THE Spectator magazine and its editor Boris Johnson have come under attack because they accused the people of Liverpool of being over-sentimental, wallowing in grief and enjoying being a victim of tragedies like Hillsborough and the death of John Bigley.

The magazine's only mistake was to single out Liverpool. Since the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the British appear to have become very overtly sentimental. We see bunches of flowers at the roadside, people mourning and crying at the death of folk they never ever met and certainly did not know.

The death of pets is now big news with elaborate funerals, and extraordinary things are said and done to try and keep alive tiny babies who would have been allowed to die naturally, quietly and with dignity a few years ago.

Our nation has lost its stiff upper lip - that might be good or bad, I am not sure; but death is a natural event - sad, yes of course, but there is a real danger of allowing things to go OTT, and it does not mean we do not care unless we put on a massive show of wailing!

David Quarrie,

Lynden Way,

Acomb,

York.

Updated: 10:52 Tuesday, October 26, 2004