Clitheroe Royal Grammar School

Very surprised to see these lads in vests. Barechested xcountry irrespective of the weather or temperature. No lad ever wore a vest regardless of age.

I don't remember shorts being particularly tight but in the 1960s they were short compared to anything you would see now. My memory is that grey school ones had an inside leg no longer than three inches, white gym shorts and rugby shorts were even shorter.

Wearing underpants with grey shorts was normal and it was usually by then briefs of my mother's choosing but gym shorts and rugby shorts were always worn without underpants at my school so there was always a risk of exposure not that I remember it happening or being bothered by it.

It was only when I went to university and joined the rugby team I first saw a jockstrap and some lads wore them. As a poor student counting my money carefully, I figured that if I hadn't needed on up until now I still didn't and all the years I played rugby - until I was almost forty I didn't wear underpants and nor did most of my team mates.

Things have changed now - you probably wouldn't find a player without his compression shorts on, I don't know how we managed!

I meant to say'like Declan I used to wear my very brief and tight shorts,I suppose to please my parents'.

Chris G,Declan, I did continue to wear shorts when I left primary school and started secondary school.Like Declan I too wore my very tight and brief, I suppose just to please my parents.My shorts were lined so I went without underwear.Due to the brevity of my shorts there were occasional problems in the nether regions,but like with our PE when we went without underwear I had to cope with it.

Declan

It's a very long time ago, and my grey cells are getting a bit rusty, but I have no memory of my grey school shorts being particularly tight. Unlike James, quite a lot of us were still wearing shorts by the time when we started secondary school, and although the numbers of us dwindled with time, there were still two or three boys in them, generally by choice, when I got my first long school trousers.

As for nether-regional "support", I don't remember that ever being a problem, and I suppose my shorts must have been long enough to prevent embarassment! In any case, there wasn't exactly a lot of support in regularly-washed underpants back in those days. In fact I never managed to find underpants that maintained adequate levels of support throughout their working life until I was in my late teens, when briefs without gaping flies appeared.

I spent time at two different secondary schools, and in each case what we wore under our shorts was left to our own choice. At the first school, most of us went commando, but when we were about 13, the PE master advised us that we ought to be wearing some form of support, suggesting jock-straps (which none of us had ever heard of at that point) or tight-fitting underpants. I don't think many of took very much notice. I changed schools when I was 15, and at my new school most boys wore underpants or supportive swimming trunks, while a few had jockstraps. I soon acquired one of the latter items, and to this day, a jockstrap is still my preferred underwear for vigourous activity or under shorts in summer.

Chris G,Paul & Declan, what I found disconcerting was when I attended secondary school was that the majority of boys were wearing long trousers and I was still in shorts.This didn't change as I went through my second and third years and nearly all first years were wearing long trousers.
Fortunately there was one other boy in my class that also wore shorts and we became friends.

Chris G. So we both "suffered" woollen underwear. I am intrigued by your parents no underpants in summer. If your shorts were the normal black or grey school shorts, which if they were like mine were very tight. Was there ever any problems of "support" in the nether regions. In other words was it easy to keep everything contained . Obviously when progressing to long trousers that was not a problem. What about p e in secondary school. Was the rule there shorts and no underpants?

Paul, James, Declan

I wore shorts all the way through primary school and for the first two or three years in secondary school. Like James, I suffered the full Winter school uniform experience of blazer, shorts, jumper, shirt and tie, over a "base layer" of woollen short-sleeved vests and underpants, which were always itchy until they had been washed numerous times. In summer, the jumper became optional, the woollen vests were replaced with cotton singlets and the woollen underpants were replaced with nothing at all. As Mum always put my clothes out for me to dress myself once I was capable, I never questioned the difference between Winter and Summer arrangements, and with hindsight, I can't understand why I had to wear vests all the year round, when most other kids didn't and many never wore them at all. It was not until I was about ten that Mum suggested that I should leave off my vest in really hot weather, and it was another two or three years before I stopped wearing a vest altogether (an unintended consequence of the introduction of topless PE at school). In contrast, I was still encouraged to go commando in summer and I had turned 13 before I wore underpants during the whole summer term at school, more from choice than parental encouragement.

