Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 12:40 pm
Back to thread!
In 1949 I moved up to the UF and was therefore entitled to wear a Broadie instead of the narrowie which was worn by LE and below (as an aside, bluecoats for LE had only come in the year before following wartime shortages).
Broadie buckles were in short supply but I was able to borrow from Gordon Peiser (CH 1933-1941[?]) who was maried to a cousin of mine. I fended off an attempt by another peculiarly nasty boy who was 'senior' to me in the house, and who was an inveterate bully, to say he should have it. After about a year Broadie buckles went on sale in the tuckshop at five shillings a time. All Broadie buckles were hallmarked silver at that time. So I was able to return Gordon's.
Both narrowies and broadies were replaced each year. The spare end of the narrowie after buckling was doubled back under and over the girdle and tucked back into the becket. The broadie had to be cut to length and a triangular hole made to take the frog of the buckle. The broadie was worn on the hip rather than at the waist.
In 1954 in my last term, as a Maths Grecian, my housemaster lent me a Travers buckle - much worn down even then - to replace my standard one. This was of course returned when I left.
I have a funny feeling that there was another odd buckle around but can't remember details or who wore it. People wearing two buckles seems to me completely new, like Grecians buttoning their cuffs (let alone the demise of safety pins for bands).
Some time ago in a museum in Brighton (if memory serves) had on show a silver buckle physically like a broadie buckle except that it was more ornate. I have long wondered whetehr this was an early CH broadie or whether the design was at some time in general use as an ordinary way of buckling a belt.
My own broadie buckle survives but whether it will be prized by those that come after is another matter!
In 1949 I moved up to the UF and was therefore entitled to wear a Broadie instead of the narrowie which was worn by LE and below (as an aside, bluecoats for LE had only come in the year before following wartime shortages).
Broadie buckles were in short supply but I was able to borrow from Gordon Peiser (CH 1933-1941[?]) who was maried to a cousin of mine. I fended off an attempt by another peculiarly nasty boy who was 'senior' to me in the house, and who was an inveterate bully, to say he should have it. After about a year Broadie buckles went on sale in the tuckshop at five shillings a time. All Broadie buckles were hallmarked silver at that time. So I was able to return Gordon's.
Both narrowies and broadies were replaced each year. The spare end of the narrowie after buckling was doubled back under and over the girdle and tucked back into the becket. The broadie had to be cut to length and a triangular hole made to take the frog of the buckle. The broadie was worn on the hip rather than at the waist.
In 1954 in my last term, as a Maths Grecian, my housemaster lent me a Travers buckle - much worn down even then - to replace my standard one. This was of course returned when I left.
I have a funny feeling that there was another odd buckle around but can't remember details or who wore it. People wearing two buckles seems to me completely new, like Grecians buttoning their cuffs (let alone the demise of safety pins for bands).
Some time ago in a museum in Brighton (if memory serves) had on show a silver buckle physically like a broadie buckle except that it was more ornate. I have long wondered whetehr this was an early CH broadie or whether the design was at some time in general use as an ordinary way of buckling a belt.
My own broadie buckle survives but whether it will be prized by those that come after is another matter!
