As some of you may know I had the opportunity to travel and work in a lot of countries over the years, Greece, Spain, Tunisia, Gambia etc.

All of these countries have a lot of things good and bad about them - however the thing that always stood out for me was the sense of family, community and respect for the elders. I attended a wedding in Tunisia which lasted 3 days – we only went for one day, however Jegham Ahmed our host made sure even at a Muslim wedding there was wine and beers for all of us travel people who attended. It was a great honour and we were made very welcome – by young and old and the whole community.

I moved back to the UK in 1998 and that was a culture shock after ten years away – however the longer I stay – in a country I am very proud off – maybe it’s because I am getting older – you start thinking what is happening in the UK.?

In Siberia it is minus 50 degrees, buses and taxis still work and schools only close when it gets to minus 30 degrees. At Asda last week it was like a scene out of a disaster movie with people fighting over loaves of bread and pints of milk, bins weren’t collected, planes and trains were cancelled and we have nearly ran out of grit – the country was nearly at standstill.

To one elderly couple in Northamptonshire this didn’t really matter – as they had already died of the cold…  

Jean and Derek Randall were found dead in their home in Northampton by police as Britain was gripped by the coldest winter in 30 years.

Mr Randall, 76, had been trying to get his wife, 79, into a care home after realising that his own flagging health left him incapable of caring for her. The pair may have been dead for up to five days before officers forced their way into their bungalow on Thursday. When we live in a society where we cannot care or look after or respect our elders then something is fundamentally wrong in “Broken Britain”.

My dad is 83 years old and is still fit and healthy and lives with my brother, however there are still neighbours who also look in – so there is still a sense of community in certain areas.

In the village where I live – we are the youngest family in our Cul de Sac – and when our car got stuck in the snow in winter - 3 of my neighbours all over 65 years of age and retired came out on mass to push the car and dig us out.   

The older generation are still teaching us a lesson in humility and for Mr and Mrs Randall the tragedy is that their neighbours did look out for them – and contacted Social Services but their concerns went unheeded.

When your train is late or cancelled or your bin isn’t emptied please remember people on their own or the likes of the Randall’s or the pensioners that cannot afford to put the heating on, or is stuck in the house for the past five weeks and cannot get to the shops. Call in see how they are and make sure they know they are not alone – as without that generation none of us would have the rights we have now that they fought for – we owe them so let’s start paying back that debt.

Chris