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Dear Auntie Helga, Sally Rest in Peace: Sally, no doubt those of you that read my blog's or talk to me on yahoo messenger will have heard me talk about Sally she is the girl who at the age of 11 got me to wear her school uniform. Sadly yesterday 15th November 2007 Sally age just 55 passed away. In her honour of her I have decided to tell the story of the very first time I wore her school uniform. It all started at the age of 11. My Mum was a dressmaker and I used to model the clothes that she was making. Mum used to make all sorts of clothes both male and female, and I used to model all the dresses, skirts, uniforms to which I must say I never objected. Sally had won a scholarship to one on the local grammar schools the uniforms were vey formal back in the 1960's. Sally's Mother asked my Mum if she would make Sally's school uniform, luckily for me I was same size and her uniform was worn by me so that Mum on many occasions so Mum could pin it up, alter length of skirts, hem it and make them to a high standard. Sally was literally the girl next door but one and the reason she could not model for Mum was she was laid up in bed after having both her knees operated on. I use to visit Sally most days to report to her on the progress of her new uniforms. I told her that I was modelling it for Mum, this made her eyes light up at the thought of me in her uniform. The uniform was finally finished: 3 x Navy Blue gymslips 3 x Navy Blue skirts 7 x white Blouses 1 x Navy Blue Blazer 3 x Navy Blue and white Gingham summer dresses 1 x Navy Blue Gabardine rain cot with a hood 1 x P E Skirt A dozen pairs of school knickers Two school cardigans, the school tie, white ankle and knee socks, Navy Blue felt school hat and a straw boater where brought by Sally's Mum along with the regulation school shoes. Sally asked me to model her school uniform for her as she was still bed ridden and would be for further month. I did model her uniform and I spent the rest of that day and most of the school holidays wearing her uniform as we played in her bedroom. Our First Kiss: Well let tell you how I Sally and I spent glorious Saturday down by the river at the age of 11. I got to say that on reflection both my parents and her parents were aware of we got up to, but we not aware that knew. Also now I am convinced that my sister knew and Sally's brother deferentially knew but that's other story. It was a Saturday in July and the as normal I went to Sally's house after breakfast. The house was normally empty apart from the two of us. At the time I was growing my hair because school would be finish at the end of next week. Sally had laid on her bed the clothes she wanted me to wear, it was her school summer uniform, white training bra, navy blue knickers, blue and white gingham summer dress, white ankle socks, navy blue blazer with the school badge on the left breast pocket and a straw boater with a blue ribbon around the circumference, this also had a badge on it. One I was dressed she tidy up my hair which was more than passable and gave me a pair black Mary Jayne sandals to wear. Sally was dressed in a smart shirt and jeans. Before leaving the house she made sure I knew the answers to the questions if whilst we were in town a prefect stopped us. We worked on the principal with a school of 700 plus girls the prefects would not know all the girls. As my voice had not broken I could ninety nine times out of hundred get away with it. Some girls had Saturday morning school and a lot of the other girls where expected to watch the school teams playing sport. We left the house at about 10 o'clock and walked to the river which was about 2miles away. The river was next to the school so the sight of schoolgirl was not an uncommon one. As we neared the school we took a detour along what is known as 'The New Cut' of the Great Ouse along the same bank as the school but in the opposite direction. After about three quarters of a mile the foot path ends, and then you enter the fields and meadow. It was a hot July day and I was suitable dressed Sally laid down a blanket on the grass; between us we had carried a blanket and a very small picnic basket. We sat and talked after sometime had passed she pushed on to my back pushing both my shoulders down on the blanket, she laid beside me stroking my hair (I am sure you all can imagine this scene), laying across me and partly on top of me she kissed me, well I can tell it was wonderful, a moment to saviour and I did for the rest of my life. We where due to meet in January 2008 to repeat this scene, now it will remain the highlight of my life and Sally's. Love you Sally Rebecca S. Simpson xx xx xx Thank you for your letter Rebecca. To quote Paul Simon from 'Slip Slidin' Away' "She said a good day ain't got no rain She said a bad day is when I lie in the bed And I think of things that might have been" So sorry for your loss. Auntie Helga |