In my first job, one of my colleagues stoutly insisted that he was working class, although he had been to a minor public school (on a scholarship, possibly?), worked in an office in the middle of London - to which he bicycled - and spent much of his spare time reading Dickens and listening to jazz. It never struck me as a very accurate description, but he was adamant.
My grandmother, born illegitimate in the East End, was always working class, but her son (my father) got a scholarship to the local public school and went into the Army as an officer. Basically, he 'upgraded' to middle class. There is fluidity, but there are so many subtleties...
Jilly Cooper wrote a surprisingly sharp book on class which among other things defined different grades of middle-classness. Samantha and Gideon Upward were the "wanting to behave like the upper class" people, making their kids say 'looking-glass' instead of 'mirror' and sending them to public schools if they possibly could. Jen Teale had net curtains and doilies, and insisted that serviettes be used.
Wrt the Who companions, I liked Rose but identified instantly with Martha. Definitely a class distinction.
NB Pls to be remembering that 'public school' in Britain is a place of privilege.
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In my first job, one of my colleagues stoutly insisted that he was working class, although he had been to a minor public school (on a scholarship, possibly?), worked in an office in the middle of London - to which he bicycled - and spent much of his spare time reading Dickens and listening to jazz. It never struck me as a very accurate description, but he was adamant.
My grandmother, born illegitimate in the East End, was always working class, but her son (my father) got a scholarship to the local public school and went into the Army as an officer. Basically, he 'upgraded' to middle class. There is fluidity, but there are so many subtleties...
Jilly Cooper wrote a surprisingly sharp book on class which among other things defined different grades of middle-classness. Samantha and Gideon Upward were the "wanting to behave like the upper class" people, making their kids say 'looking-glass' instead of 'mirror' and sending them to public schools if they possibly could. Jen Teale had net curtains and doilies, and insisted that serviettes be used.
Wrt the Who companions, I liked Rose but identified instantly with Martha. Definitely a class distinction.
NB Pls to be remembering that 'public school' in Britain is a place of privilege.