I’ve started wearing my Liverpool University Engineering scarf again in this weather.
My University Scarf Rides Again
You don’t seem to see as many university scarves as you did, when I went to University in the 1960s.
But in this weather it’s very warm.
February 22, 2013 - Posted by AnonW | World | Clothes, Liverpool University
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What this blog will eventually be about I do not know.
But it will be about how I’m coping with the loss of my wife and son to cancer in recent years and how I manage with being a coeliac and recovering from a stroke. It will be about travel, sport, engineering, food, art, computers, large projects and London, that are some of the passions that fill my life.
And hopefully, it will get rid of the lonely times, from which I still suffer.
Why Anonymous? That’s how you feel at times.
The Anonymous Widower
I envy you. I went to university in the 1970s and kept my university scarf (Rutherford College, Kent University), as well as my graduation gown and mortar-board, until 1999. At that time I had been living in Greece for years and took a couple of weeks holiday in the UK with my two sons. My (Greek) husband decided to have a clean-out while we were away and gave my university scarf and mortar-board to a charity. He didn’t find my gown and so was unable to parcel that up with them. I still have my gown.
I was very unhappy about this and have never forgiven him. Coincidentally, a few years later, the boys and I left him and came back to England to live.
Keep hold of your Liverpool University Engineering scarf!
Comment by Janice Mermikli | February 22, 2013 |
I never had a gown and mortar board. I think we just hired them for the degree ceremony.
I’ve still got my late wife’s Liverpool University Arts scarf too. But I haven’t got the one from when she did law afterwards at University College London, as I don’t thin she ever got one!
Comment by AnonW | February 22, 2013 |
I bought my gown and mortar-board instead of hiring them (as most of my friends did) because I wanted them as keepsakes.
Losing the scarf and mortar-board because of my husband’s thoughtlessness was not my greatest regret, though. By far the greatest was the fact that I turned down the offer of a place to do a PhD on a full grant and took myself off to Greece to live instead. This changed the course of my life, probably for the worse.
Comment by Janice Mermikli | February 22, 2013
I too have started wearing my Liverpool University scarf again. It is 6′ long and made of coarse wool. The colours ran slightly when my wife decided to give it a wash (women are so hygienic…) after a mere 20 years. The label did say ‘dry clean only’! When I studied at Liverpool U. in the 1980’s, it was possible to buy a different beautiful scarf for each faculty. A wonderful shop called Watson Prickard in Liverpool used to stock the different types, although I believe that the shop’s now closed. Anyway, the faculty scarves were like the white and two-tone blue ‘default’ one which I own, but with an additional narrow coloured stripe added. I recall that these were something like orange for Engineering, green for Science and red for Medicine. I think that the Arts students just had the blue and white ‘default’ scarf. I cannot remember whether the dentists, vets and others had their own scarf or not. I’d love to be able to buy these faculty scarves again, but I believe the Guild of Students shop doesn’t currently stock them (although they do sell the ‘default’ blue and white one either online or at their shop adjacent to the Old Union), and I’ve never seen any for sale. If anyone knows where I could get one, please let me know!
Comment by David | April 15, 2013
I could have done a PhD on a full grant too, but got married instead. Although I had no regrets about that. I keep talking about doing a PhD, but never seem to get round to it.
Comment by AnonW | February 22, 2013 |
I got married instead, too, and had children, but I wish I had taken up the option of the PhD instead and still have those regrets.
Now I am retired and feel too old to do much about it. To paraphrase Heraclitus, you can’t cross the same river twice.
Comment by Janice Mermikli | February 22, 2013 |
Thanks David There’s a lot of us old Liverpool University students about, including another in my road here in London.
Comment by AnonW | April 15, 2013 |
Where do you buy them ? I was there in the 60s and now live abroad. The temperature today was -30 deg C.I could really use one!
Comment by Geoffrey Allen | January 7, 2014 |
They are so warm, as they are thick wool. i have too, but only wear my University of Liverpool Engineering scarf. I also have my late wife’s Arts scarf.
