A drawer filled with unused handkerchiefs has reminded HARRY COLE of their essential role in his childhood.

I HAVE kept all my handkerchiefs in a drawer for years. Anyone who doesn't know what to buy a bloke for Christmas or birthdays usually settles for handkerchiefs. This has a double result it proves they have not forgotten you and it doesn't cost much.

Yesterday, when I opened the drawer, I pulled it too far. This caused it to crash to the floor and handkerchiefs cascaded everywhere. It was only then I realised I have used the same few top ones for many a long day.

There were many other handkerchiefs there of all sizes which had not been out for years. There were dozens of them. Although mostly white, there were odd-coloured ones from the 1970s, with "odd" being the operative.

It was while I was picking them up I remembered the "old rag" drawer my mum used to treasure. It was the third one down in her chest of drawers. The drawer would contain pieces of rags, immaculately washed and ironed, which served as handkerchiefs for us kids.

In the 1930s, handkerchiefs were quite important at Charles Dickens Primary School. The headmistress, Miss Atkins, considered them vital. Although she did not actually object to rags, she was grudgingly content if they were ironed to look like handkerchiefs.

Her first request at the morning assembly was for us to show them. If everyone in our class had one, a large coloured notice could be displayed on the classroom door proudly announcing to the rest of the school: WE ALL HAVE HANDKERCHIEFS TODAY.

Now rags had an enormous advantage over proper handkerchiefs because a piece could be torn off and smuggled to any urchin who had forgotten theirs. Of course0, there was any obvious giveaway to this ruse. When some snotty-nosed kid whose face, hands and neck had not seen water for two days (and we had more than our share of those) suddenly displayed a square of immaculately-ironed white tablecloth, sheet or petticoat, suspicions should have been aroused. But if blowing the whistle on a dirty Dennis or a whiffy Wilma meant we could not display our Handkerchiefs Today board, it was a small price to pay. One big problem with this display was, it was essential the handkerchiefs had not been used before assembly. No matter the circumstances colds, hay fever or nosebleeds snitches must not be blown before 9am! The cuff of your jersey may have been as stiff as a board but at least you handkerchief would be pristine.

As I picked up the handkerchiefs, I decided to count them. Forty-one! I could have kitted out the whole class! Miss Atkins would have been pleased.

I wish I still had that board though.

l Some emails have been sent to me recently at the News Shopper, which in turn posts them to me. I am afraid I still live in the Dark Ages and my post is usually delivered via a note in a cleft stick. I do try to reply to letters but for fogies like me that is impossible for emails because there is no address shown. Please write including your address and phone number.

July 25, 2001 10:36