Welcome to the first issue of The Plimsole Digest !

To subscribe e-mail me on Tim@Harper85.freeserve.co.uk Letters /Photos or short stories,

In addition I'm also hoping to publish a list of shops that sell Plimsoles in large sizes, so names and address's of shops in the UK that sell Plimsoles would be very welcome.

Now a little about this Delightful slipper invented by "Samuel Lace" at the turn of the century I'm told, as a non slip deck shoe for sailors. Their are two schools of thought as to were it gets it's name, The first and most popular is that it was named after the Plimsoll line on ships ( a load line which circles a ship ) like the rubber side wall on a plimsoll. The second and one which I support, says that it was first made in the Village of Plimton in Devon and takes it's name from that i.e. Plim-Sole, these two theories I'm sure also explain why there are two different spellings in England for this slipper, Plimsole & Plimsoll. To confuse matters even more, in Devon Plimsoles are known as Daps.

"That's enough of the heavy stuff for this month. Next month I'll be looking at the fetish behind the Plimsole"

The making of Plimsole

But he couldn't deny they felt really comfortable, even thoe they did make him feel like he was a school boy getting changed for P.T. The assistant a pretty petite girl of around 25, "three years "P"s junior, suggested shorts and grey socks would show the plimsoles off better "P" hated shorts, but had no choice in the matter. Susan had agreed and "P" was lead to the curtained cubicle and curtly told to take off the new Plimsoles his socks and trousers. Susan pulled the curtain just half way across, "P" thought it safer not to touch the curtain and got undressed.

It seemed like ages as he stood there, listening to the girls giggling. He felt so silly standing in there in just his shirt and tie with no trousers or shoes on, anyone who came into the shop could see him luckily it was empty. The assistant came back and handed him a pair of elastic topped navy blue gym shorts and some long grey socks, these had two navy bands around the top that matched his shorts, you shouldn't wear knickers with these she said starring at his Y fronts, but don't suppose it will matter just this once, Now get dressed "PLIMSOLE", she said with an impish grin. That was a new turn to the days events being bossed around by the shop assistant ( Miss Elaine ) as well.

Quickly "P" got dressed feeling totally humiliated he padded back into the shop wondering what other plans Susan had for him. Both girls burst out laughing when they saw him in the kit and made a point of walking around him to inspect the fit of the new clothes, you were right about the plimsoles they look much better with shorts and socks, Susan said tapping "Ps" plimsoled foot with the sole of her pointed stiletto, leaving a dusty sole print on the plimsole's once spotless black canvas upper. I can see I'll have to keep an eye on those plimsoles, in future dirty plimsoles will earn a slippering as she spoke she casually ground her other shoe into the spotless canvas of his other plimsole, and those legs are much too hairy for shorts the assistant volunteered, "P" breathed a sigh of relief thinking he'd got out of wearing the shorts, not to worry I can soon fix that with a razor, Susan retorted ignoring "Ps" pleading look.

To his amazement Susan walked over to the counter and picked up one of the discarded black lace ups he'd tried on earlier, ripping out it's partially threaded lace with a force that nearly made "P" jump out of his skin ! Right lets have you running on the spot, she ordered tapping the lace less plimsole on her hand, we need to be sure it all fits don't we ? she said questioning the assistant, with that "P" took off at a fair pace while the giggling women barked orders, legs higher, right up on those toes boy lets see those new plimsoles flexing. "P" received about 6 slipper slaps to his legs as a livener ! and was really relived when he was eventually allowed to stop. Susan told "P" not to bother about changing " as if she was doing him a real favour " just get your clothes from the cubicle and put them in that bin, Miss Elaine will dispose of them for you "thank Miss Elaine nicely PLIMSOLL". Like an obedient little dog "P" knelt down and thanked the assistant as he'd been trained to do in the past, eyes to her shoes as he did so. He then got his clothes from the cubicle as ordered and dumped them in the bin.

Now we have a little treat for you as you've been such a good boy you can kit both me and Mistress Elaine out in plimsoles, black slip ons, with that both ladies sat down and chatted, leaving "P" to run and get the plimsoles.

You'll have to wait till the next issue to find out what happens!