I don’t know whether your university still has one. I don’t think Liverpool does! So eBay may be the only place.
Comment by AnonW | January 8, 2014 |
The Liverpool University Guild of Students Shop stocks the university scarf (but not the old faculty ones). There is also an online Guild shop. I think they are £30 or so.
Comment by David | January 18, 2014
My Engineering Faculty and Graduates ties are pretty well clapped out after 63 years – not to mention being post-war austerity width! Ravenscroft and Willis of Bold Street also seem to be defunct! Anyone know where updates might be obtained?
Comment by John Hounslow | February 20, 2014 |
I suspect the Alumni Office in the Foundation Building might know! I deal with Katie Davies.
Comment by AnonW | February 20, 2014 |
Just rescued my late dad’s scarf from my stepmother’s charity bag this christmas. Googled “Liverpool University scarf” and yours was the only result with the right colours. My dad wore it for many years after he graduated and it’s not as pristine as yours, but it’s still really warm 🙂
My dad studied Electrical Engineering at Liverpool from 1969 to 1972.
Comment by s | January 27, 2015 |
I left in 1968, but like your father did Electrical Engineering. So we probably had a lot of the same lecturers. It was a great place to be in the 1960s and still is today. The Electrical Engineering building would be just as your father saw it, if you went there today.
Comment by AnonW | January 27, 2015 |
Hi. I can’t find a Liverpool University scarf anywhere! It’s tragic and inexplicable but no one seems to make them anymore. Can anyone set me right? Also, there was a Liverpool University faculty whose scarf had a lovely racing green stripe running through it – does anyone know which faculty that belonged to? Thank you kind people!
Comment by Frankie | October 10, 2015 |
Hi Frankie, The scarf with the slim emerald green stripe running through it was for the Faculty of Science. It was beautiful, and I haven’t seen one since the 1980’s. I would keep an eye out on eBay or Etsy for a second-hand one, since I don’t think the Guild of Students’ online shop have the faculty scarves currently.
Comment by David | November 22, 2016 |
I’m trying to find a scarf like the one in the photo for sale. New. Can you direct me to a link. Thanks.
Comment by Tom Liston | October 19, 2015 |
I don’t think they’re made any more for Liverpool University. Have you tried eBay?
Comment by AnonW | October 19, 2015 |
I recently did some digging on this subject and it appears that many university scarves are and were made by a company called Luke Eyres Ltd., based in Ely (they have a website). They claim to be the oldest such firm in England. LE also offer a bespoke service where they will make a scarf to your own design, or will reproduce an old design. Plus they apparently maintain extensive archives of old/current college scarves. So, I have e-mailed them to ask how much this service might cost.
Comment by David | December 13, 2016
Many thanks. looking for a scarf for nephew who graduated in 2012. Much obliged, Happy new year!
Pauline
Comment by Pauline | January 3, 2022
Since I posted this nine years ago, I’ve had a couple of passers-by recognise it. Both had lost their own ones.
Comment by AnonW | January 3, 2022 |
I remember the scarf. Was in Electrical Engineeing 1970 – 1973, lost my original , trying to find a new one. Now living in South Carolina.
Comment by Neale wade | March 1, 2023 |
You occasionally see them for sale on eBay. There was one last week for a 1981 version from Watson Prickard’s old shop.
Comment by David | January 14, 2024 |
I discovered that the wonderful Cambridge shop Ryder & Amies (who also have a very good website) have started selling the University of Liverpool scarf. Not the ones made for specific faculties, but the navy blue, royal blue and white one. I’ve ordered one and it was quite pricey (£44 plus £4.90 postage, but I did get a further 10% off for Black Friday on top).
Comment by David | December 3, 2024 |
I’ve still got my wife’s blue and white one.
Comment by AnonW | December 3, 2024 |
Ryder & Amies should be able to make up bespoke scarf to replace the faculty scarf if you can give them a photo / description. They make plenty of bespoke ones for the various Cambridge societies. No doubt it will come with a bit of a cost premium.
Comment by Matthew | December 28, 2024 |