A couple of weeks ago someone made a mildly unpleasant reference to those who write of “the way things were”.

If more notice was taken of the past lessons would be learned – leading to us being a happier country.

Mutual respect, sense of community, helping others, etc. were the order of the day for the most part. Nothing wrong with that.

Now the elderly are blamed for every mortal thing.

We are accused of “having it all”, oh yes? We had food, clothes and petrol rationing until the mid-50s. Few people had a telephone, most never had a TV until the early 60s and most of them were rented.

I lived in tiny bedsits in London which cost me half of my paltry income. I couldn’t afford a mortgage until age 47 and the interest rate went as high as 22 per cent!

However, I do think those of us born around 1939 did have a lot of benefits; we appreciated anything we were given as there wasn’t much, we appreciated the countryside and never dreamed of littering or vandalising trees, plants, etc.

We enjoyed simple pleasures of reading books, playing games, doing jigsaws, receiving a treat, etc.

Those who are sick of hearing about the way things were need to remember that many thousands sacrificed their lives or put their lives on the line for what we have.

D DONALD

Soham

Via e-mail