Courtesy still costs nothing

TOMORROW is National Courtesy Day, and in an age when it's often too easy to forget the niceties, we found an East Lancashire man who still believes manners maketh man.

Customers mind their Ps and Qs when they enter newsagent Stuart Phillips' shop or they won't be served.

It is seven years since Stuart hit the headlines when he decided enough was enough and began insisting on courtesy in his Padiham Road, Burnley, shop.

And his one-man stand has paid dividends with people holding the door open for each other, asking nicely for goods and saying thank-you when they have been served.

"I can still remember my dad telling me when I was a child: 'Manners maketh the man.' And I have stuck by that phrase," he said.

Stuart is a member of the Campaign for Courtesy, formerly the Politeness Society, which includes patrons such as Anthea Turner, Lord Oaksey, Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir John Geilgud.

He said: "When I used to be a salesman I was walking into Kendals in Manchester and I had my arms full of stock.

"The person in front of me let the door go knocking me and the stock all over the pavement. "Then someone came into the newsagents and he was abusive and barged through everyone and I refused to serve him.

"I thought that would be the end of my business - but instead I had letters congratulating me and saying they agreed with what I had done." That is when the Courtesy Society wrote to Stuart asking him if he would like to join.

Now he has a large notice above the National Lottery ticket machine which says: "Courtesy costs nothing and profits everyone."

And the lottery agents were so impressed they have taken a photograph to promote the idea in their Jackpot magazine.

Numerous people have asked Stuart about the campaign and he passes on the address of the organisation to anyone who wants to join.

He said: "Most people tend to agree with the idea and supermarkets seem to be getting the idea nowadays with badges saying 'here to help'.

"Sometimes children get carried away and say: 'Have you a bag?' To which I say: 'I beg your pardon?' And they will say: 'Please.' I hope they leave my shop and carry on being courteous in front of others and in other places, giving up their seats on a bus, holding doors open and saying please and thank-you.

"A little courtesy costs nothing and goes a long way to making the world a nicer place."

For more information write to: The Campaign for Courtesy, 18 The Avenue, Basford, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 0LY.

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