I take it all back!

Well, at least some of it. Last night we watched a wonderful programme about Welford Primary School in Handsworth where the children speak 17 different languages as their first language and the number is rising all the time as families arrive in the area from eastern Europe. The head master, who should be knighted immediately, said this wasn't a problem. It was in fact both part of a process that had been going on for centuries and something that enriched the community. Everybody seemed pleased to be there and to feel themselves to be or to be becoming British as festivals, customs, food and languages were shared. Oh yes, and the older children were learning French as well!

The night before we saw a programme about the hard working Polish immigrants to Peterborough who also seemed pleased to be there and put the workshy, benefit dependent spotty adolescents of the town to shame. It was a nice moment when a random interviewee complained that more rubbish was being thrown onto the street. "Eastern Europeans?" inquired the interviewer. "No, the English" was the reply.

Both programmes should be compulsory viewing for all those who think that Britain is going to hell in a hand cart.