I remember the struggle to be allowed to wear long trousers when I went to secondary school.
the majority of boys had "progressed" into longs. But there were a few of us who still wore grey shorts.
Due to the demise of my mother when I was 8 years old, I was raised by my father who was busy earning a crust so most of clothing and " motherly" thing were the domain of my Nan. She was lovely but of course I was being dressed almost like a generation behind my friends at school. For her "long trousers were a rite of passage into manhood when you left school to go to work".
In a similar way a strange thing to say was the embarrassment I felt when changing for pe. all the other boys wore briefs but my nan kept buying me trunks which were considered "old men's pants" However, after I kept hassling eventually at about the age of 13 I did get longs and briefs. And they were the genuine Y fronts which was better than my contemporaries. ( amazing how nowadays fashion has changed away from briefs.

Paul,it was bad enough receiving the cane on my bare bottom,but it was to be accepted on my behalf if I behaved badly,but wearing short trousers was far worse as I had to wear them daily.My mother was so conscientious as I had to be dressed,particularly in the cold winter months and saw that I wore a vest,shirt,pullover,tie,blazer anorak,knee stockings and shorts deliberately cut short to expose my knees.
How I wanted to wear long trousers like other boys.

James, it was a very wise boy who knew to keep his mouth shut to avoid the cane, I was pretty good at it but I still failed all too often! The cane was bad enough but what I really hated as I grew older - last got it at eighteen was that my father always gave it on my bare bottom. Getting your trousers and underpants down was just about as bad as the cane itself at that age. All my mates got it bare too at home so maybe it was just something fathers always did.

Paul,the wearing of short trousers was also optional at my school and usually at the age of thirteen was considered the'rite of passage'when boys were introduced to wearing long trousers,but paradoxically some boys including myself wore shorts right through up until leaving.
Like yourself I was brought up to comply with my parents' wishes and to avoid reprisals I wore shorts simply to please and satisfy them.
It was difficult wearing shorts all the time, particularly as I grew older,but like yourself I resisted a caning and obeyed my parents.

With regards to school swimming lessons. By that time the synthetic trunks(briefs) were worn. By then fortunately the woollen ones were no longer available.

James, I was also kept in shorts for longer than many of my peers. We had the option of longs at thirteen but in the course of the previous year my mother had bought me two new pairs of school shorts. Back then clothes had to be worn until they dropped to bits and although I asked for longs, I was told there was 'plenty of wear' in my shorts and the matter was closed.

If I had argued with my mother on that (or any other score) her line always was 'I'll let you discuss that with your father when he gets home'. In reality such a discussion took place only between the cane and my bottom so I knew when to shut up because in that contest, the cane always won.

I was sixteen when my shorts finally wore out but I wasn't the last and one lad continued into the sixth form in them.

I'm glad I grew up when I did without the pressures kids have today, we had a good time and in the main, life was fun without the pressures kids face today.

Paul,I didn't wear string vests or under pants,but like yourself I had no control of what I wore and although short trousers were not compulsory at the secondary school that I attended I was to be kept in shorts all the time for school and at home.If I had the choice I would have worn long trousers like my contemporaries.

Paul,we also had communal naked showers at school,which most of us didn't object to because of the privacy apart from ourselves.
We were introduced to naked swimming as the school had it's own pool and most boys found it disconcerting as we were very exposed in the swimming pool.

It is disgusting to think that Paul was required to swim naked at school. Even now there are some schools which force vulnerable children to strip naked and shower. Here is one such offending Roman Catholic school in this country.

https://www.sph.academy/parents/information-parents/school-uniform

P.E. KIT – The Essentials
Black or white approved Polo shirt with school crest.
Plain black PE shorts.
Trainers or plimsolls.
Black socks.
Optional approved sweatshirt with school crest.

P.E. Kit – Additional
A plain black track-suit where P.E. staff say it is appropriate for winter – no logos or designer outfits.
Ties, jumper with school crest and all items of P.E. kit can be purchased from school.
A current price list is included.
Physical Education is a National Curriculum subject and all students are required to participate in the course.

