19 July 2003

The School Cap

 

Does anyone know when the School Cap ceased to be worn? Was it worn from the earliest days of the school?

Some boys, who perhaps inherited theirs, had classier-looking caps than the type my mother bought for me when I joined the school. That type was possibly a "Utility" version originating during the war years. I hated caps in general but found the Peter Symonds cap of the time with its garish alternate segments of bright yellow and blue, particularly loathsome (the yellow, incidentally, turned greenish when rained upon for the first time). My mother loved it though despite the fact that the combination of garish cap and short-back-and sides haircut made my sticky-out ears even more prominent.

In summer, especially around Founders Day, the better-off sported straw boaters, do you remember that? I never manage to aspire to that but later on I did get a new cap (was my head swelling due to increased knowledge I wonder?) and the design of this cap reverted to the earlier one I had seen on some of the prefects when I joined the school. The "new" cap was of superior quality and much more expensive to boot. Good business for that little shop in the High Street which today would be at risk of being reported to the monopolies commission. Regrettably the first day I wore it, probably some time in 1952, an older boy enquired whether it had a "Whee" in it, took it from my head and threw it through the air, gleefully shouting "wheeeeee". It fell in a puddle.

9 comments:

  1. Hi Churchie, Great story!  I don't know when the cap was discontinued but I agree with your negative sentiments about it. We used to roll or fold it up into a sort of oval shape, a bit like the shape of the head of one of the South Park characters and stuff it in our blazer tops.   I'm off to Hull for a few days to do some family history research in the University Library. I've packed my passport.  I hope the natives are friendly, be good, regards, jim   

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  2. Oh, Come on Guys !!!
    As I remember it, the School Cap was a Navy Blue with very narrow Gold bands running in concentric circles around the cap (1944/45) ... at some time during the war years (sorry, but I can't remember EXACTLY when), the cap went to blue/gold quarters ... looked absolutely TERRIBLE compared to the original, but I guess, that was the only way it could be at the time ... (after all these years, I STILL don't understand WHY)...LUCKILY (and again, regrettably I can't remember EXACTLY when) it reverted to the ORIGINAL !!! ... thank you someone !!! ...
    (p.s. the shop where you bought School (and OSA) thingies in my time, was in Jewry Street, near the High Street Traffic Lights) ...

    Doug Clews (Sept 1944 til 1950)

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  3. Hi Jim ... enjoy your Holiday, but be sure not to wear your School Cap, cos there is NO way the Natives will be friendly in Hull !!! ... good job you have taken your passport, cos, with that, you should be able to escape across the Humber to Grimsby !!! ... seriously, HAVE A GOOD BREAK !!!

    Doug Clews

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  4. Yes I remember the cap. It was a wartime expedience to have the quartered cap, No doubt clothing coupons were needed and as you say the quality was worse but probably cheaper to make. I can't remember if the old one came back in my time ,probly I was in the 6th form by then and didn't need one.     John 1946-1953t

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  5. Hi Mr Davey ... if my memory serves me correctly, you were one half of a twin !!! (Can't remember though if you were the better looking, or the brainier !!!  ... it's a long time ago)   Back to the cap ... I joined the ranks at PSSW in September 1944 and the cap then was blue with narrow concentric gold rings ... sometime shortly after that, it went to the TERRIBLE blue and YELLOW(rather than Gold) quarters !!! ... as I said in an earlier message , the logic behind the change eludes me !!! ... I left PSSW at the end of the 1950 School Year and the cap by that time had returned to the blue and narrow gold concentric rings ... dates of the respective changes escape me (I must be having a Seniors moment ... sorry Guys !!!  )   CHANGE OF SUBJECT ... can anyone help me with details re the book referred to, somewhere, I think, in the School Cap discussion, about the History of Peter Symond's School by an ex student ... as I am in Western Australia, it is doubtful that it is in the Library System here, but if someone can advise me the Full Title, the Author, the Publisher, the Published Date and IBSN Number, I would be truly grateful !!! ... Thanks in advance !!!   A special "Hello" to Peter Smith ... I WILL e-mail you, I promise !!!   Take care all !!!

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  6. I started at PS in or about 1967 and, at that time, the cap was blue with the yellow (actually called "Old Gold") concentric rings around it.   For some reason , it seemed to be a requirement that the peak was bent back on itself in a particular way. A new bug ( or "kiddy" as they were called in Kelso House) wearing a pristine cap was soon put right in that respect.   I never had a boater. Once my parents had seen the modifications inflicted upon my cap, I think they felt that their money was better off in their pockets!   What about the school tie. Was there a special 6th form tie? I seem to recall one, together with the 6th form wrap.

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  7. Doug

    Is this the Neil Jenkinson book ‘The History Of Peter Symonds' that you're after? I've got a copy and can look up the info if it is.

    regards

    Rolf

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  8. Hi Rolf

    Yes, it is ... if I had the Publishing Date and the Publisher and
    Library Number if there is one, I can then check it out in Oz ... would
    appreciate any info you have ...

    Thanks in advance

    ATB

    Doug Clews
    West Oz

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  9. The History of Peter Symonds
    Neil Jenkinson
    Published 1994
    Published by: The Old Symondians Society
    No ISBN number

    Sorry but I don't have any other info except that I remember there was athread on this site about the book, which included the name and address of a stockist.

    regards
    Rolf

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