DAVID Howe made a welcome return as the guest speaker to the U3A in Pershore this month with his take on “Modern Manners”. The setting for David’s talk was the question, what constitutes “Good Manners” in an era of mobile phones, texts and emails? Taking a broad brush approach to manners, David began by discussing the circumstances and settings in which it might be thought appropriate for men to wear a tie and how this has changed over the decades.

David went on to explain how, what is considered to be good manners is often prescribed by etiquette, protocol and convention, in formal and social settings. In a wide ranging and often hilarious talk, he went on to describe how and in what circumstances we address and thank people and the different forms of language we use.

“Manners are what your mother thought you should have.” is one definition David used to explain the family influence on manners.

The tyranny of the mobile phone, was singled out for particular attention. The dilemma of when it is polite to take a call, or should the phone be switched off at meal times, in meetings and on social occasions?

David’s conclusion is that, in changing times, what constitutes good manners should be governed by consideration and thoughtfulness towards others.

The speaker at the next U3A meeting at Pershore Civic Centre, on 16 August from 2-15pm will be Steven Blake on “The Cotswold Way, 100 years of history”.

JOHN AIREY