A Tale Of Two Ties

By AlanQuin
July 13 2006

As an elderly gentleman of conservative dress habits I am the possessor of a large number of club ties acquired over the years. There are ties of my old school and my house there; hockey clubs, the service and units in which I once served; cricket clubs and social clubs and legal societies.

Some have seen many years of use while others hang in the wardrobe unused as entitlements and memberships have lapsed and their significance has diminished.

These ties come in numerous shades of blue, maroon and green with modest stripes and discreet crests and emblems. But among them are two, well used and rather more garish than most. They are, however, the two which I treasure most. One is, of course, the multicoloured tie of Harlequin Football Club. It is that confection of magenta, chocolate, French grey and light blue which I wear with pleasure at every Quins’ match I attend. Over the years I have retired several such ties worn out in service. The new season back in the Premiership will see the latest incumbent pressed into service.

But this week there comes out of winter hibernation in my wardrobe that other bright and immediately recognisable yellow and orange confection, the tie of the Marylebone Cricket Club. Rather belatedly, it signifies the arrival of summer and all the anticipation and excitement that accompanies a Test Match at Lords. The pleasure, too, of that garish piece of silk, which one languished on the waiting list for twenty years to have the privilege of wearing.

Sixty-one years since my first such event and I am still as excited as was that eager young boy who watched Hammond and Keith Miller in the 4th Victory Test Match of 1945. A long and hopefully sunny day of good cricket, or rather three days for me; meetings with old friends and the pleasure of a walk through The Long Room among other delights await me.

I cannot boast of that length of devotion to Rugby. I was much longer in the tooth by the time I came to discover Harlequins. But the multicoloured tie, too, still provides intimations of both anticipation and future delight. As the present month ends and August arrives, so too do Harlequins. Although the climate of the Auvergne will probably not be appropriate for the wearing of a tie, mine will certainly travel to France - just in case. I can always take to flying it as flag from my hire car!