All students are required to shower unless there is a confirmed medical reason for not doing so.

It is important we speak truth to power and stop compulsory showers in all British Schools.

Paul, did you swim at school in woollen trunks? They were slightly before my time and I remember having a pair of nylon ones for beach holidays in the 1960s in places like Margate and Bournemouth.

At school we swam naked - probably a legacy of woollen trunks and right up until I left trunks were not worn in the pool. Given that we were used to seeing each other naked in the changing room where underpants were always taken off and communal showers were compulsory, naked swimming was not a problem.

Going back even further in time in the approx 1956/59
I remember wearing knitted woollen swimming trunks on summer holidays at the seaside. I recall they were very baggy and really uncomfortable. It was great when synthetic ones were produced. Of course they were the briefs design. These days modern fashion seems to dictate that I can only wear these at the swimming pool at the Gym. Elsewhere outside in public it has to beach shorts on the beach in the sea.
In secondary school 1961 60 66 (all boys school) at the swimming lessons held at the municipal pool we all wore swimming trunks(briefs) no particular colour or design was stipulated.
For P E as most writers have said for that era it was shorts only (no pants) and no top when indoors and outside games it was a T shirt (no uniform style) again shorts ( no pants) and foot wear accordingly either plimsolls for athletics or boots for football.

In the late 1960s and early 70s I had both string vests and underpants. I remember the underpants having a front panel but not a back one but given the only place anyone else saw you in them was in a changing room where you were taking them off anyway there was nothing to be shy about.

String was definitely seen as 'cool' at the time, not that it influenced what your mother bought for you and I certainly got no say in what I wore. I quite liked them but can't imagine wearing anything like that now.

Tim H, Arby, Declan

I never had string underwear, just plain underpants and vests, woolen in winter and cotton in summer., At some point while i was still in primary school, this evolved into cotton all the year round. I stopped wearing vests altogether n my early years at secondary school, as did most of my class-mates, an unintended side effect of the introduction of topless PE at school. Looking back, I can't remember anyone I was at school with having string vests or pants.

To Declan & Arby ... Likewise. I'm not sure when I stopped - late 1960s I suppose.

Yes Declan I remember wearing both string vests and briefs. At the time they were sort of fashionable amongst with me and my mates. They were though a bit bulky to wear. With the briefs you had to make sure that everything was covered by the front panel otherwise it became a bit embarrassing.

Does any one remember wearing the string underwear. I know the singlets could often be seen through a shirt. Did anyone wear the string briefs with the plain panel at the front and back

Have you ever been punished either at school or outside? I remember 10/15 years ago when I answered back my teacher, she didn’t let me run or other things, she only told me: take off your shirt and let me tie your wrists to the basket. Obviously it was outside and weather was really cold, if I run I could warm myself but in this way I had to stay an hour taking cold. More over, She told the other guys to untie me at the end of the lesson and to go home without re entering school. When teacher left, after an hour in freezing cold bare chested, I received the true punishment, because the guys decided not to untie me.. I received a lot of punch, some spit, some whip and I remember a guy who put his cigarette out on my chest. The only thing I could do was to watch and take it. At the end they untie me, but I can say it was strangely funny, even though I was destroyed ahah

Graham

Google reveals that "Sandra Brookes" posted exactly the same material in Voyforums in November 2020, where you can find numerous other dubious reminiscences on the same topic that have appeared here recently.

I discounted the veracity of all of this cr*p long ago.

I worked in education for over 40 years doing Phys.Ed classes (and Mathematics) for mainly boys but a few times girls as well as a stand in. I worked in the state school sector here in Britain as well as on the continent in France and also in North America in the States and Canada on lengthy secondments. I worked with various ages but mostly eleven upwards. I also held admin roles including long term governerships.

I've read a few of these posts with interest but I'm not going to allow the one earlier this month to go unanswered.

Let me make one thing very clear here but I'm sure many don't need me to say it because they know already. The post below written by 'Sandra' which mentions mixed naked Phys.Ed classes is a total fantasy where the only place it happened is in this person's own head.

