River Wissey Lovell Fuller

Les Lawrence writes to the Editor

August 2007

Les makes the point that the best way of dealing with teenagers is by getting to know them!

Dear Editor,

I read with interest Lee MaCarthy's letter in last months Village Pump and his observations regarding our young people. I don't believe there is any difference between the young of today and those I was in contact with years ago.

I don't like doing this, as I have explained in an article which I hope you will be kind enough to publish in the August edition, but I hope you will forgive me Mr. Editor if I spend a few moments looking back.

For some 40 years I worked in insurance operating in the same area as that covered by our Village Pump. There were very few teenagers that I didn't know and of course their Parents as well. After all, I was being paid to know them! It was their money I was after - insuring their motorbikes & cars and of course selling them savings policies the moment they started work. I didn't of course overlook dear Mother, calling to see her five minutes after having her baby. "Nice little policy for Baby" asks I. Poor Mother had hardly got out of bed.

I built up a relationship with these people, teenagers and their Parents, and when those teenagers called at my home wanting a quote to insure their motorbikes, cars, etc. they treated me, my Wife, my home, with the utmost respect. Little wonder that I reciprocated that respect.

Of course there were some bad apples in every barrel, as I found out when I had two brand new cars vandalised. But that still didn't alter my respect for the rest because I knew what decent honest young people they were. And that is my point. I KNEW them.

When I hear criticism of our teenagers I ask myself yes but how well do you know these teenagers? Are you in touch with them as indeed I was years ago? Going back to my article which I referred to and which I called, "Now and the Future" one word I used frequently was "Communication."

There is nothing wrong with our teenagers that a little bit of working together can't put right, and if we did more of that then our world would indeed be a better place.

Les Lawrence

Copyright remains with independent content providers where specified, including but not limited to Village Pump contributors. All rights reserved.