On a normal morning in Winchester, the streets are crowded with sullen teenagers mooching in sleepy phalanxes to school, scruffy in their school uniforms, a hormonal march of the penguins. My three teenagers are usually among them. Today, however, the city was treated to a different spectacle: hoards of adolescents in hoodies.
That’s right, it’s a non-school uniform day, on account of charity. They were supposed to wear bright colours, but – have you noticed? – no teenager dares wear bright colours these days. So uncool. They were supposed to bring 50p for Red Nose Day, but this is 2023 and nobody carries cash. So off they went to join their generation on the move, two in black hoodies, one in grey.
It’s a non-school uniform day because of Red Nose Day – and many children had a spring in their step
But they had a spring in their step. For one day only, they had been released from the tyranny of the blazer.
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