I agree with all that Christine Friend writes about this country (Oxford Mail, November 17). Where has all our self-pride gone?

We used to be a proud country, getting up to go to a regular job, growing up and saving a bit and having a good time at sport and dancing. We could hold our heads up, knowing that we had to work to achieve anything.

We had the cane at school which we all needed at times - it should be delivered now.

We respected the elderly people and realised work was the only way to get anything.

If redundancy came along, the only help we had when we were married was three months' dole money (£17) and one milk token a week for two adults and four children.

We managed, but while we were coping, we had to get another job, or have no money.

There was no such thing as people's rights, where you could rob your own country of money to keep you. We were hard-working and proud to be living in Great Britain.

But now it is all out of hand. Young girls are allowed to have a family without getting married. We, the English, have been given a very lazy life. Bring back the days when there were no problems like we have today.

We used to be a country that was respected. Now the rest of the world is laughing at us.

My wife and I are 75 years old. We did our best to manage without scrounging. We were taught to work and respect our elders and were punished at school if we did wrong.

This Government needs to stop immigration completely and take a good look at itself and what it is doing to this country.

The people of Great Britain should stand up and be counted.

BILL SUMMERSBEE Balfour Road Blackbird Leys Oxford