Survey reveals 7 social classes in UK

People in the UK now fit into seven social classes, a major survey conducted by the BBC suggests.  It says the traditional categories of working, middle and upper class are outdated, applying to just 39% of the population.

After analysing the results of 161,000 participants, a new model of seven social classes was found ranging from the elite at the top to a "precariat" - the poor, precarious proletariat - at the bottom.

Class has traditionally been defined by occupation, wealth and education. But this research argues that this is too simplistic, suggesting that class has three dimensions - economic, social and cultural.

The new classes are defined as:

Elite - the most privileged group in the UK, distinct from the other six classes through its wealth. This group has the highest levels of all three capitals

Established middle class - the second wealthiest, scoring highly on all three capitals. The largest and most gregarious group, scoring second highest for cultural capital

Technical middle class - a small, distinctive new class group which is prosperous but scores low for social and cultural capital. Distinguished by its social isolation and cultural apathy

New affluent workers - a young class group which is socially and culturally active, with middling levels of economic capital

Traditional working class - scores low on all forms of capital, but is not completely deprived. Its members have reasonably high house values, explained by this group having the oldest average age at 66

Emergent service workers - a new, young, urban group which is relatively poor but has high social and cultural capital

Precariat, or precarious proletariat - the poorest, most deprived class, scoring low for social and cultural capital

Professor of sociology at Manchester University, Fiona Devine, said the survey really gave a sense of class in 21st Century Britain.

"It shows us there is still a top and a bottom, at the top we still have an elite of very wealthy people and at the bottom the poor, with very little social and cultural engagement...The survey has really allowed us to drill down and get a much more complete picture of class in modern Britain."

Take the test here...what class are you?

Source: BBC

The language of the supermarket by Kit Villiers

"Did you want a bag?" the girl at the check-out counter enquires brightly.

 

"Yes, I did," I respond, hopefully equally brightly, but meanwhile wondering whether to add: "Well, it's nice of you to ask.  I did want one last week, but I don't need one today," but rejecting this particular sally knowing the implied sarcasm of her choice of tense would no doubt fall on deaf ears. I'm also a bit afraid that she would only conclude that I was simply another North Oxford toff, or possibly a rather pedantic English teacher.

 

"Have you got a card at all?" is her next question. Now even I know that she's probably referring to some wretched so-called 'loyalty' card which is supposed to persuade the discerning, money-conscious punter to purchase his or her Mother's Pride or original Flora at this particular shop, or one of its identical sisters, for the rest of his or her natural life. But of course, being one of the aforesaid toffs, I take her literally and hunt desperately in my wallet.

 

"Ah, how about this?" I exclaim, fishing out my Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club card. This is quite a useful response, I feel, as it seems to be strictly to the point but distinctly unhelpful; it works even if she has asked whether I have a 'club' card, rather than just a card. The assistant looks at me in a withering fashion, and explains patiently what it is that she wants.  One look at her distinctly unamused face convinces me that a mention of my Priority Club card, the only other remotely relevant one in the said wallet, would go down rather poorly. (Being in the Priority Club gets me about 10p off my dry-cleaning - not perhaps quite the cachet of the Hong Kong card). Finally I'm forced to admit I have no card - at least not the one she seems to be looking for.

 

I'm also tempted  to take her up on the 'at all'. But from past experience I decide not to go too heavy on this one. On an earlier occasion I tried: "Well, I think I might be able to lay my hands on part of a card, but I seem to have left it at home." This was also received with a blank look, and now as an alternative I just say "Sorry, not at all" - and receive an equally blank look for what I consider has been a genuine attempt to help her get the question right next time.

 

But of course she wins in the end. When she's finished whacking the till, she asks: "And did you need help packing, love?" I am naturally really hurt at the implication that I've become an old dodderer. The impression  I have been trying to get across is of an admittedly slightly mature shopper, but one still capable of stepping pretty smartly up and down the aisles when the occasion demands. I try not to show my dismay.

 

"Well, perhaps I could manage to load these sugar-free Polos on my own,  but if you could help me with the Vim, etc., it would be much appreciated."  Once more, she's not amused. Where do they get their staff from these days?

Kit Villiers

First weather related blog post of 2014!

The weather has certainly been dominating the news lately.  I have been gripped by the 'Polar Vortex', which has hit the US.  And I have been all about the stormy weather in the UK.  In particular, I have been fascinated by the huge waves which have been battering the coastline.  

However, the weather in the UK is set to change.  We will move away from the rainy weather of recent weeks to wintry conditions.  Monday will see the start of the wintry conditions with cold air coming in from the US.  However, do not panic forecasters have stressed we will not experience the sub zero temperatures which have hit the US.

