Thrifty silver tops deserve freedom

OH dear, what a sad, self pitying story Rachel Moore had to tell (July 10) feeling envious of the mature generation being able to go where they like, when they like, how they like.

Yes, most of the "silver tops" do enjoy a fairly comfortable lifestyle but it has not always been like that and remember most of us take our regular medication to ease the aches and pains and various other ailments that come with maturity.

To enjoy what we do today most of us have exercised a great deal of restraint throughout our life time. To get on the property ladder we had to save for our deposit and then the amount we were allowed to borrow was restricted, that one week's wages had to equate to one month's mortgage repayment. Properties were basic and we improved them as we saved enough money to pay for what we wanted ie central heating, television, carpets, motor car, family, holidays, much in that order.

Furthermore most of us now in our maturity were brought up through the second world war years with rationing and constant worry for our parents of not knowing if the house would be bombed that or the next day. The level of worry they must have constantly gone through is beyond imagination but they carried on day by day doing the best they could for their family.

As for the university fees, well I do feel sorry for the young people today who have to take on these huge debts to gain a degree to enable them hopefully to get a decent job at the end of it, but surely it was the recent crop of parliamentarians that introduced these fees after they had enjoyed fee free university education.

So please Ms Moore don't keep going on about how hard done by you are.

Just remember, most of us "silver tops" worked our full time right up to official retirement.

TERRY BARRETT

Elm Tree Road

Lowestoft

This wins our Letter of the Week and the writer will receive a bouquet courtesy of Sansom's Florists.