deathBox

Sir
Am I the only one to see fewer and fewer buttons these days? Coats now seem to have what I call a "flap" which covers all but one button (usually the top one) and sometimes even covers them all! I'm no fuddy-duddy, but has fashion really come to this?
In my day ladies and gents would proudly parade a neat row of buttons on their outergarments, but the youth of today seem once again only too happy to "buck the system". No doubt barmy Eurocrats are to blame.

Albert Dent
Shropshire

Sir
I couldn't agree more with your reader Mr Dent in his bemoaning of the downgrading of the Great British Button. People nowadays are only too eager to embrace faddish new fastenings such as press-studs, zips and - heaven forbid! - velcro.
I remember having to use buttons as money during the dark days of the depression. Can you honestly imagine the reaction if you attempted to purchase groceries with a zip?! It's all BACS transfers and the internet these days!

Yours Mrs Plampton-Phrase
Bedfordshire

Sir
As a child during the Blitz, I remember our dear old Queen Mother emptying the Royal Button Jar over the streets of the East End for all of us young guttersnipes to play with. Gawd bless 'er! I recall one occasion when I found a large, shiny, brass button which looked to have come off one of the old King's Naval uniforms. Of course I put it back when I'd finished gazing at it, but for a couple of hours I felt like the luckiest boy in the whole of Whitechapel.
If Tony Blair or one of his so-called Spin Doctors attempted to repeat the feat nowadays, we'd have his guts for garters. These faceless politicians might be able to destroy our heritage, but they can't crush our spirit. Long live St George and his buttons!

G Rubbyoik
Stepney E20

Sir
While not wishing to "over-egg the pudding" as it were, I feel I must also add my support to Mr. Dent's views. It must be very hard for today's youths to understand that one can achieve a simple happiness without recourse to cannabis, dole money and immigration. Buttons may not be available on "Sky" television or featured on a "Rolling Stones" album or whatever these people listen to nowadays, but to a certain section of our great nation they are an integral part of everyday life.
May I humbly suggest a name for our campaign? "Brighter Buttons for a Better Britain!".

Yours Major Charles Derwent-Hesketh (ret'd)

Wassup homeys!
Time I threw my bit into the 'hood. Buttons may have been dope back in the day, but life move, you dig? Today's chains, man. I need green, I need red leb, but mostways, I need gold. Tommy H with buttons? Outta here, fool! You want props, you need to smoke those brass buttons and get with the programme OK? We cool? Rush….

Yours Tim Westwood
Crawley
(Bishop's son)

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