I’D like to start by saying that I feel very fortunate to belong to the generation that have.

Born at the end of the war into a large family, (oh and by the way we did eat dripping and tinned milk) things were hard, not for us kids though, that was for our parents to worry about.

Growing up through the 1950s we were the raggy ar**d rovers but we just thought that was normal and we never went hungry.

Then into the teenage years in the 1960s, an absolutely fantastic time on the music scene. It was a great time and we made the most of it.

I got married in 1967 and was fortunate enough to never be out of work, in fact we both worked full time until retirement.

So as I said I’ve been very fortunate to live when I did and feel very sorry for the kids trying to get jobs and make ends meet. The situation is serious.

I just wonder, in 70 years’ time will people be saying, I was born just after Brexit, and things were tough. One thing is for sure I don’t think they’ll have it as easy as me.

Alan Barrass, Shildon