Letters

Plimsolls by Dave

I am still wearing plimsolls at the age of 52, if you would like to see my sneaker site it is at www.rhodes46.freeserve.co.uk

I am hoping to sell CD ROM's of sneakers, if you are interested please e-mail me.

Like you, I have been fascinated by plimsolls for years. I don't really know where this fascination started, but it has haunted me for as long as I can remember. I thought that it was just me until I purchased a PC and discovered the wonders of the Internet. I spent hours and hours surfing the web for links to like minded people, and finally came across 'Daves Green Flash Page'; a good page in itself, but not quite what I was looking for. Then one day I found what I ad been searching for : some pictures of REAL plimsolls. I can remember my whole body trembling with excitement. They were posted by Tim who assured me that I was not alone.

I have promised to contribute to this digest, and will do so. My story is not really very exciting, but may prompt you into writing in.

Letter from Surrey

I attended a primary school in North London in the 50s and discipline was maintained usually with a slap to the back of the thigh, or in the case of an elderly Welsh lady, the rule across the palms of the hands.

The plimsoll was not used by any of the teachers. Many of the children wore black plimsolls to school but you also had to have a pair in your PT bag, usually slip-ons. The PT equipment was kept in a large walk-in cupboard in the main hall and with the rubber crash mats and discarded plimsolls, lost property, there was always a heavy smell from the cupboard when the door was opened.

In my final year at the school a new male teacher arrived to take the top class. About three weeks into term we had been set some work to do in silence and there was the occasional murmuring. The teacher announced that the next person to talk would be slippered and silence descended once more, but not for long. A boy and girl exchanged comments and they were told to go to the front of the room. They were reminded what would happen to the next to talk and the teacher took a large black slip-on plimsoll from the drawer of his desk. He told the girl to turn so she was sideways on to the class and to bend over and touch her toes. He whacked her bottom over her skirt and she jumped up. She was told to bend over again and took another before being told to stand in the corner with her hands on her head. The boy took his two without jumping up and he was sent to the other front corner. The plimsoll was not returned to the drawer but was put on the table near the blackboard.

The plimsoll was not used that often in our class after that, perhaps once each half term and I think only ever two whacks. What did happen, however, when an occasional visitor from another class. A younger pupil would knock on our classroom door and come in to give a note to our teacher. He would read the note and pick up the plimsoll. The pupil would be told to bend over and got his or her two whacks. Our teacher would then write on the note and send the pupil back to their class. I never got whacked but shall never forget the tension or fascination in the room whenever anyone was being whacked.

When I went to grammar school the plimsoll was used frequently in the gym to encourage slackers. A well worn white lace-up rested on the windowsill behind the wall bars.

For misbehavior or fooling around in the changing rooms before gym the master would send the boy to get the plimsoll and give three whacks across cotton gym shorts. Boys wore navy blue cotton shorts, nothing underneath, and white lace-up plimsolls. In winter we wore a white gym vest and for athletics also wore white ankle socks.

During the lesson the master may fetch the plimsoll himself and tap bottoms by way of encouragement to achieve the exercise set. I do remember climbing a rope a bit faster than I would normally have achieve as I heard the whack of the plimsoll on the shorts of the lad on the next rope. The cane was used by the Headmaster but the plimsoll was used by the female deputy Head on the girls. Anyway, I became attracted to the girls in their PT or sports kit, particularly at the start of term when some had brand new plimsolls and there were different styles appearing. I remember borrowing one girl's plimsolls and taking them home for the night. I wore them in my bed all night and managed to sneak them back into her kit bag the following day.

I started to buy plimsolls for myself and wife to wear around the house soon after we married, they were cheap and hard wearing. We wore slip-ons at home, instead of slippers and lace-ups if decorating a room. We still do as we find them comfortable and practical. Again if they get splashed with paint or wall paper paste then they are not too expensive to throw away, unlike modern trainers, which neither of us own.

About ten years ago I joined an adult schooldays re-enactment club and attended a day school with six other adult pupils. To even the number of boys and girls one of the boys dressed as a girl and I remembered my days at grammar school when I had first borrowed a pair of girls plimsolls to wear. If I dressed as a girl I could wear "girl's" plimsolls all of the time. I started to buy girls PE kit and then a full school uniform - Clare was born.

Letter from Clare

I'm sure this publication will grow in strength and quality as you all make your own contributions!