Roy Hudd
This fortnight, Roy talks about the need for good manners in today’s hustle and bustle
Iwas leafing through Yours when I found a piece from a favourite TV presenter of mine, Ben Fogle. Not only do I enjoy his programmes, but his mum, the smashing actress Julia Foster, was the idol of all the lads of my age. (But enough of spotty teenagers’ dreams – back to the story.) Ben is quoted as saying how few people stand up and offer their seats to the elderly on buses and the Tube. When I offer my seat to someone they usually look at me benignly and shake their heads, implying, ‘Dear oh dear, does he think I look older than him?’. Ben complains about the growth of rudeness today and wonders if we should start a campaign to bring back manners. Well, we’ve already got one. It was started in 1986 by the Reverend Ian Gregory who called it The Campaign for Courtesy. Ian, and those who feel the same as he does, are still banging the drum for the same things as Ben. The Campaign’s simple aims are the promotion of good manners, respect for self and others, courtesy for all and rejection of antisocial behaviour. If these ideals seem old-fashioned – well, they don’t to me. I’ve been a patron of the Campaign for many years along with people I wouldn’t dream of being rude to; Bill Beaumont, Bobby Charlton, Esther Rantzen and Dame June Whitfield. We all agree that life would be much nicer if all of us were politer to each other. Simple as that. The Campaign has no rules, just the combined desire to be less selfish – I’m still working on that! The Campaign organises events all over the country and gives awards to organisations, shops, towns and individuals who make that extra effort. Even paying a bill is not quite so painful if the request is accompanied by a smile. A taxi driver once said to me: “Blimey, you’re Roy ‘Udd! Wait till I tell the missus I’ve had Roy ‘Udd in the cab!”. I said, gratefully: “Oh, is she a fan?” He said: “No! She thinks you’re blooming awful!”. But he did say it with a smile… I do think The Campaign’s message is getting through. A young comedian named Danny Wallace has written a book called I Can’t Believe You Just Said That which tries to explain why people are so rude today. I’m rushing out to buy a copy – and if it’s not in stock I’ll try hard not to be rude!
‘We all agree that life would be much nicer if all of us were politer to each other. Simple as that’