I hate people using bad and abusive, vulgar language.

Wayne Rooney swearing into the camera after scoring his hat-trick, in what is called the beautiful game, was a typical example of this new, raw side of our society that has crept upon us and is slowly starting to be socially acceptable.

This has been aided and abetted courtesy of, and by the encouragement of, that great downward mass leveller, television, which has now ceased to use the censoring blue pencil.

Everyone, even if they didn’t actually see it, now knows all about it — the swearing at us via the television camera.

And now people are reeling back in shock and horror that he used those foul words.

Yes, those are the same foul words that are now considered funny in the mouths of top comedians, that are used by actors and actresses and are bandied about in practically every workaday situation.

It is very sad and disheartening that there’s this corruption of what is proper and correct in our everyday conversations.

The serious decline in what was acceptable, is now sadly commonplace, but surely it’s up to all of us to try to put a stop to it and hopefully reverse the situation — that’s if, like with many other things we are not too late!

I was at the Mayor’s Ball at King George’s Hall on Friday and there was a really good turnout.

Everyone looked splendid and the food was very tasty.

It was a great night.

’Twas a little nostalgic though too, as I remembered dancing there to Eddie McGarry’s band a long time ago — and do you remember all that queuing for tickets that we had to do?

I was speaking to the ladies of Accrington Inner Wheel at Sparth House on Thursday and it came up as we talked about how so many associations, clubs and groups are finding it difficult to recruit new, young members.

Is it that there are now simply too many other attractions, or are they just not interested, or is it that the urge to participate in community things is no longer there?

I do feel our world will be a poorer, lonelier place for many if these associations were to disappear.