Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

I realise Old Blues are both, but which is the correct or more acceptable terminology?

jhopgood wrote:I realise Old Blues are both, but which is the correct or more acceptable terminology?

Former would be my choice by preference.

I agree with Andy.

I would normally go for "former".
The prefix "ex" has been besmirched by (probably unwarranted) thoughts of that wife / husband you asked the courts to get rid of. IMHO it could be applied to former pupils whose connection with the school was forcibly terminated by expulsion

The reason I ask is that the following appears in the CH Annual Report, and for some reason, it seemed wrong.

Old Blues. This is the term used to describe ex-pupils of Christ’s Hospital.

I imagine that this has been noted !!

sejintenej wrote:I would normally go for "former".
The prefix "ex" has been besmirched by (probably unwarranted) thoughts of that wife / husband you asked the courts to get rid of. IMHO it could be applied to former pupils whose connection with the school was forcibly terminated by expulsion

Reconsidering this I think the prefix "past" would be equally acceptable. It seems to me that the quote from The Blue indicates a fall in standards though perhaps the author is not an OB.

jhopgood wrote:I realise Old Blues are both, but which is the correct or more acceptable terminology?

When I left CH, the generally accepted phrase was "old boys" (or "old girls") if you didn't want to use the specific phrase for whatever school (e.g., "old Harrovian"). It wasn't until I moved to Scotland (in 1967) that I heard "former pupil" or "FP". But usage changes. "Old boys" sounds odd now, and "former pupils" seems to be accepted South of the border. What's more, "former pupil" is and clear and unambiguous, and doesn't seem to carry any judgement about either the person or the school. I'd recommend it ... or avoid it altogether by saying "X was educated at Blumpton School".

I'd go with 'former', every time....

eucsgmrc wrote:When I left CH, the generally accepted phrase was "old boys" (or "old girls") if you didn't want to use the specific phrase for whatever school (e.g., "old Harrovian"). It wasn't until I moved to Scotland (in 1967) that I heard "former pupil" or "FP"..

Ouch, John. Even then - or perhaps even more so then, "Old boy" was used almost as a form of insult as in "Haven't seen you in yonks, old boy" and you know that with my accent (which, unfortunately I haven't lost) that can be made to sound infinitely humbling.
As for Scotland, even the Act of Union hasn't gort them speakin' Oxbridge yet. You even keep weans and honds oop thar and, as for the other, is it so ugly that you need to mask the tea?

sejintenej wrote:"Old boy" was used almost as a form of insult ...

True enough, and what made it worse that the speaker could say it to somebody else, with almost the same tone, to express real friendship. Perhaps that's why it has fallen into disuse.

I like being an Old Girl. (I used to look forward to seeing the Old Girls arriving at Hertford on their Day.)

It's how one says it. We're Old Girls. If anyone called me "old girl..." whether in a derogatory or matey way I wouldn't care for it, I suppose!

Certainly 'Old Blues'.

'Er Indoors, on the other hand, has a completely different title for us !