No shame in distinctive accent
I couldn't believe some of the claims in the Evening Post recently that people who spoke with a Lancashire accent were either thick, or appeared to be thick.
There is nothing wrong with a Lancashire accent, or any other accent for that matter. It's the "colour" of the spoken word.
If you hear the President of the USA speak, you can tell where he's from by his accent.
I'm from Lancashire and very proud of it and I don't mind sounding like it.
But tell me, what is a Lancashire accent? Every town in Lancashire has its own sound, if you care to listen properly. Some more than others.
When, as an LEP employee, the newspaper sent me on loan to Wigan in the late 1950s for just six months, I had to employ an interpreter.
To hell with BBC English!
Allan Fazackerley, Monk's Walk, Penwortham

Sad to see current decline in manners
Over the years, things have changed, some for the better but many for the worse.
This includes manners.
Today if you hold a door open for people, many just walk through, without so much as a thank you.
People yawn but never put a hand over their mouth - you can almost see their tonsils.
If you accidentally bump into someone you just get a stare or worse, whereas both parties used to say "sorry".
On the bus, young people used to stand up for pregnant ladies or the elderly but today anyone sits on the seats reserved for the elderly or disabled.
Cycles are just dumped outside shop entrances, blocking the doorway.
Just one final question: Why do almost all females wear trousers? Very few wear skirts or dresses.
How times have changed,
especially as far as manners
are concerned.
Name and address supplied

Great to see quality entertainment
Nice to see Preston Charter Theatre packed out (especially on a Monday) for the opening performance of the musical Buddy.
The whole experience was a fabulously nostalgic blend of a light-hearted yet well-acted storyline that made you laugh and cry
during those rare moments you weren't clapping your hands or tapping your feet.
Hats off too, to the team at the Charter Theatre, for making the venue more user-friendly.
Rather than having to rush down your drink, in the bar area, during the short time before the show starts or during the interval, you can take your refreshment into the auditorium with you,
albeit in a plastic glass.
All this combined with the knowledge that whatever type of show you go to see there, the production will be supported by a professional and dedicated stage crew, and I speak from experience as a member of the Trouble at'Mill folk band.
It used to say at the cinemas, during the trailers: "You can't please all the people all the time but we like to please most of the people most of the time," and I think those responsible for planning the future programme at the Guild Hall/Charter Theatre are following this philosophy.
We should all give our support to their efforts.
By doing so we can help to ensure that we continue to get easily
accessible, top class, value-for-money entertainment.
Long may it continue at this wonderful establishment.
Graham Dixon, Gregson Lane, via email

No clear successor to Gordon Brown
Good old Gordon Brown! His remark at the Labour conference, that it was "no time for a novice" to be taking over the helm, certainly rang true.
He may have his faults as Prime Minister. Correction, he does have his faults, but it would be a rare politician who was anywhere near perfect.
But who else is there? Jack Straw doesn't cut it, nice man though he appears to be.
David Miliband? He looks like he should still be in school.
The other David (Cameron)?
He clearly models himself on Tony Blair.
Enough said.
E Smith, Preston, via email

Electronic check-in service successful
I was interested to read about the new electronic check-in system for patients at Chorley and South Ribble Hospital, which might also be introduced at RPH.
There has been a similar system at my doctor's surgery for some time now, and it is simple and speedy and always works perfectly in my experience.
The union representative you quoted seemed to be a bit
dubious, wondering whether it was just a case of cost-cutting at the expense of the "patient
experience."
I would like to reassure him it is effective. And all the receptionists are still at the surgery, seemingly as busy as ever, so it hasn't affected jobs.
Name and address supplied

Networking comes at too high a cost
I was surprised to read about the Government proposal to make sure every youngster has home access to the internet, in order to broaden their knowledge.
What a good idea.
But I understood that this same Government was on course to borrow £90 billion just to balance its books.
Do ministers not understand that much of the economic crisis is due to people being encouraged to borrow too much and live
beyond their means?
"When in a hole, stop digging" is a common enough phrase.
Why has it not permeated the thick skulls of Westminster?
Despairing, via email (name and address supplied)

Appeal to soldiers ahead of reunion
Many of your readers will have served in the Army during the 1940s and 1950s as National Service men - the 'Virgin Soldiers' of book fame.
Some of us completed our service in the Pay Corps in the UK, Germany and many other parts of the world. An RAPC Old Boys Association has been formed and we are trying to trace ex Pay Corps soldiers to swell the ranks.
There is no membership fee, and we now have a list of almost 3,000 names.
We are holding an annual
reunion in Birmingham next month.
Anyone interested is asked to contact John Hudson, Low Well House, 16 Main Street, Wheldrake, York, YO19 6AF, or myself.
Ed Russell, 44 Cauldwell Place, South Shields, Tyne and Wear NE34 0SA
(Tel: 0191 4276016)

It doesn't add up
I saw in the LEP on September 4, a photo relating to the Preston Guild of 1902.
I have a Guild mug that is clearly dated 1972.
As the event is every 20 years, how is this possible?
C Simpson, Frenchwood, Preston

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