. The rule at school was that you could wear longs when you turned 15. That was not always the rule. Some schools did it by form and others by the boy's height. The neighboring Grammar School, for example, had a height rule

Well, since this was a very important occasion for me, I am completely baffled that I cannot remember the circumstances of my first longs. Certainly, I have no recollection of going to the store for them, or trying them on. Nor can I really recall Mam bring them home for me. However, I am almost positive that these to where grey flannel long trousers, which is rather odd also, being that my last short trousers were Terylene. This, is somewhat of a guess, but from the above facts, I am inclined to think my first longs were 'hand-me-downs' from my older brother. It would certainly explain why I cannot remember buying them and, why at this time still flannel.

Figure 1.--Here I am in my long trousers. Making girl friends was a bit easier with longs. They took you a bit more seiously I think.

They were certainly baggy, no creases and a bit itchy. I felt very odd in longs. In truth, I don't think they were nearly as smart, or as comfortable as my last short trousers, but no way was I going to confess that!! Once I went into longs, for the second time, I never wore short pants again, even on hot summer days. Indeed, I think I was almost paranoid about wearing shorts, even as a young adult. Not many men did wear shorts in those days, if I'm not mistaken, probably because they were still considered juvenile garments.

My First Long Trouser Suit

One, nice memory, is getting my first 'grown up' suit with long trousers at about 16/17. Perhaps as a treat, Dad (and not Mam as in the past) took me to a gents outfitter in the city, recommended by Dr. Porteous (Graham's father) called "Caslaw, Haytor and Tate". This was charcoal grey, which was made to measure, and, I had to revisit the shop when it was half made up for a further fitting. I remember I had to get made to measure because it proved impossible to find a 'off the peg' suit in those days, for a young man, as tall and thin waisted as me. I was 40" chest, 30" waist and 6ft tall. When I returned, to collect my completed suit, I was allowed to go alone and I can remember looking in the window at all the local school uniforms. This shop was rather posh in my view and, probably, supplied local private school uniforms. I was very pleased with my new suit.Even so,I did think the colourful uniforms looked very nice.

Created: April 20, 1999
Last updated: March 10, 1999