General Chat

First new co-ed grammar school in Norwich opened in 1958 when I attended after passing my 11 plus. We wore grey pinafore dresses with a crossover top that got narrower as it became shoulder straps and then wider again I think down to waistband of skirt part (flared slightly) over cream Trutex shirts, with a dark emerald green tie, striped with red and white. Grey cardigans or v neck jumpers with red and green line in ribbing. Dark emerald green blazers with the red and white badge. Grey school knickers and grey knee length socks, black shoes usually lace up ones. No stiff petticoats when they came in and I once got detention for wearing an elasticated belt when as an older pupil we were allowed grey pleated skirts. The girls were often made to stay behind after assembly for petticoat and knicker inspection! Our school hats were grey felt ones with a brim round which turned down at the front. Navy gaberdine raincoats. In summer we had green and white patterned shirt style dresses with white edging on the collar and cuffs, and white socks, brown sandals, and cream straw boaters (tea strainers!) Our gym outfits were white aertex polo shirts (not called that then) and wrap round pleated green gym skirts which were quite short. Had to wear dark emerald green knickers underneath. I think we did look a lot smarter then - the school has changed the uniform to navy and black now I think and it always looks scruffy, with all sorts of styles of skirts and trousers for the girls, and sweatshirts for all. The only problem with our green uniform was that if you had well off parents they would get it from Bonds (now a John lewis store) and the hard up ones would get theirs from Co-op (often with a Provident cheque). The posh ones were a very different green to the cheaper ones, very discriminating.

Joan....My school WAS horrible! I hated being there. A friend and i spent all one day going round saying the bugger word lol (remember this was a convent! hehe) Yippeeeee! we got expelled :-)))) Was home the following week :-))) I was 12. Went from there to the bestest kids home ever! Stayed they happily till I was 15 and loved every minuet of it. Ted and Gwen Chiltern looked after us and they even came to my wedding back in 1969. An awful lot of children went through thier hands and I bet everyone of them loved them as I did. Both sadly passed on now. Shame I cant add them to my tree. Sorry to go off the subject a little.. back to normal folks! lol Gerri x

We didn't have one Lucia we could wear what we liked lol

We didn't have one ! I went to a very 'modern' school. Called the Tutors (not teachers) by their first name too. stupid, stupid idea.

first 2 years navy tunic white square necked blouse, navy cardigan, white socks, black or brown shoes, navy velour hat with school badge (yellow lion on navy background) or navy beret also with badge. detention if caught not wearing it!! Navy knickers with pocket, navy shorts for PE worn with house coloured T shirts with collars (mine was pale blue) After third year navy gored skirt (to just touch the ground when kneeling), white shirt, navy tie with yellow stripes, same hat/beret, socks shoes etc. Summer dresses, had to have one in hose colour, others could be the other house colours, candy striped, supposed to be zquare necked but gradually shirt waisters were accepted. My house colour was blue, the other houses were red, and green. navy gaberdine mac or navy coat. Ann Glos

orange and grey!! omg!!!!!! chosen by pupils years before!!

brown blazer, with coloured Piping on the sleeves..... blue grammar yellow technical and red modern.... with a brown tie with the three colours as diagonal stripes.blue yellow and red sorry, cant recall the motto............( it WAS 50 ODD YEARS AGO)!! Bob