Rainwear Central Rainwear Forum

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00sh3pm
radio programme called 'Uncool Britannia' on 'The Pakamac Tears'
Please give your opinion and criticisms

You beat me to it. I hadn't noticed your post before I added mine under Pictures and Videos.

Sorry for the duplication.

Jeff.

The pakamac years for me were signified by the annual or trip to Wildings in Swansea for a new navy nylon pakamac. It would have to be below knee length, and be of the traditional button up style - a Peter Storm cagoule was well out of bounds. The shop was populated by the traditional type of shop assistant that rarely exists these days, and between them and my mother, I would be required to try on a number of different colours and lengths before settling on the mackintosh that would see me through school for another year or so.

This happened througout my school years, the last time in 1984, aged 17.

How I yearn to be taken in hand by a formidable mother figure or shop assistant once again.

Living in Swansea since 1980 I remember going into Wildings quite a few times. Mostly for school uniform which could only be bought from a few costly shops but sometimes for raincoats as well.
In 1982 I was about 11 years old and I can remember going with my mother and sister to Wildings for new coats.
I wanted one of the hooded snorkel parka type coats which were popular then but ended up with a thick Green PVC mackintosh and my sister ended up with a thin Red plastic mac. I can't remember much about the assistants except they would never leave anyone alone and always asked 100's of questions until you purchased what they thought you should have.
Looking back though the one thing I can remember is being made to try on at least six too large very squeaky new PVC Mackintoshes, I hated it then but I think I would love that sort of attention now !

First off,thanks for the link to the programme.I thoroughly enjoyed listening too it,although obviously it is intended to be aimed at a general entertainment/nostalgia audience rather than rainwear"anoraks"What interested me most,and always has,was why sensible practical clothing in considered "uncool"especially in Britain.The young peoples attitudes to umbrellas was interesting,although unless one is standing still on a windless day, umbrellas are pretty useless too.
Does my liking for wearing waterproofs and parkas in hot weather make me cool?I must look "hot"!
I used to carry a blue nylon Pacamac in my school briefcase.I could count the times I wore it on the fingers of one hand.

Jjai wrote:Living in Swansea since 1980 I remember going into Wildings quite a few times. Mostly for school uniform which could only be bought from a few costly shops but sometimes for raincoats as well.
In 1982 I was about 11 years old and I can remember going with my mother and sister to Wildings for new coats.
I wanted one of the hooded snorkel parka type coats which were popular then but ended up with a thick Green PVC mackintosh and my sister ended up with a thin Red plastic mac. I can't remember much about the assistants except they would never leave anyone alone and always asked 100's of questions until you purchased what they thought you should have.
Looking back though the one thing I can remember is being made to try on at least six too large very squeaky new PVC Mackintoshes, I hated it then but I think I would love that sort of attention now !

Totally agree Jjai. If there are any such ladies out there reading this now, please feel free to get in touch!!

Great programme...! Has anyone managed to download it though as I would like a copy to keep. It expires on the BBC site today but wonder if anyone knows how to rip it and save it or has done so?

For anyone that missed it, I've uploaded a copy to Sharemole http://sharemole.com/tvx9g5z8.

Hope everyone enjoys it...

MP2000

Thanks Max...!

thanks for that link, it made interesting listening, a definite reminder of those years when we all wore our plastic raincoats, pakamac or whatever other brand, and there were certainly plenty to choose from