A special generation

I returned from York yesterday night after visiting my elderly grandfather in hospital. It was heartbreaking to see him so frail and vulnerable: the man I remember playing cricket with me in the garden, taking me to feed the ducks, telling me endless stories of London during the war as well as the unforgettable stories of army life in Egypt in the 1940s. Sadly, dementia has taken its hold and the physical effects are all too stark now; that is the inevitable circle of life, but always difficult to accept. However, my grandfather was a major part of my childhood and I have learned many lessons and values from him. He has never forgotten his working class roots and has always encouraged me never to forget my working class origins either. I pay tribute to him and all he stands for.

Despite the frailty, a small part of his old self is still there, albeit intermittent, which brought home to me that we should treasure each and every moment we have with elderly relatives or friends. My grandfather's generation is a special generation: that war time generation that sought to build a better world, however small the contribution, from the rubble and they should be respected. They lived through one of the most dangerous periods of our history then fascism threatened our liberal democracy, but their steadfast determination saw us through. Churchill didn't win the war, but the ordinary working people did and a better Europe for all has been built as a result. That is the fundamental reason why I remain as pro-European as ever, because never must there be a return to those dark days and I sometimes think that is forgotten.

I fear in our society we don't always respect elderly people as we should. The hallmark of a decent society is how we treat our elderly, some of the most vulnerable people in society. One thing I know from my grandfather that even if you just spend a short time with an elderly person, they usually appreciate the time you take. Modern society values youth, but we should never forget how valuable experience is.