I live in Worcester, and although I was born and educated in the city, I have worked in export (in the far east), and in manufacturing all over Britain. I changed course mid-career and obtained a teaching qualification. I’m 68 and retired now, living off a state pension. I was, for many years, a councillor for both Worcester city and Worcestershire county councils, rising to leader of the city. This was in the Labour persuasion, though I am now Green, having become disillusioned with both the aimlessness and lack of principles nationally and the self-seeking chatterati locally.
I started reading the Guardian in 1971, and have barely missed an edition since. My day would, quite honestly, be totally incomplete without my “fix”. The initial attraction was not political, but rather the modern typography and titling. I soon became a devotee of its “Comment is free… but facts are sacred” heritage and philosophy.
On the basis of not wasting time by re-researching something when someone else has already done the work, I’ve often used data from articles in the preparation of speeches in the council chamber and in teaching economics and politics. I enjoy the offerings of Owen Jones, Seumas Milne and Polly Toynbee, and like to have my beliefs challenged by writers with whom I disagree. I don’t do the Twitter thing.
What I do find irritating and a little depressing, in a grumpy-old-man sort of way, are declining standards in language and literacy, especially in the sports section. Is the comma on the way out? Likewise, a “that” between main verb and object clause? There’s more, but I won’t go on…
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