Sherlock Holmes

Now that really is nostalgia. I think I've lost mine.

sasbear

Hopscotch

DadAgain

I remember our school playground well (circa 1982?):

Boys would pretty much all play football on the playground - with a tennis ball and piles of school bags for posts. Teams varied from as little as 5 a side to as many as 16 a side depending on who was around. Teams were picked using the time honoured "Alternate Captains Choice" method that is designed to inflict maximum humiliation on the less athletic. I was never picked first, but never last either - 'middle-table respectability'!

Girls, for some reason favoured skipping or elastic based activities which involved running in and jumping over a long-ish rope wielded by too fierce maidens on each end. This whole activity occupied a lot of space!

Unfortunately this resulted in major turf wars. Young boys running around chasing a tennis ball would push girls out the way and interrupt the hypnotic rhythms of the rope and dodging the ropes was a significant hazard and interruption to the serious business of playground football.

After some discussion about the problem with the guys I proposed an innovative idea. We would highlight the ridiculously inefficient use of space that skipping ropes represented. I had a significant rope 'structure' between 2 large oak trees in my back garden, and with a little effort I was able to untie the thinnest rope - a blue nylon thing that wouldnt look out of place towing cars. It was (actually still *is* - its still in the parents garden tied to an oak tree, fashioned into a rope swing for my nephews enjoyed) about 60ft long and quite heavy to lug around. I brought it to school one day and at break time we set about the major task: We pulled out the rope and set up our 'skipping' territory. It was hard to get the thing swinging - but we did manage to occupy pretty much a full tennis court of playground - much the the annoyance of the girls! Who could only stand and watch while we dominated the space!

I don't remember getting into any particular trouble (I hadnt broken any rules) - or any long term resolution to the fundamental 'use of space' dispute ever occurring, but it was an interesting day - if only for the fact that for one day we didnt play football and all the boys attempted skipping for a while!

paulry

DIY go-carts (we called them bogies back then) - complete with pram wheels

Sherlock Holmes

Did anyone else push their Dinky / Gorgi toys around?

paulry

pitch and toss

Sherlock Holmes

I beg your pardon?

paulry

Rope swings, bonfires, rat-a-tat-ginger, mob, camping across the fields

paulry

Throwing coins against the wall and the one who throws theirs closest to the wall wins them all.

paulry

conkers

rasen78

That used to get so many boys into trouble at Grammar School Gambling dontcha know and that wasn't allowed

Sherlock Holmes

Thank you - had never heard of it.

Had never heard of it as didn't go to grammar school. (Went somewhere far better! )

brissybee

I suspect this could date me but anyway, here goes...

Marbles.

Jacks.

Averting eyes from the flasher at the hedge.

Famous 5

We used to do something similar, but with lower jumps and then used our space hoppers as our "horses".

Also, hopscotch, jacks, skipping, elastics......

carolinephillips

I was Urchfont's silver jubilee space hopper champion in 1977- won a jubilee mug!!