The Met Office predicts an increasing risk of snow, mainly over hills, and ice.

Spokesperson Laura Young said: “Into the weekend and next week we are going to see temperatures return to normal levels for this time of year which will make it feel a lot colder and bring a risk of frost, fog, and wintry showers."

December 1 is officially the beginning of winter, but the last six weeks have proved unseasonable, with temperatures in double figures and last month the eight warmest December on record.

“We have had a very mild start to our winter and I think that people might get a bit of a shock next week,” Young said.

The temperature is expected to drop to average for January – around 4C.

So it is time to (hopefully) put away those waterproof trousers and wellington boots and time to reach for the woolly hat and socks.

Please feel free to be in touch with your British weather related experiences, we would love to hear them!

Top of the Tweets 2013

Social media giant Twitter recently revealed the most tweeted topics of 2013 after analysing the Twitter habits of 15 million active users in the UK.

Sporting events were found to have caused 7 of the top 10 Twitter moments of the year with Manchester United’s defeat by Real Madrid provoking the biggest Twitter reaction as the club was knocked out of the champions league. Narrowly beaten by the predictable rush of New Year tweets, Andy Murray’s historic Wimbledon victory also made it into the top 3 as Britons shared their joy and disbelief at the first British singles win in 77 years.

Celebrity deaths also featured heavily in the national debate with British users commemorating the passing of former poet laureate Seamus Heaney, author Iain Banks, Lady Thatcher and James Gandolfini, best known for his leading role in the Sopranos. The recent death of former South African president Nelson Mandela also caused an outbreak of tweets around the world.

Worldwide the most popular and retweeted message of the year went to Glee actor Lea Michele, thanking fans for their support over the death of her co-star Cory Monteith with 408,000 retweets. Fast and Furious star Paul Walker's shock death followed closely with 400,000 retweets.

Other popular tweet topics included the birth of Prince George in July and those by the boy band One Direction who claimed the prize for the most retweets globally. 

For the full article, visit http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/dec/11/one-direction-top-tweeted-topics

Very British Problems

The British are renowned for being non-confrontational, easily embarrassed and overly preoccupied with manners. It is because of these cultural quirks that journalist Rob Temple began regularly posting on Twitter under the name @SoVeryBritish to share some of these amusing tales of social awkwardness and embarrassment. He now has over half a million followers which is a testament to how many people empathise with his sentiments.

Take a look at some of the scenarios he mentions below from his new book 'Very British Problems' . If you can relate to most or all of these, you are well on your way to being 'So very British'.

• Sounding sarcastic no matter how many ways you say, “That sounds great”
• Waiting for permission to leave after paying for something with the exact change
• Feeling you must press the train door button within a millisecond of illumination or be judged an amateur
• Being flabbergasted at how many people add milk at the wrong stage of the tea-making process
• Greeting a friend in the supermarket, then creeping around to avoid seeing them again
• Wondering whether to hurl yourself through a window when someone sits next to you on an empty bus
• Feeling your life lacks excitement, so dunking your biscuit for an irresponsibly long time
• The anxious bewilderment when clocking the stranger deciding to join the queue at your side rather than behind you
• Looking away so violently as someone nearby enters their PIN that you accidentally dislocate your neck
• Saying, “It’s nothing, really,” to indicate you’re remarkably close to losing consciousness
• Not wishing to tell someone they’ve misheard you, so simply soldiering into a completely different topic of conversation
• Saying “left” and “right” at random, rather than admit to the optician that all the lenses seem identical

Click here to read the full article in the Telegraph Online

Bridge of Sighs

The Bridge of Sighs is celebrating its centenary today with a special sound installation for those passing by. It will feature a composition of sighs recorded by students and members of staff.  Composer Benjamin Skipp described it as "modern, strange and new".

The sound installation called Sospiri, meaning "sighs" in Italian, will be played underneath the bridge on Friday and Saturday. It is meant to evoke imagined "sighs of love and frustration" emitted around the bridge by amorous students or those worrying about exams, he added.

The celebrations will also include the premiere of a short film about Hertford College by Bafta-winning film producer - and honorary Hertfordian - Anthony Geffen, as well as a talk on the history of the bridge.

The Bridge of Sighs, also known as Hertford Bridge, is one of Oxford's most famous landmarks. The distinctive skyway joins two parts of Hertford College over New College Lane. It is conveniently located near the entrance to one of Oxford's most famous pubs - The Turf Tavern. So following a photograph or two and after appreciating the sound installation you can quickly head to this traditional pub and have a pint or two in its spacious beer garden.

 

Image: Laura L Orchard

Source: BBC Oxford News

 

The British and their Pigs

Do you like pigs? It seems that the British public absolutely love them. Let's not forget how many different types of pig there are, including the Gloucester Old Spot, the Berkshire and the Tamworth. Then there's the Middle white, the Large Black and the Large White.

The British are not the only ones with a penchant for pigs. American celebs such as George Clooney and Paris Hilton keep pigs at home. Click on the picture below to read more:

The Hummus Love Story

Its official hummus is nearly loved by all Britons.  Well, to be exact maybe 41% of Britons, who all have a pot of hummus in the fridge. I completely follow the crowd and couldn't be without my trusty pot - what on earth would I put in my sandwiches or on my jacket potato?  As a nation we consume £60 million worth of this dip every year (I feel I have made a significant contribution to this target).

Hummus has a very long history. It is the Arabic word for chickpeas. "Chickpeas have been around for thousands of years in the Middle East," says Israeli-born chef Yotam Ottolenghi. Some scholars even claim an Old Testament passage indicates that Jews ate hummus in Biblical times. It is impossible to prove exactly where hummus was first made. "It's obviously somewhere in the eastern crescent around the Mediterranean – the area that includes Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and Egypt," says Ottolenghi.

Britian's love with hummus is relatively new. It was only in the 1980s, when Waitrose first started to stock this chickpea-wonder-dip, and this was only then followed by the other British supermarkets in the 1990s.

So why do the British love hummus so much? The perceived health benefits are a key factor. "It's filling and sustaining but still has a healthy image, which is justified in many ways because chickpeas have lots of protein and tahini is a much better source of oil than many others. But in all honesty, I think it's mainly the flavour," says Ottolenghi.

I will be totally following this trend and eating some hummus this evening with my jacket potato (below). Can't wait!

Source: Guardian

The Olympic Legacy

A year on from the Olympics more than two-thirds of the UK public believe the £8.77bn cost of the London 2012 Olympics was worth the money, according to a ComRes poll for the BBC. It indicates 74% would also welcome the Games back to Britain.

The results suggest people are more active since the Olympics, with 11% exercising more than a year ago, rising to 24% for those aged 18 to 24.

The London showpiece, together with the Paralympics, cost more that three times the original budget of £2.4bn. However, recent government research suggests the UK economy received a £9.9bn boost in trade and investment from staging the Games.

And with many of the stars of London 2012 preparing to compete at the Anniversary Games at the Olympic Stadium this weekend, the poll suggests young adults are the most enthusiastic about the Games returning to Britain, with 82% of those aged 18 to 24 keen on the idea.

On the issue of legacy, Sports Minister Hugh Robertson said: "We've made an incredibly good start, but I would be the first to admit there is an awful lot left to do.

He added: "The single most important legacy we have got from London 2012 is that, everywhere I go around the world, people still reminisce about the Games and say 'well done' for laying on the best Olympics and Paralympics of all time.

Get your running shoes on!

 

 

How well do you know the United Kingdom?

"I Love My Country" is a new telly programme soon to hit British screens (on Saturday 3rd August). It was created by John de Mol, the Dutch television entrepreneur behind Big Brother, and has already been a hit in various national versions across Europe. It was first launched in the Netherlands in 2008, and has subsequently been exported to 25 countries.

"I Love My Country" has celebrity guests answer questions about the UK’s history, geography and popular, presented by Gabby Logan, which is designed to celebrate national characteristics. It is great for English language students keen to take in some extra facts during their time in the UK and also everyone who are UK quiz fans!

Do you know the answer to these questions?

What is the name of the Duke of Devonshire’s stately home in Derbyshire?

In which city can you find an extinct volcano called Arthur’s Seat?

Which stretch of water separates the Isle of Wight from the Mainland?

The Telegraph has devised a great quiz in response to this new programme including the above questions and more. Check it out here.

 

How much do you know about Britain?

The Guardian newspaper have very kindly created a quiz to see how much the British people know about Britain consisting of questions regarding various social issues.

Embarrassingly, two of the OISE Oxford members of staff, both British, managed only to get an average of 5/10. Agreed, the questions are a little random, but still, one would expect slightly higher scores from native Britons.

How well do you think you know Britain? Why don't you give this quiz a go by clicking on the picture below.

 

What's happening in Oxford??

For the lucky students that are studying in the UK this summer, you'll be pleased to hear that the sun has finally arrived to the British Isles and it is here to stay... according to some sources until the end of July!

When the sun is out, Oxford is arguably the world's nicest place to be. Yes, there are no beaches, but we do have two glorious rivers. Note that the River Thames is the cleanest river in the world that flows through a major city, so you can even have a dip if it gets really warm. If river dipping is your cup of tea, I would recommend that you head to Port Meadow, bring some sandwiches and chill next to the banks. Delightful.

There are also a huge range of Balls & Fundraisers, Cinemas, Classes & Clubs: Sports & Fitness, Music & Dance, concerts, Courses & Workshops, Exhibitions, Festivals, Fairs and Markets, Gardens, Gigs & Comedy (includes open mic nights), Lectures, Seminars & Conferences, Pub & Club Events and Theatres - head to http://www.dailyinfo.co.uk/whatson/ for more info.

Wimbledon - we're still in it, folks!

Following our Wimbledon blog post earlier this week we are proud to say that both Laura Robson and Andy Murray are both still in with a chance!

'British number one Laura Robson is into the third round of Wimbledon for the first time thanks to a comfortable 6-4 6-1 win over Mariana Duque-Marino.' 

The staff at OISE Oxford along with the general public will be closely following the upcoming games and rooting for our British sportsman. Andy Murray's childhood friend has even written him a song to show his support - a little bit cringe perhaps, but anyway, click below for a listen.

The British and their ADORABLE Pets

It is no secret that the British public love having pets at home. Most of them tend to be either cats or dogs, however fish and reptiles are also pretty popular. 'In 2012, it is estimated that 48% of UK households have at least one pet. This is equivalent to 13 million households'.

To what extent do we love them?

Well, the website Confused.com revealed that nearly 2 million of us pet owners would take our partners to court following a break up in a custody battle for a beloved pet. I think this answers that question.1

Views from around the world

For many of our friends abroad, the idea of having an animal living in your home is unnerving. Probably because the only cats and dogs they see are those roaming around dirty street corners, foraging through rubbish bins, spreading infections.

This is simply not the case in Britain. On the whole, domesticated animals are friendly and affectionate, and treated very well indeed by their owners. Apart from being cleaned on a regular basis, they also have frequent visits to the vet to check they are in good health.

If you are planning a visit to the UK, please do not be put off by our pets. While I would not suggest you eat from the same plate as them, remember that they are well looked after and friendly animals!

Click on the image below to read more UK pet stats:

 

Summer Solsctice - what a long day!

Today is the longest day in Britain. It the summer solstice.  

Midsummer celebrations have been held in Britain at the time of the solstice for thousands of years.  Ancient stone circles like Stonehenge are still the focal point for such ceremonies today.  More than 20,000 people descended on Stonehenge to greet the longest day. Some worshipped, others partied. Many were there to enjoy the atmosphere of the summer solstice at Stonehenge.

The sunrose at 4.52am for the start of the longest day of the year. After a warm, night the mist and mizzle arrived, making it impossible to judge the moment when the sun rose over the Wiltshire plain without a watch!

By this time next year major changes at Stonehenge will be complete. On Monday, one of the roads that runs close to the stones will be closed and by this time next year it should be grassed over as part of a project to restore one of the key approaches to the site. This change will reconnect Stonehenge with the landscape, allowing visitors to walk between the stone circle and the prehistoric avenue from which people would have once approached the monument. Get in line for the summer solstice next year at Stonehenge!

Happy longest day and happy weekend to everyone!

Source: The Independent, The Guardian, BBC News 

Calling all horse lovers - it's Royal Ascot!

Today marked the third day of Royal Ascot, an annual horse racing competition that takes place in, you guessed it, Ascot! Founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, the racecourse is approximately 6450 meters long and is attended, without fail, by a large number of British Royals, including the Queen herself.

The horses are all given quirky names like Bold Sniper, No Nay Never and Tercentenary Stakes. The spectators attending the event come dressed for the occasion, women with ostentatious hats, and men in tucks. This is a British spectacle not to be missed!

Click on the image below to read more 

Britain's Latest Reality TV Craze

The first series of Big Brother marked the start of Britain's reality TV boom. The series soon spread to other countries and became a global sensation with hundreds of millions of viewers tuning in every day. 

It is hard to say why it became so popular, and after the second series it began to get, well,  a little boring. 28 series later, their fanbase has, rather understandably, ebbed away, with a few die hard followers still clinging on. Other popular reality TV shows include The Apprentice, Britain's Got Talent, and The X-Factor.

More recently a new kind of television has spawned, known as the structured reality TV show. These type of shows aim to give the public a glimpse of what life is like when living, and being part of a society in a specific area of Britain. So far three of these kind of series have been screened: The Only Way is Essex, Made in Chelsea and Geordie Shores. 

A few members of OISE Oxford's staff admit a guilty pleasure in watching Made in Chelsea (AKA MIC). It follows the lives of a group of extremely wealthy twenty-something year olds living the high life in one of central London's most affluent areas. It is undeniably cringeworthy and a lot of the scenarios are quite obviously set up. However, it is worth mentioning that a few of the actors are local Oxford folks, which, as you can imagine, makes it all the more entertaining. Or is that just a bad excuse?

Click on the image below to read more about the latest gossip from MIC

Let us celebrate the Queen's Coronation!

Today is a very important day in the Royal Calendar as it marks the 60th year since the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. 

Many of you may remember the Diamond Jubilee celebrations last year. The difference between the Diamond Jubilee and this year's 60th Coronation anniversary is to do with when the crown was physically placed on the Queen's head. Although Queen Elizabeth II wasn't formally crowned until June 2, 1953, she immediately became Britain's monarch upon the death of her father, King George VI, on February 6, 1952, hence why there are two celebrations!

'The Queen was accompanied by more than 20 members of her family, including the Duke of Edinburgh.' [...] 'Other royals present include Prince Harry, the Duke of York, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor, the Princess Royal and Zara Phillips with her husband, rugby player Mike Tindall.'1

Click on the image below to read more and see pictures of this wondrous ceremony.

Beastly Britain

From a roaming "lion" in Essex to the Beast of Burnham Thorpe in Norfolk, Britain has been spotting big cats roaming the English countryside ever since the Dangerous Wild Animals Act was introduced in 1976. From this Act many owners of exotic cats such as pumas or lynx simply freed their animals into the countryside.

There is scarcely an area in Britain which does not now possess a Beast. Even the London suburbs claim to be infested with big cats: there is a Beast of Barnet, a Beast of Cricklewood, a Crystal Palace Puma and a Sydenham Panther. There have been occasional reports of mysterious British cats throughout history, but over the past few years the sightings have boomed. In her book Mystery Big Cats, Merrily Harpur finds that "cat-flaps", as she calls them, are occurring at the rate of 2,000 to 4,000 a year.

Harpur notes that around three-quarters of all the cats reported are black, and they are commonly described as glossy and muscular. Interestingly, she also makes the observation that while the most likely candidate is a melanistic leopard (the leopard is the species in which the black form, though rare, occurs most often) she has not been able to find a single account of an ordinary, spotted leopard seen in the wild in Britain!

Yet, despite extensive searches for these beasts there has not been a single clear image captured in this country. George Monbiot (author of recent book 'Feral') remarks that of the photographs and fragments of footage he has seen, around half are evidently domestic cats. Roughly a quarter are cardboard cut-outs, cuddly toys, the result of crude Photoshopping or – as the surrounding vegetation reveals – pictures taken in the tropics. The remainder are so distant and indistinct that they could be anything: dogs, deer, foxes, bin liners, yetis on all fours(!)

Monbiot contintues that there are just no photos, no captures, no dung, no corpses not even a verifiable footprint. He concludes that possibly people are seeking to see these beasts as a "hint at an unexpressed wish for lives wilder and fiercer than those we now lead".

If you have spotted a big cat, do feel free to send your photograph to OISE Oxford, oxford@oise.com

Sources: The Guardian, The Telegraph
 

Alright Campers!

Oxford is enjoying a super sunny day, which is turning everyone at OISE Oxford to think about summer holiday plans.   A classic British summer holiday is camping.  Camping is certainly a popular option among the OISE Oxford office with some classic camping stories being told!

Camping is believed to have entered into popular society as a recreational activity over 100 years ago.  It is widely accepted that Thomas Hiram Holding was one of the first proponents of the activity.  The number of people camping has been increasing over recent years.  A total of 5.43m camping trips were made in 2010, up 20% on the year before.  For the first time in 2010 camping was a more popular option than staying in Bed and Breakfast.

Camping offers the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors and visit some of Britain's finest countryside.  As well as the chance to build camp fires and taste BBQ delicacies.  The recent growth in popularity is accredited by many to the recession.   It is an affordable way for people to holiday more than once a year cheaply.  Also the rise in popularity of 'glamping' - glamorous camping - has persuaded first time campers to try sleeping under canvas.

The editor of the new Cool Camping Britain guide chooses 10 of his favourite new finds in England, Wales and Scotland, all of them in stunning locations.  Click on the photograph below to find out more.

Happy Camping!