Precious bond of loyalty binds a community

LOYALTY is a precious commodity. As a wartime baby, I was brought up to appreciate this.

Loyalty to parents and family – loyalty to school, church and social groups were all important. Later came loyalty to employers and family again and friends. We had rules and etiquette that had to be adhered to (loyalty to home town or village).

I am sure that most people were brought up with these principles. Perhaps there are more temptations today to break loyalties. The need to make money. The need to get on at all costs. The lack of parenting does not help.

I have no doubt that Sir Michael Parkinson ticks many of the loyalty boxes. He fails miserably when it comes to home town and grammar school. Tony Christie (Yorkshire Post, March 26) will have admired the way he came from local newspaper and humble beginnings to wealthy broadcaster and TV chat show host.

Another man of Shaw Lanes (Geoffrey Boycott) also leaves a lot to be desired. His attitude to Michael Yardy’s problems was insensitive and despicable.

We can all weep with Dickie Bird, the most loyal of the Shaw Lane trio.

I can go no further without referring to Brian Sheridan’s letter (Yorkshire Post, March 3). This letter was prompted by his observations (we have interests in common and it is inevitable that our correspondence sometimes overlaps).

On the literary front, I would like to add the name of Gervaise Phinn to that of Ian McMillan as a loyal Yorkshireman. Both have been a credit to literature, broadcasting and education and are loyal to their roots.