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Whatever happened to good manners?

Vic Barlow
19/ 7/2006

I WAS shopping in Handforth Dean today, nothing special: T-shirts, shorts that sort of stuff, but I was agog at the lack of courtesy. Not the shop staff, who were most polite, but shoppers who pushed past without an 'excuse me' grabbing their purchases with no word of thanks. Apart from the shop staff I rarely heard anyone say 'please'.

These were not the underprivileged but bejewelled orange ladies waving gold credit cards. The air was heavy with Chanel, Dior and Fendi but bereft of courtesy.

I recall my mother delivering an automatic clout around my ears whenever I failed to say 'please' or 'thank you', a practice backed-up by teachers who went apoplectic should I be so rude.

In the southern states of America swearing in mixed company is social suicide and any lady who pushes past is no lady at all. Old-fashioned it may be but it does make daily life so much more pleasant. So what happened to us? When did we abandon our worldwide reputation for good manners?

I don't know the answer but I do know my mother would have a field day in Handforth Dean.

• THE views expressed on this page are those of Vic Barlow and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Express.