Get tied up over smart or casual dress codes N

IT’S 60 years since Carry On Sergeant got its London premier and was released nationwide on an unsuspecting British public to start a cinematic franchise that lasted until 1992.

It resulted in 31 films, four Christmas Specials, a TV series and three stage plays.

Taking the lead roles in that first 1958 film was William Hartnell, who was also the first Dr Who, and Bob Monkhouse. Also in the cast were Kenneth Williams and Charles Hawtrey.

The Carry On films tapped into basic bawdy British humour and produced the memorably classic line from Kenneth Williams as Julius Caesar in Carry On Cleo: “Infamy. infamy. They’ve all got it in for me,” that was subsequently voted funniest ever one-liner in a Sky Movies Comedy poll.

Here are a few more to bring back memories. But can you identify the films they came from?

1 “Your rank?” “Well, that’s a matter of opinion.”

2 “Has she been chaste?” “All over Normandy.”

3 “I’ve got sore misgivings.” “You should put some talcum powder on them.”

4 “Don’t you think it’s time you came to church again?” “I was there last Sunday. I took the collection.” “I know. Next Sunday I want you to bring it back.”

5 “You’ve stood on my Indian dress.” “Sari.” “Don’t mention it.”

6 “You may not realise it but ICK Robinson interviewed the Prime Minister without a tie and re-launched that old debate about dressing properly. Whether men should wear a tie for business is a bit like whether women should wear high heels rather than flat shoes in the same circumstances.

Men have adorned their necks for thousands of years. Egyptian pharaohs were partial to ceremonial neckwear and for centuries everyone from slaves to soldiers wore scarves as protection against sun or frost or to wipe sweat or blood from their eyes.

Then the Elizabethans launched ruffs and high fashion neckwear was created.

For most of the last century, anyone with middle class pretensions wore a shirt and tie.

When I left school, I became a Tootal tie boy: I sold them in an emporium left over from another age that bore a passing resemblance to Grace Brothers. My year as a sales assistant in the gentlemen’s department (I’m free!) also led me to discover cravats which I began wearing in the belief they made me look like Dirk Bogarde. They didn’t.

Once into journalism, a tie was essential at courts, councils, funerals and meeting the general public. A notebook and a tie were part of the uniform. I was once a weak man.” “Once a week is enough for any man.”

7 “What afoot?” “It’s that funny shaped thing on the end of your leg.”

8 “Here, we just had a leak in the hold.” “Oh did you? Well next time do it over the side.”

9 “It’s a genuine mammoth, that is.” “Don’t be silly, Charlie.”

“Straight up. It said so on the shop window: Mammoth Fur Sale.”

10 “It’s an enigma, matron. An enigma.” “I’m not having another one of those.”

Carry On answers below:

Ties went slim in the 1960s and kipper-wide in the 70s.

After that I stopped wearing them but kept one in a desk drawer at the office in case circumstances demanded.

For decades, my preference has been for casual wear and I haven’t worn a tie since the turn of the century.

If smartness is required, I wear shirts with grandad collars, even for funerals, although three years ago, when I wore a white one buttoned to the neck to give the eulogy at a cremation, half the congregation thought I was the vicar.

So why should anyone be expected to wear a tie to be taken seriously?

Donald Trump wears one and no one takes him seriously. Billionaire Sir Richard Branson cannot abide them and says they curb creative thinking and look where creative thinking has taken him. And a survey said only 12% of men now wear a tie to work.

I have only three of the said items which I keep for sentimental reasons: a Dennis the Menace tie, my old school tie and an Irish rugby union tie that was given to my daughter by Irish legend Donal Lenihan. So, no more ties for me, not even for my funeral. I want to be comfortable in eternity.

Mind you, I do like high heels. But I can’t wear them for long. They make my legs hurt.