The great day dawned and I was bathed and my hair washed in some special shampoo to make it lighter and shinier. I was made up with rouge and a touch of lipstick and the exciting costume was carefully put on! Everyone said I looked pretty good and the newspaper described me as “an adorable little page boy in a red velvet costume”.

As I walked into the town hall one of my brother’s friends said in a loud whisper ” you look like a girl!” I was angry, but somehow delighted, at this second comment regarding my girlish look!

And so the Wool Queen Ball encouraged the strong seed of my feminine side, which I am convinced was there from birth and was to grow over the years.

The following year I went to school for the first time. It was a co-ed school so I had my first brush with schoolgirls in their navy blue school uniforms, which consisted of gymslips, white shirts, and blue “sateen” panties to match. Short white socks and single strap black shoes completed the picture. I was entranced by those wonderful garments and whenever one of the girls bent over to pick something up I enjoyed a glimpse of smooth silky panties (sateen was a sort of soft shiny cotton material rather like my favourite satin.) I often wondered what it must feel like to wear such delicious garments and was desperately envious of the girls who were so lucky! I actively disliked my rough, drab, boring grey flannel shorts and even refused to wear underpants because I didn’t like having a Y-front!