Sir; Mr Worsthorne's encounter with two undressed people on the
tube (Notebook, 6 August) seems to have provided the inspira- tion for an attack on all youth. I find myself as surprised at the antics of older people.
During the same heatwave, I was at a court of law and observed a pensioner of 70 stand in the box giving evidence wearing a shirt with not one button fastened. We are also told that the young make 'no distinc- tion between what can properly be done in private and public' yet only this morning I saw a couple, long past referring to themselves as young, 'necking' on one of the busiest foot crossings of the Thames at 9.00 a.m. Youth is, it seems, responsible for all the rubbish in the streets, we are untidy and noisy but not blameworthy, because we are 'ignorant'.
1, and my friends, would never attend at a court in Anything less than sober, formal wear (indeed at the hearing referred to above two young people gave evidence one wore a suit, the other a shirt and tie); we would not dream of making love under the eyes of several hundred passers-by; neither do we jettison rubbish or consider ourselves noisy.
Mr Worsthorne should look a little closer at us — we have our faults but certainly amongst my peers the traditional values that he laments the loss of are still present. I like to think that each of us would give up our seats, not only to Mr Worsthone's 'granny' but to that patronising gentleman himself.
Kevin Ball
55, North Worple Way, Mortlake, London SW14
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