morganacademyfp

I still have the badge pocket from my last blazer as well. Pinned to it are all the metal badges I acquired/exchanged on the school trip to Russia. I never did replace my house badge from that holiday!
The "official" blazers were very expensive but having a badge sewn on the pocket of an ordinary blazer was a no-no! It was very obvious and branded you as not quite good enough. My mum was good at sewing so she bought a pocket with badge already on and replaced the original pocket on a cheapo blazer. Were we snobs or were we snobs?? I suppose it's the equivalent of today's youngsters' obsession with branded goods instead of supermarket versions.

Mine would be a real auld yin - bought from Cairds in Reform Street in 1947. Has been lovingly looked after and still used on very rare occasions.

Cairds was the place to buy the "real McCoy" blazers with the badge embroidered on the pocket. Also if you got colours for any sport, they would embroider them around the school crest. I remember some people who were so good at sports that there wasn't enough room on the pocket for all their colours and "additional dates".

Now there was a real source of pride, getting your "colours." In todays non-competative schooling are such awards still given, I presume not.

I don't know about "now" as in 21st century but my son got his colours for fencing in 1988. The local high school has re-introduced blazers at the request of pupils AND they have braid to indicate prefects and captains so maybe colours will return as well. What goes around, comes around.

Kate wrote: I remember some people who were so good at sports that there wasn't enough room on the pocket [of their Caird's blazer] for all their colours and "additional dates".

Some of us sports losers, (that was the majority of the uninterested took comfort in the thought that THEY really needed them more than we did.

I was awarded colours and a cap for Rugby in 1958.....I still have my cap with the gold tassle...I keep it In a dieplay cabinet. I wish I had given more to the academic side rather than Rugby and the CCF!.....but on reflection I have had a happy career and thoroughly enjoy retirement.