Sloane Ranger
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The term Sloane Ranger (often pluralised to just Sloanes or Sloanies) originally referred to the lifestyle of upper-middle class young men and women living in west London. The term is a portmanteau of "Sloane Square", the fashionable and wealthy area of London most associated in the public imagination with Sloanes, and TV character the "Lone Ranger". The term "Sloane Ranger" was attached in the public imagination most particularly to women, the archetypal Sloane being Lady Diana Spencer, however the term is now also applied to men. Male Sloanes are more commonly referred to as "Hooray Henries".Template:Ref
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The Official Sloane Ranger Handbook
The term was popularised by British author Peter York in his book The Official Sloane Ranger Handbook (co-authored with Ann Barr); and its companion book, The Official Sloane Ranger Diary.
The exemplary female Sloane Ranger (FSR) as described by the book was Lady Diana Spencer before her marriage to Charles, Prince of Wales, however most SRs came from slightly less exalted backgrounds (i.e. county but not aristocratic). The MSR had no personified exemplar as such, rather a series of exemplary patterns to cling to. Typical of SRs were: patriotism; a belief in the various values of upper / upper-middle class culture; confidence in themselves and their place in the world; a fondness for / engagement with the countryside, in particular country sports; philistinism / anti-intellectualism. With regard to the two latter traits, "typical" ought to be emphasised. Not all Sloanes liked country sports (indeed, Lady Diana Spencer didn't), and not all Sloanes were philistines / anti-intellectuals. The reason why a proud philistinism was emphasised is possibly two-fold: SRs with their SR confidence were unembarrassed to admit the dislike of ballet, opera, modern art and James Joyce that most people feel; most public intellectuals of the 70s/80s were left wing, and to align oneself with the cultural values of a left wing intelligentsia was anathema to (typically) staunch Tory Sloanes.
Traditional values of the English upper and upper middle classes asserted themselves in the careers chosen, or the careers that were expected to be chosen, by young Sloanes. No shame attached itself to girls who failed academically and took on clerical jobs, since it was expected that even bright FSRs would only hold down a job until they met a husband. MSRs looked to the traditional careers of the British Army (not the Royal Navy or RAF since both had become perceived as slightly infra dig; the Royal Family might join the Navy, but they could get away with it being, well, royal), farming (as in, "I own half of Gloucestershire"), the law and the city. It might be noted that Sloanes who became lawyers, or even Sloanes who worked in the City could hardly be as thick as two short planks, and so contrary to popular belief having a double-barelled name didn't necessarily render one brain-dead. By the 70s / 80s Sloanes had also started to fill the ranks of estate agents, chartered surveyors, wine merchants etc.
Sloane Territory
Although Sloanes are more widely spread than often believed they are mainly restricted to expensive and trendy tracts of West London, most famously Sloane Square, the Kings Road, Kensington High Street, and other areas of Kensington, Chelsea and Fulham. The Pubs, Bars and Clubs in these areas are notorious Sloane hangouts, in particular the White Horse Pub, known as the "Sloaney Pony".
Public schools in general have a reputation for being Sloaney, however a number of schools are regarded as particularly Sloaney, including Ampleforth, Charterhouse, Eton, Harrow, Marlborough, Radley, Rugby, Stowe, Winchester, Cheltenham Ladies' College, and Wycombe Abbeyand of course Surbiton High School.
Most Sloanes aspire to attend the elite universities of Cambridge and Oxford, and a number of other universities have reputations as havens for Sloanes, mainly older red brick institutions like Bristol, Exeter and York.
Sloanes Today
Template:POV-section More recent examples of the Sloane Ranger include the likes of Lady Victoria Hervey and Tara Palmer-Tomkinson. MSRs still wear Barbours, but not as much as they did; FSRs, being almost painfully fashion conscious, wouldn't be seen dead in a pair of court shoes - messy hair, dangly ear-rings and pashminas all the way (that's actually too restrictive, FSRs do dress differently, the common factor is that they tend, being affluent, to dress very well.) The city is now seen as a bit less Sloane than it was, longer hours, more Germans, a bit spivvish, but... Sloanes themselves have changed, are far more ambitious and career conscious than they were, and feel more at home at Deutschebank than their predecessors 25 years ago would have done. Sloanes still may own half of Gloucestershire, but they may just as easily set up a small organic farm and sell celeriac by the kilo, or else market bacon from "happy pigs". However, a Sloane doesn't vote Labour. 25 years ago the odd Sloane might have voted Labour, but not now. And post the hunting ban Sloanes have become a lot more pro-field sports (this has also contributed to them becoming a lot more anti-Labour). Unlike the rest of the country they weren't taken in by Tony Blair - he was too much like the ingratiating sod they remembered from school.
Applied to a younger, school age generation, including the young royals like William and Harry,Template:Ref Sloanes can be seen to be a generic term for public school kids who are fairly happy being public school kids i.e. they talk with received pronunciation and don't wish they were from da ghetto. Less flippantly the same patterns of dress and attitude can be detected as amongst Sloanes of any age, though boys may tend to dress more trendily than a 25 year old SR would, and girls follow more easily the messy blond hair, pashmina, jangly things on arms, frayed denim mini skirt pattern. For a closer look at this particular subculture of Sloanedom a visit to the site linked below is recommended. Even if one's not interested a visit to the games arcade is recommended, containing as it does a number of absolutely stupidly addictive games. For a closer look at slightly older Sloanes go to Fulham. Or a reeling ball. Or if you're in Oxford the King's Arms or the Bridge on Tuesday night - can't move for the buggers.
Notes
See also
External links
- Sloaneys.co.uk - a light-hearted take on the Sloane phenomenon.