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The History of Eton Blue

Illustration by Lachlan Campbell

It is with some trepidation that I put pen to paper on this emotive subject, such is the maelstrom that it always seems to conjure up, with differing opinions, both informed and not and it is only recently that the School has finally decided the colour on which it will hang its hat.

To get a true idea of what this is all about one has to look back into the mists of time to understand why the subject has bought such heated debate.

Before 1860, there was no sporting colours other than the costumes worn by the oarsmen in the Procession of Boats on the 4th of June and Eton blue, worn first by the VIII in the 1820s and the XI in the 1850s.

How the colour was arrived at is a matter of conjecture and myth with several stories in circulation. They were undoubtedly invented by a 'Wet Bob' (the term used for those who row at Eton). Here are two of them:

One has it that around 1820 Eton and Westminster rowed for the right to choose their school colour, nobody knows who won, but Eton chose light blue.

The second is that the same two schools rowed for the right to wear pink (after the Leander Club). Eton lost, Westminster chose pink and Eton, light blue.

Illustration by Lachlan Campbell

Incidently one of the traditions that survives to this day is that the VIII and the XI are both entitled to wear white 'ducks' (white cotton trousers as opposed to flannel) with their school dress on certain occasions, including their house group photos.

After 1860, starting with their Field colours (scarlet and light blue) the other school sides adopted light blue as part of their colours.

The issue that has occupied the minds of many Old Etonian (OE) experts over the years is, as to what is Eton Blue.

One has to factor in several streams of information and tangible evidence to paint the picture. Until this year a myriad of Eton Blue iterations abounded, based on old colour prints, Cambridge Blue, faded scarves, shirts and caps owned by the school and OE's alike. These had been stored over many years either in sunlight or damp conditions which had led to fading and discolouration making the job of interpretation harder still to nail down.

To the rescue came E.C. Devereux's wonderful book on Eton Colours, the 'Bible' of all things to do with colours at Eton, from which a colour was arrived at, taken from the various colour plates as representative of all.

Eton accpeted the colour proposed by New & Lingwood and has now officially adopted Pantone 7464c as the chosen colour.

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