Wednesday 7 February 2018

The Tuck Box.



Many people won't know what this thing is, but let me assure you that it is an object of MAJOR importance to many a school boy or girl.

For those unlucky enough to be sent off to some sadistic educational establishment miles away from home, the 'tuck box' is a refuge to which one turns in times of despair.

At the beginning of each new term, it is packed with sweets, photos of one's dog (or parents), jars of Marmite, biscuits, cakes, and if one was not afraid of being bullied, maybe even a favourite teddy bear.

A good strong lock (or two) was essential on your tuck box, otherwise it would soon be emptied by some bastard latter day Bunter.

The only reason I'm writing this is that I saw one very similar to the above being auctioned on TV recently, where it was described as a 'small antique chest'. Not too sure about that; maybe I'm older than I think.

I don't know what happened to my own beloved tuck box; I would rather liked to have kept it.



29 comments:

  1. Here, while in college, mother's would send their kids "care packages" filled with similar treats. I sent many to my son while he was in the Navy. But none were packed in so nice a tuck box. Wish I had one of those.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mother's always worry about their sons eating properly.

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  2. Father of son who was sent to boarding school (more elegantly put: Public School) at the tender age of eight often used to reminisce about his tuck box. Until this morning I'd never seen one; always remained an object clearly of desire and affection to him, and mysterious to me.

    By the way, and I never asked him, why are independent schools called Public Schools when, obviously, they are anything but? Yes, I know I can google it but I'd rather hear it from you.

    U

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I believe the term is used to suggest that they are open to people of all religions, social status, wealth, etc. As long, of course, that they can pass the rigorous entry exams.

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  3. Presumably only boys had one - I didn't have the luxury.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm surprised you didn't have one; I must ask Lady M.

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    2. She says she didn't have one either.

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  4. I have a plain wooden box with initials and a birth date engraved on it. It was my grandfather's war "tuck box"
    Greetings Maria x

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    Replies
    1. They usually had a name printed on the top; mine did.

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  5. You poor thing. Food parcels from home. How you must have suffered. You're making up for it now though ;-)

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    Replies
    1. I won't say that I suffered, but a wee supply of private goodies was always reassuring.

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  6. I read loads of Enid Blyton boxes where tuck boxes had a mention. I'd always wondered what they looked like and the size. That wouldn't last my own son a term. The chocolate would be gone in a day or two.

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    Replies
    1. They always had a name printed on the top (Smith minor, etc), and usually a heavyweight padlock on the front. Otherwise just as the above.

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  7. Did you manage to make the contents last throughout the term?

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    Replies
    1. I don't think so, but the boxes were then used as 'safes' for the rest of the term.

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  8. I never knew what they exactly were for. I have read about them but imagined they were much smaller. I can see why you wished you still had yours.

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    Replies
    1. It would still have proved very useful. I think it must have rotted away.

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  9. I am sure boarding school has its pluses, but for many, it had to be difficult. Having a taste of home in your Tuck Box had to be consoling during some lonely days.

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    Replies
    1. A link with home, which calms the horrors of each new term.

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  10. Yes, I saw thatone on Antiques Road Trip too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't like their description of 'Small antique chest'. It made me feel very old.

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  11. I was always envious of 'posh' kids with their boarding schools and tuck boxes, it sounded like one big adventure. I didn't realise the heartache and home sickness that so many children must have suffered.

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    Replies
    1. We just gave the 'home sick' ones a good kicking, and then they were fine. (not really)

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  12. I, being the girl of the family, didn't have one of those.

    I do remember two trunks having to be collected from the local railway station, a day or two in advance of two schoolboys being collected at the same station. Trunks were always sent on in advance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was called PLA (passenger Luggage in Advance). I remember it well.

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  13. It's a useful, hansom box and could have so many uses if you still had yours

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The more I think about it, the more I miss it.

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  14. Tuck box must be where our term tucker box came from, tucker being food.

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  15. As just a mere mortal, who managed to go to a total of 8 state schools (father's job) the one thing that most schools had was a 'tuck shop'. In exchange for a few pennies, you you could buy a Wagon Wheel, KitKat, or bag of Smiths Crisps, with the little blue bag of salt...nowadays they'd only be allowed to buy raw carrot sticks or organic yoghurts.

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