It's not grim down South (From Bournemouth Echo)

It's not grim down South

9:00am Tuesday 16th March 2010 in

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EXCUSE me for mentioning it if you come from England’s upper latitudes but for as long as I can recall the friendly reputation of people living up North has been remorselessly force-fed down my delicate southern gullet.

But who came top this week in a survey of the UK’s friendliest cities? Was it a Northern city where, according to repute, neighbours queue to lend you sugar?

Was it heck. The friendliest was Southampton, with Exeter, Brighton, Plymouth and Portsmouth – all on the South Coast – making the top 10.

And where did Manchester, Liverpool, Bradford and the like come in this study of friendly welcomes? In the bottom six, pipped for rudeness only by my native London where unfriendliness, it seems, is almost de rigeur.

Don’t get me wrong. I love Liverpool and had a great time living in vibrant Manchester. I met countless charming people and made lifelong friends. But, let’s be honest. It wasn’t all like Corrie. There were as many selfish grumps there as anywhere else.

Not being cities, Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch, didn’t figure in the study but I’d bet any place down here would have scored high points if they did. My experience of native Dorset and New Forest folk is that they are reserved but wouldn’t hesitate to help if you were struggling with a pushchair, would give up a seat on a bus if you’d heavy shopping and would hare after you if you dropped money.

And, ironically, a fair chunk of our friendly popul-ation these days moved south, from cities like Manchester, Liverpool, Brum and even London.

Anyone need a cup of sugar?