C louds of glory, Anna Bunting

Recognising students for their achievements is undoubtedly important in helping to build their self-esteem and sense of pride. Ordinarily this comes in the form of a certificate, a mention at an assembly or perhaps a badge, but the rise of bespoke blazers signals a changing tide in how we can recognise the achievements of students.

For some, the concept of a Colours Blazer may be well known and established amongst the school community, for others it will be a totally foreign entity. Perhaps better known are sporting blazers – think of rowing where the banks of Henley are littered with a colourful array of blazers in July or perhaps rugby or cricket where teams can often be seen on tour or after matches in smart shirts and blazers.

The impact of a distinctive blazer having been earned is well known at Abingdon School. Perry has been supplying the distinctive pink and white striped Abingdon School Rowing blazer for a number of years. When fittings take place at the school the boys are excited to have earned the opportunity to wear their blazer. It is a source of pride and gives them a sense of belonging to their school long after they leave the school gates at the age of eighteen.

Some schools choose to offer a blazer to all members of their alumni so as to provide an opportunity to maintain that sense of belonging and school community after the pupils have left. The alumni organisations at schools such as Haileybury and Ashville College, have distinctive blazers that have been

available to their alumni for a number of years through Perry, and still today it proves popular with alumni who may have graduated many years earlier but still maintain their pride and connection with their alma mater as a past pupil.

At University level, there is the award of a Blue which recognises significant sporting achievement on behalf of your university. Traditionally, upon being awarded a Blue an individual buys a Blues blazer to signify their achievement. Perry works closely with Cambridge University Boat Club helping the tradition of the original Blue blazer to continue for the future.

There is of course the argument that blazers are outdated or that students would not want to wear them today. This argument is based on seeing a blazer as simply a piece of clothing. The blazers we are discussing here are highly bespoke and move beyond the realm of clothing to a memento that can be worn and remembered fondly as a representation of a period of their life. We often find that people want to purchase their school colours or alumni blazers years after leaving the school, as they regret not having done so at the time.

One dilemma often faced by schools is finding a flattering fit that girls like to wear as well. Traditionally blazers have been boxy and square; nowadays there are whole ranges of different styles available to flatter different body shapes. The modernisation of blazer styles means that the blazer has been given a new lease of life, as they can now be produced in styles that appeal to all generations.

Pupils

The term ‘blazer’ was first coined in Cambridge in the 1800s in reference to the ‘blazing red’ of the Lady Margaret Boat Club, the rowing club of St John’s College. This original blazer is still produced by Perry today. Whilst the history of the term ‘blazer’ may not be well known, it is well established that textiles were one of the major global industries at which the UK excelled during the 19th and early 20th centuries. With the growth of globalisation the UK’s textiles sector has shrunk, but today there still remain a few legacy mills weaving pieces of cloth for blazers, several of these in Yorkshire, and still recognised with pride for the quality of their woven fabrics.

As one of a handful of specialist tailors still in existence, Perry designs cloth patterns and commissions cloth as part of the process of manufacturing distinctive blazers. Among many of its accolades was a commission to develop and manufacture the wardrobe for the hit musical Matilda, launched at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon to great critical acclaim.

Not all organisations, however, have an existing blazer design that they can utilise – so what does it take to create one? Perry are well versed in helping schools develop blazers that are in keeping with their history and ethos. The first port of call would be to understand the heritage of the school to ensure that the blazer compliments the school brand and future vision. The Perry Design Team will look to the crest of a school or club to research the club’s history and understand its heritage, and this provides the inspiration for the designs. Having determined the direction of the design and style, they create a Design Pack setting out a variety of ideas to develop a conversation leading to a consensus on the most appropriate blazer design for the organisation. This spirit of partnership is much appreciated by our clients, such as the Cambridge University Lightweight Rowing Club. ‘I wholeheartedly recommend Perry; not only are their blazers fantastic and very reasonably priced, their customer service is excellent. They take the time to work through designs to ensure the final blazer is just right.’

Is it time for your school to start a new tradition? The team at Perry are keen to work in partnership with schools to design and deliver blazers that will be worn with pride by your pupils.

Anna Bunting is the Sales and Marketing Manager at Perry To share ideas with Anna, call 0113 238 9520 or email info@perryclub.co.uk

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Howard Blackett, the Rector of Peterhouse, describes a walk with a difference Back in early March I took my dog Ruby, a beautiful Golden Cocker Spaniel, for a walk in Calderwood Park, 400ha of pristine Zimbabwean bush next to Peterhouse. I was with my wife Susie and my daughter Alice who had been with us for a week on a surprise visit from the UK for Susie’s birthday. We met up with Scott Walraven, Master i/c the Snake Club, who was in the park with five young lads looking for a viper or two to add to their collection. I wandered off with Ruby down to Dombo Dam, her favourite spot, for a bit of stick throwing/retrieving. As I bent down to find a stick, Ruby, already in the water, let out a sharp yelp. I looked up, thinking that she had probably trodden on a piece of glass, to see a (bloody great) python wrapping itself round her torso. I rushed into the water, grabbed the python by its tail, pulled as hard as I could and shouted for help. Reinforcements soon arrived, in the persons of my daughter, wife and the snake club boys, and soon enough we had the python stretched out but, as yet, still attached to Ruby’s rear right leg. It took some persuasion (a beating) before the python eventually gave up the fight and let go. Susie, Alice and I (heart pounding) rushed Ruby off to the vet. Meanwhile the python was sexed (a female) and measured (a mere 3.6 metres long) before being released back into the wild (pythons are Royal Game in Zimbabwe and killing them is illegal).