Young Mrs. Slocombe

[cpl.er...Capt. Joe]

Don't ask me why I wondered this -- I don't know why -- I just did.

When Mrs. Slocombe was young, (before she was married, either when she was a land girl near Morris Moulterd or before she met Cecil) was she hot? Or was Mrs. Slocombe always "Juno-esque".

I'm not trying to objectify our Betty. I am more curious where she developed her haughty, sophisticated air. Was she once a great beauty and held on to that high self-image though the years? Or was she always plain and somewhat frumpy, which made her self-conscious of her looks, so that she demanded other people respect her accomplishments even more?:?

[Aidan Phoenix]

I think after Cecil walked out on her that's when she frumped up. It prevented anyone from really getting close to her again, which would have been painful if they left her like Cecil did. Mind you, a fling now and again would have suited her fine. (And I'm sure it did!)

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

I imagine she was a looker when she was younger. I think the air of a higher society are put on just because she doesn't want to be common.

[coldtap]

In the Grace and Favour episode where Cecil turns up, Betty goes into a meltdown about how he's all high-faluting now and she's always just been a shop girl. So, to her, working in a shop is common and she would have always felt that way. She would try to modify her behaviour to counteract that. She'd try to put on some airs so that nobody for a moment would think she was just a shop girl. Only thing worse than being a shop-girl was being a nippy. :D

My grandparents freaked out when my aunt got a job in a dept store in the 40s. Sounds ridiculous now, but it happened.

[coldtap]

I think after Cecil walked out on her that's when she frumped up. It prevented anyone from really getting close to her again, which would have been painful if they left her like Cecil did. Mind you, a fling now and again would have suited her fine. (And I'm sure it did!)

I agree, Cecil obviously left her gun-shy!

I'm not for a moment admitting that Mrs Slocombe of any era is a frump, but she certainly wasn't one in her youth. She has the basis of a good figure under the tiny bit of extra padding added by the years ;) and given her adventurous nature I'd say she would have given the Lucases of her day more than a run for their money.

[Lucas The Tucas]

:? I think that she was a beauty.

Or the American Air Force, was very drunk. :lol:

[Bionic Grainger]

In Grace and Favour - Morris Multerd mention that Mrs. Slocombe had been a "Big old strapping Land Girl". Don't know if he meant big as in overweight or as in busty???

[BasilBJr]

I think the description of "walloping" Mr Moulterd described her as meant busty and curvaceous; she had curves in all the right places. That's a more common beauty type than the rail thin type. Frumpy girls don't come in third in beauty contests.

Remember that sometime after Cecil left, she lived with the Brush Saleman, and don't forget her month-long relationship with the unseen Mr Mataxis. Even in G&F she said she was keeping an eye out for available men of property. Betty may get wounded for a bit, but she never gave up.

[Aidan Phoenix]

Looking at Brahms and Slocombe side by side, Slocombe is actually a bit smaller around the waist it seems. She still had curves and such. Pity she could be such a dragon.

[anglophile31]

In Grace and Favour - Morris Multerd mention that Mrs. Slocombe had been a "Big old strapping Land Girl". Don't know if he meant big as in overweight or as in busty???

I always assumed that he meant she was a bit overweight. I pictured the young Mrs. Slocombe as a bit on the heavy side, but somewhat pretty. I'm sure she was also more self-confident in her youth, which made her more attractive to the opposite sex.

[cpl.er...Capt. Joe]

Maybe that is how I should have phrased the question. Was Betty prettier than Miss Brahms when she was her age?

But boy that would be tough as Shirley was incredible at the start of the show.

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

I think Shirley was still a looker by the shows end. I think Slocombe may have been a looker in her day but not as "looker" as Shirley.

[cpl.er...Capt. Joe]

It isn't a newsflash by any means, but the Ladies' Department uniforms were so unflattering that both women were disadvantaged by them. But the as the series went on, to me it seemed they tried to take the sexiness out of Miss Brahms' character. Comedically, it was important all along to de-emphisize Mollie's looks.

[Greg WibblyWobbly]

It isn't a newsflash by any means, but the Ladies' Department uniforms were so unflattering that both women were disadvantaged by them. But the as the series went on, to me it seemed they tried to take the sexiness out of Miss Brahms' character. Comedically, it was important all along to de-emphisize Mollie's looks.

:slochead: "True ....."

[coldtap]

It isn't a newsflash by any means, but the Ladies' Department uniforms were so unflattering that both women were disadvantaged by them. But the as the series went on, to me it seemed they tried to take the sexiness out of Miss Brahms' character. Comedically, it was important all along to de-emphisize Mollie's looks.

I was just thinking last night how awful it was when they changed to the waistcoat and pleated skirt. A skirt pleated from the waist is not an easy look to wear unless you're a stick. I preferred the first uniforms.

[anglophile31]

A skirt pleated from the waist is not an easy look to wear unless you're a stick. I preferred the first uniforms.

I feel the same way. :yes:

[offthefloor]

I think she used to be a bit of a looker in her younger days. I always got the impression she was resentful towards the younger ladies of Grace Brothers like Miss Brahms, Miss Bakewell et al and the attention they get because there was a time when she got that same attention and now well...she doesn't get it so much anymore except in bars with men who are probably not completely sober.

[BasilBJr]

As a companion to this topic I wonder what Mr Moulterd looked like as a young man. I see him as earthy, but with as rustic appeal that some women, like Rachel Yiddel, found appealing. It looked to me like he had blond hair, maybe it was was longer and thicker. Underneath his rating coat he was rather buff, from doing all those farm chores. It wasn't until after his wife left him that he let himself go.

[anglophile31]

As a companion to this topic I wonder what Mr Moulterd looked like as a young man. I see him as earthy, but with as rustic appeal that some women, like Rachel Yiddel, found appealing. It looked to me like he had blond hair, maybe it was was longer and thicker. Underneath his rating coat he was rather buff, from doing all those farm chores. It wasn't until after his wife left him that he let himself go.

That sounds about right to me. :yes: I bet young Moulterd and young Slocombe made an attractive couple.

[Simon]

I've always thought she was a very foxy lady in her younger days, perhaps bot as slim as Miss. Brahms, but certainly had curves in all the right places and you'd probably not decline her an offer of a dance if she asked you.

[Aidan Phoenix]

Looking at photos of Mollie when she was younger, I wouldn't decline anything she offered me. :brow:

[Sienna]

Looking at photos of Mollie when she was younger, I wouldn't decline anything she offered me. :brow:

:lol:

I do think Mrs Slocombe was very attractive when she was younger :yes: