Queuing: A Great British Tradition that Fosters a Sense of Community

The British are famous for their queueing etiquette and queueing is a feature of life in many different cultures around the world. During half-term I was waiting to be served with many other people when a person jumped the queue without explanation. This was met with mild frustration by those who had been queuing for a while but they assumed that this person’s need was greater than their own and all happily awaited their turn. This prompted me to think about the origins of queuing and why we feel at PGP that it is important.

Queuing is believed to have become entrenched in the national psyche of Britain in the early 1800s, as a by-product of the Industrial Revolution that led to the growth of cities with people jostling for the same resources. During World War II food was scarce and people queued for their rations, which provided a fair chance of buying the items that they needed for the days ahead. The practice of queuing reflects a belief in fairness, practicality and, in some cases, respect. The latter was clearly visible during September 2022 when around 250,000 people queued for hours to see the late Queen Elizabeth II lying in state at Westminster Abbey, a well-publicised example of people quietly waiting their turn.

There will always be people who are stronger, faster or more agile who can make their way to the front of a crowd while other people will find this a challenge. At PGP we encourage the children to queue and to wait their turn as we recognise that, for the most part, queuing makes life easier and more enjoyable. It also teaches patience in this fast-moving world of ours and helps foster solidarity, a sense of community and the value of societal rules to help keep things fair.

Dr Edmonds