Sloane Rangers

Posted by ESC on January 06, 2002 at

In Reply to: Hooray henry posted by Jim on January 06, 2002

: : : This is interesting. Starting with "Lazy Susan" and adding a little "naff" we now are at "Sloane Rangers" and "hooray henry types". I found a "Sloane Ranger Handbook" online and based on that can speculate on the attributes of the "ranger" culture. However, "hooray henry" wasn't as clear. Though I'm clearly in no danger of meeting either (nationality, class, wealth and geography among other small impediments), I am curious. Further definitions anyone?

: : The in-crowd (presumably) having gone to bed, a still-alert Pacific Rim type found "hooray henry" in the Meanings & Origins section of this website.

: And a still alert, midwestern type thanks you. Any more on Sloane Rangers? They sound similar to characters in old Joan Collin's movies. Or, moving the modifier, to characters in Joan Collin's older movies.

SLOANE RANGERS - We in the U.S. heard this term when Diana was engaged to Prince Charles. It is taken from "Lone Ranger," I would guess. "Living in the vicinity of Sloane Square, they dress expensively and conservatively.Rosie Boycott tells us, in 'Batty, Bloomers and Boycott' (Hutchinson, London, 1982), that the name was coined by Peter York of 'Harper's' and 'Queen' magazine. 'The similarities in style, manners and dress of these jolly nice girls caught the attention of 'Harper's' and Queen,' which immortalized their existence in an article entitled 'The Sloane Rangers' published in October 1975'." From "British English from A to Zed" by Norman Schur (FirstHarperPerennial edition, 1991).

"Hooray Henry" was used in the series "Duchess of Duke Street," set in Victorian times. So I suppose it's from that time period. A U.S. phrase with about the same meaning is "goodtime Charlie."