John Parry should be awarded the Grumpy Old Man (GOM) award 2003 for the most negative column I have ever read (The Argus, July 25).

Although I'm sure readers are used to Mr Parry's weekly Victor Meldrew act, the "damn you England" repetition of the article was depressing.

If you believe Mr Parry, nothing good or positive is happening locally or in the rest of the country.

Perhaps if this GOM took his nose from out of his primary source of inspiration - the Daily Mail - long enough to look around him, he would see, for example, the wonderful work done in the community by volunteers.

If you don't like England, Mr Parry, do us all a favour and move abroad.

Perhaps we will then be spared from your weekly GOM professional whinging.

-Samantha Mann, Hove