Folklore: Children's slides on ice

Subject: Folklore: Children's slides on ice
From: Paul Reade
Date: 08 Jan 25 - 08:20 AM

The current icy weather reminds me of my days at primary school in the early 1950s in Oldham, when we took great delight on making a slide on the snow and ice, as I'm sure children do still.

We called the slide a "slippicurry", often abbreviated to "curry". I'm now wondering whether this was possibly a Lancashire name, but I now live in Burnley and no-one here seems to have heard of it.

I'm enquiring if anyone else remembers the word, any ideas as to its origin, or if there other "local" names?

Subject: RE: Folklore: Children's slides on ice
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 08 Jan 25 - 09:09 AM

Down in South London we just called it a slide.

LFF

Subject: RE: Folklore: Children's slides on ice
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jan 25 - 09:44 AM

Next door, as it was then, in Shaw we called it a slide.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Children's slides on ice
From: GUEST,Georgina Boyes
Date: 08 Jan 25 - 01:05 PM

In the Sheffield area, we called it a "slur" - it would be interesting to know if the word is still used.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Children's slides on ice
From: Paul Reade
Date: 09 Jan 25 - 08:25 AM

Thanks Georgina. I remember now that we used to call the actual act of sliding "slurring".

Subject: RE: Folklore: Children's slides on ice
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 09 Jan 25 - 08:47 AM

In Swinton, Manchester, it was just a slide too. I was pretty useless at it and still can't stay upright on ice!

Subject: RE: Folklore: Children's slides on ice
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 09 Jan 25 - 09:31 AM

Yes,, we did it at school in the tarmac playground in the 1950s-60s, in Birmingham, though it was frowned on by staff, but we didn't have a fancy name for it.
RtS

Subject: RE: Folklore: Children's slides on ice
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 10 Jan 25 - 06:39 PM

In Belfast it was a slide. and it was fun until someone came and sprinkled ashes on it...

Subject: RE: Folklore: Children's slides on ice
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 11 Jan 25 - 12:05 PM

This has just reminded me: When I was in primary school, the lads used to nick drawing pins from the notice boards to push into the heels (and soles? ouch) of their shoes, then practice sliding on the stone floor in certain parts of the building. Methinks that could have been called an "all-weather slide", but I wasn't part of that group. Very noisy it was too, if I remember right.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Children's slides on ice
From: David C. Carter
Date: 11 Jan 25 - 01:42 PM

Down south we didn't call it anything,we just did it.

Along with building the highest wall of snow as was possible accross the street.