Soon after the war the onesie continued to be useful (Kathryn Hughes, The line of duty, Saturday Review, 21 February). Aged 11, I had a red one – and as deep snow fell on 4-5 March 1946 I wore it for the one-mile walk to school.
The head wrote to my mother: “I shall be glad if Mary may discontinue wearing her snow suit to school. I have had several complaints from the staff that she has been flaunting it unnecessarily and causing a good deal of trouble.” I think my mother thought it hilarious, though the next day I wore the standard belted woollen coat.
My grandchildren have more effective bad-weather gear but when it snows really heavily their schools close and they go sledging.
Mary Foster
Matlock, Derbyshire
