|
Nicknames in Box Bill Cooper October 2022 In the years when Christian names were repeatedly reused in families, the descriptions “junior” or “John Smith III! was totally inadequate. Juniors grew up and had to change to being “Seniors”, whilst the numbering system often had no starting point or termination. Sometimes middle names were used but often nicknames were attributed to identify individuals. Our regular correspondent, Bill Cooper, gave more details. In the era around the Second World War, Box was great for nicknames, most of which did not stick. One that did, however, concerned the Andrews Family mentioned in the last issue. My friend, Donald Andrews, was always called 'ICKEY' by us children. I don't know the reason for the name or what caused it. The article mentions the reuse of clothes and everything was rationed back then (including clothes). Of course, the allocation of ration coupons was never enough. Personally, I don't recall Ickey being any scruffier than the rest of us, so possibly we all had hand-me-downs. Left to Right the three Andrews brother in the scouts: John, Donald (seated) and Jim Andrews (courtesy Elaine Smith) |
|
Ickey was very friendly with Billy Hall, a very near neighbour at Barn Piece. I remember them both deciding to play truant from school one morning. But it didn’t go well. The morning time at school was very long and, in a place like Box, mums would gossip, knowing everyone’s business as well as their own. Anyway, somebody snitched to the school and headmaster, Mr Adams, was waiting for them after lunch.
I also knew Ickey’s brother Jim very well – no nickname for him. Jim was a stalwart in the Box Rovers football team midfield along with Len Shewring. I remember crawling home with Jim, past the Northey Arms, in the early hours one morning after a riotous Christmas Party at Sunnyside.
I also knew Ickey’s brother Jim very well – no nickname for him. Jim was a stalwart in the Box Rovers football team midfield along with Len Shewring. I remember crawling home with Jim, past the Northey Arms, in the early hours one morning after a riotous Christmas Party at Sunnyside.
More Nicknames
I only know the origin for a few of the names in Box. Some are quite obvious, such as Taffy Boulton and need no explanation but others derive from more peculiar circumstances. Brian Week's nickname was Blewey Weeks and has its origins in a 1940s pantomime by Mildred Brunt when he was dressed in a blue suit. The grocer's shop on the corner of Chapel Lane was run by William Ponting who was known as Squeaker Ponting because the till in the shop made an unusual noise when opened. Hubert Sawyer's nickname of Bunno started in a childhood game when the children imitated animals and Hubert chose to be a rabbit. The name stuck with him as an adult and secretary of the Box Cricket Club. Ernest Barnett was called Kruger going back to his army service in the Boer War.
Other nicknames are more obscure such as Brian Cleverley was always called Eye-eye Cleverley; Gordon Fortune called Babe;
Ralph Jefferies known as Camfer; and Ray Strange called Baggy.
I only know the origin for a few of the names in Box. Some are quite obvious, such as Taffy Boulton and need no explanation but others derive from more peculiar circumstances. Brian Week's nickname was Blewey Weeks and has its origins in a 1940s pantomime by Mildred Brunt when he was dressed in a blue suit. The grocer's shop on the corner of Chapel Lane was run by William Ponting who was known as Squeaker Ponting because the till in the shop made an unusual noise when opened. Hubert Sawyer's nickname of Bunno started in a childhood game when the children imitated animals and Hubert chose to be a rabbit. The name stuck with him as an adult and secretary of the Box Cricket Club. Ernest Barnett was called Kruger going back to his army service in the Boer War.
Other nicknames are more obscure such as Brian Cleverley was always called Eye-eye Cleverley; Gordon Fortune called Babe;
Ralph Jefferies known as Camfer; and Ray Strange called Baggy.
Elaine Smith confirmed that the nickname given to Donald Andrews of "Ickey" came from his childhood and was given to him by his grandfather. Incidentally, Bill Cooper' real name is Alan but he was called "Bill" by his family and the name stuck whenever he is in Box, except for pupils in his Box School class (such as Audrey Eyles) who use the name "Alan", imitating the school register.
The use of nicknames is a fascinating subject which merits more investigation. Most of the placenames in Box derived from nickname descriptions which may or may not be relevant today, such as "Longsplatt", "Short Hill" and "Ashley". We welcome any more suggestions for unusual resident nicknames or ideas about the origin of names, either personal or place names.
We will do our best to publish the whacky ones but no personal, derogatory names please.
The use of nicknames is a fascinating subject which merits more investigation. Most of the placenames in Box derived from nickname descriptions which may or may not be relevant today, such as "Longsplatt", "Short Hill" and "Ashley". We welcome any more suggestions for unusual resident nicknames or ideas about the origin of names, either personal or place names.
We will do our best to publish the whacky ones but no personal, derogatory names please.