I AM writing to say how much I enjoy your 'Looking Back' articles.

Reading the story (LET, June 1) that carried a photograph of an old knocker-up, as I gazed at him, I thought how little did he realise when the picture was taken what longing it would evoke of an era long-gone, never to return.

Times were hard for working people at that time, but there was a warmth and neighbourliness then, that is also long-gone, never to return.

I feel sorry for the young generation of today. They will never have what we had, both before and during the war - a spirit of comradeship and pride in our country, England, and above all of being British.

It is hard to put into words this warmth and pride that we had, in spite of the poverty and hardship where there was no Welfare State.

RONALD HODGSON, Stephen Street, Mill Hill, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.