Please can you explain pop to me? I don't understand it.
I'll try and break it down as best I can.
Pop was founded in 1811, originally as a "debating society". They are generally "B Blockers" (Year 13 - 17-18 years old).
They act as school prefects. Poppers' main duties include monitoring boys in chapel, signing in boys to certain events and acting as general doormen and lackeys.
Poppers wear a different uniform to everyone else, which is both distinguishable and cool. Besides the normal tailcoat they are allowed to wear grey spotted trousers and a waistcoat of their choice. The design of this waistcoat is entirely up to the wearer, which means that football team crests, national flags, fluorescent colours and even sequins are not uncommon. If there is a list of banned designs by the school it probably only covers pornographic material and anything Nazi-related.
becoming a popper is not easy. There’s no application process as such, but you have to stand out in such a way as to be eligible for a leadership role. In most cases this is by being good at sport, but in can be in other areas too, music and drama for instance.
The electoral system is a tad controversial. Every summer a committee meets to decide which C blockers will make up the Pop for the following academic year. This committee consists of both beaks (teachers) and current poppers, and they rely on recommendations from others and their own judgment to pick the lucky few.
In the early days, the boys used to meet above Mrs Hatton's lollypop shop on the High Street, and 'popina' is latin for a shop that sells food.
