Steve Pittard: AMATEURS ABOLISHED! screamed the headlines in 1962, during cricket’s equivalent of the French revolution. Daily Telegraph correspondent EW Swanton condemned the change as ‘not only unnecessary but deplorable’. Moreover, it meant curtains for the traditional ‘Gentlemen versus Players’ fixture – cricket’s oldest rivalry – in which carefree cavaliers had crossed swords with paid… … Keep Reading
Brigadier Gerard de Piercy: There can be few sporting events in the calendar that delineate the lingering vestiges of the British class system as clearly as Ascot in June. Royal patronage of the meeting dates back to the purchase of Ascot Heath as a place to race horses by Queen Anne in 1711. A keen… … Keep Reading
“This photo was taken at the Tweed Run, writes Christopher Vincent. “I had a barber chair set up and was doing tache fix-ups. I work at Murdock London if by chance you’d like to pop in for a trim and a shave.” Sir, that is extremely gracious of you and we initially wondered whether we… … Keep Reading
“My name is Christopher Stewart Bentley, and I spent my stag do in quite comfortable attire, does this make me a chap?” We would be quite happy to pass on Christopher Vincent’s kind offer of a trim and a shave at Murdock London to Master Bentley – but what would be the point? Once that piece… … Keep Reading
“Just a quick snap before popping out to the theatre,” writes Michael T. Atherton. “Does my attire meet your high standards in the pursuit of Chapdom?” What kind of theatre were you popping out to, dressed in country tweeds? Theatre of the Absurd? … Keep Reading
“Hi – just thought I’d send some snaps of a recent ‘chaps’ night out,” writes Raymond Brown. “It started off at a shooting centre, where we took part in a typical chap pastime; the shooting lodge was a perfect ‘chap’ environment. The night ended up in a club in Oxford where the ‘normal’ punters were… … Keep Reading
This poor fellow apologised for his scant wardrobe and the collection of books. Yes, he has a few more appropriate items of clothing to purchase, but nevertheless has a carriage and bearing that defy poverty. There is just one small caveat: we can’t quite read the title of the fat Penguin tome by his right… … Keep Reading
“We pair of long-term bachelors took this while in the former French colony of Morocco,” writes Keith. “Are we chaps?” No, but your houseboy’s getting on a bit, isn’t he? … Keep Reading
“Having married several years ago, and thus having formal daywear in my wardrobe, I have been wearing morning dress to pay my respects to the fallen on Remembrance Day for some time now. I think it appropriate. The morning dress is standard, but in fitting with Armistice, it is rigged with my corps tie, service… … Keep Reading
“Chaps are thin on the ground out here in the Antipodes,” writes Nigel Mason, “but I like to think I am doing my bit to uphold standards. I recently bought what I consider to be one of the ultimate Chap’s automobiles, a 1963 MkII Jaguar.” There is something so charming about this fellow that we… … Keep Reading
“My father used to say, ‘Son when you hunt Anaconda, hunt it in style’,” writes Owain Hopkins. And mine used to say, “A man wearing jeans deserves to be bitten by an Anaconda.” … Keep Reading
All well and good, and we admire your choice of tobacco blend – but you seem to have adapted your wardrobe to suit the suburban housing estate you have wandered into. Go to St James’s and do the same. … Keep Reading