I was in downtown Southampton recently and found to my delight that the city centre was ablaze with
Graduates all well gowned some of the Men sporting white shirts and gowns and I also spotted a man
wearing a blue shirt and gown but the Ladies were gowned and part of the outfit was the high heels
that everyone in the Press takes delight in writing and talking about.
When I graduated in 1981 I was given a present of red high heel boots to wear and I got a note in my
pidgeon hole around the time we were all preparing for the Graduation at Winchester Cathedral that
I was "NOT" to wear high heels and low heels or flat heels were preferred as the Cathedral walkway
was not to experience any damage from the wearing of high heels and it reminded me of a few lines
I once recited at school as follows:
/Low heels, and high heels, sitting down together, Oh ......... County Down is beautiful and I lived
there ........./
However, the fashions change and there is a modern take which is a lot more interesting to look at
than what went before, and then there were the little Hats people who graduated with me wore and I
did not .......... I was a bit of a rebel in those days, but when all came out in the wash the compliments
went flying back and forth from myself : The Graduate to my Hairdresser a Frenchman known then as
Guy at Winchester and everyone swooned about the beauty of my hair and its absolutely lovely
styling ........... so although it looked like Graduation on the cheap it was a far cry from that and we all
pulled together rather like the Graduates of today at Southampton University and I often wonder what
today's Graduates might make of their attire ............. 3O Years ON!