There are no mainstream schools in any sector, here in Britain or in North America, now or at any time into the past that would have timetabled a Phys.Ed class that required any form of compulsory complete undress to the point of being fully naked. Not for boys, not for girls and most certainly not for them both sharing class. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ILLEGAL.

There are no parents that would have tolerated such things of a school in any era, for those of any age. We all know that.

But of course if 'Sandra' still wishes to plead her case then she will be more than happy to provide precise details on here of the establishments she is referring to and when, so that others can research her claims. She will do no such thing of course.

Sandra is almost certainly not Sandra but a Simon or a Steve. The kind of lying drivel peddled by people like this on forums of this nature isn't even that good is it, just pathetic. Take your fantasy elsewhere and leave others to write their genuine reality.

There are some very good reads too on here by the way.

Sandra,as it was a mixed PE class why didn't the teacher allow the boys to wear shorts?Did the boys feel shy and embarrassed to be seen in the nude by so many girls?

When I was a little bambino in Sicily we did PE naked twice every week. It was magnifico - especially gymnastics. Handstands with mixed partners was a highlight. I feel sorry for other bambinos such as Jean the Frenchmen who had to wear shorts for their lessons. Sorry, my Inglesi isn’t fantastic I but I learn it from a correspondence course.
Maybe I’ll will let you know about my medicals next time.

So I'm a little hesitant about admitting this. I know a few other woman having openly admitted that they swam nude in high school, and that is very admirable of them. However, I am not as open about swimming nude as I once was. But for all intents and purposes, I will add my story to the mix.

I graduated high school in 1975. The way things were done in the 60s and 70s were very different from today. In fact some of the things that I participated in would shock most people of today but which were legal during the swinging 60s and 70s.

Our gym class consisted of both boys and girls and we participated nude. It was expected of us girls, but it wasn't necessarily required. All of the other girls were doing it so why not me? I wanted to fit in, and that was the way to fit in with the popular girls. The boys were told they had to be nude for PE. At first we looked at each other both boys and girls naked. I mean we couldn't stop staring. Our teacher was talking, but we didnt hear her. We couldn't stop staring at the boys. Practically every girl was staring at the other boy across from her. The time come for us to do exercises and we were paired with other boys. Granted this is something that would shock and cause protests today, but this was a normal gym class back in those days. In fact I had been told it's how things were done for the past 25 years prior to 1971. In addition to a nude gym class, we also swam nude. We did some of our sports nude outside behind the school. Fortunately the shock eventually wore off. We got used to being nude and playing sports nude.

On another note:

I wasn’t really a hippy but I did get together with other hippies on South Street in Philadelphia back in the late 60s and early 70s. Really if you weren't a hippy then, you weren't considered cool. So I pretended. South Street was the gathering place of the hippy counterculture back in the mid 60s to the mid 70s. Many teens shed their clothes and went nude on South Street and in Fairmount Park. There were cops watching of course, but no arrests were made unless someone physically hurt somebody.

In 1974 conservative groups in Philadelphia began complaining about the hippies being naked in Fairmount Park, South Street, and many other places in Philadelphia. There were also complaints about nudity in Delaware County and other counties in Pennsylvania. The end result was the indecent exposure law which was enacted in Pennsylvania on January 1, 1975. At first the cops didnt pay much attention to the law and let a few people continue to be naked, but then a few cases of indecent exposure began coming out in the newspapers and people all over Pennsylvania began taking those laws seriously. By the 1980s nudity was prohibited in gym classes in high schools. Quite a few gym teachers were fired because they continued to allow their students to be naked.

Very few kids who were born in the 70s and 80s have no idea we had those types of gym classes or even that we ran around naked in streets and parks in those days, but we did. Am I proud of it? I'm not necessarily ashamed of it. I don't look at nudity as shameful. I didn’t then and I still don't. I was hesitant to admit that it happened because nudity really isn't accepted in today's society. Some of my clients and friends might frown on that today and call me a derogatory name. I think that's why most women aren't coming out and talking openly about their experiences in high school. Hopefully that changes and more women will admit that they too swam naked in high school as I have.