REX Pawley's letter suggesting how bad times were as a lad reminds me of the Monty Python sketch with four Yorkshiremen comparing and attempting to outdo each other with their poor childhood experiences.

In summary, one man says: “We used to live in a shoebox.

“At midnight we would get up and lick the road clean with our tongue. We lived on two bits of cold gravel, worked 24 hours a day at the mill for sixpence every four years.

“If we told the young people of today they wouldn't believe us.”

However, on a serious note, Rex mentions that he worked, received a 10% salary increase and worked 37 hours a week. There are nearly 3 million people unemployed (including graduates and vastly experienced people). This total excludes people living off their savings and others only able to get part-time work. There are also homeless living on our streets.

I wonder how many of these people would say: “Rex, YOU never had it so good”.

Elizabeth Ward, High Wycombe