[Margaret Pilkington]

The breakdown of extended families had something to do with relaxed attitudes towards respect. I know that when I was growing up we were taught to respect our elders......Grandparents were given the right to chastise children......and grandparents were often the carers of shildren while the parents went out to work...so what could be considered Old fashioned values were instilled into the children without them realising.

The breakdown of marriage also must have contributed........my mother would threaten us with the phrase 'wait 'til your father gets home' and it would strike fear into our hearts. My father only had to look at us if we had done something wrong and you knew you were for it. Not that my father was feared.....on the contrary, he was much loved for setting boundaries.

We had a local bobby who everyone knew because he lived in the community.......he would give you a clip round the ear if he caught you throwing stones or doing some other mischief....anything worse and he would haul you in front of your parents and you would get a 'seat warming'.

I'm sure that lives were easier then......but I am afraid that there is no going back.