General Chat

I'm proud to be British. I get very bored of Scots who say that they'll cheer for anyone who plays against England although I realise that rivalry in general between England and Scotland goes back to the dawn of time. I have Scottish ancestry on both my maternal grandparents sides and have an affinity with Scotland anyway, having been there on holiday on quite a few occasions. If any of our home nations play against someone else, I always cheer for the home nation.

I totally agree with you Andy. I also have some Scottish ancestors of my maternal grandmother. Aren't your ancestors from Brechin? Lucia :-)

i feel that i class myself as english even though i was born in scotland.my mother and her realtives are all scotsxxxx(:

My grandmother was born in Inverness, but my mother grew up in Essex. Lucia :-)

I am proud to be English - but am only second generation my heritage is Manx - if the Welsh and Scots felt they needed their own Parliament - fine - although the cost was horrendous. What I object to is that their MPs still sit in Westminster and decisions applicable only to England. I know Scots law is different do not know about Wales. Ann

Lucia, yep, the Farquharsons. They moved to Brechin from Aboyne though around 1820. Apparently the Farquharson clan fought at the Battle of Culloden - the last battle to be fought on British soil - but fled at the first opportunity - wise lads, lol. Have some Mackay ancestors from the Edinburgh area as well. ANdy

Andy, sounds like you've researched your family quite far back. I'm struggling with my Scottish ancestors!! I know Farquharson is a really common name around here. Will let you know if I come accross any lol Lucia :-)

im proud to b English on forms that say british i cross it out and put English

Peter, I've wondered that before. When I lived in Germany, I travelled back to England on a few occasions and would get a cheap flight over to Stansted. When you disembark, you have to get the shuttle ride over to the main terminal. Whilst on the shuttle, there's a recording of a bloke with a Scottish accent (not a heavy one), telling you what to do when you reach the main terminal and I wondered what any foreigners would make of it! I think someone said once that these particular accents have a sort of lilting tone to them that's reassuring. As for MPs, yep Big Tone ropes them in whenever he wants to win a controversial vote (tuition fees, foundation hospitals), even though it won't affect their Scottish constituencies. I think I'm right in saying that John Reid is the most high profile of this little band.

I was born in Ireland and go back once a year. I feel so at home there although I have lived in England quite a long time. Maybe its because it wasnt my choice to leave but my parents.

I did Psychology. Going to do a masters in Social Work. As for ancestry, I have German, Irish, English and French ancestry. My nana was German, my grandfather (different side of family) was Irish. I am very proud of my heritage, even though I can't trace them very far back at all! And the rugby - why are England playing so craply?!?

And what about Cornwall? LOL. Aren't they wanting independence?

LOL Chloe, BTW, what an interesting ancestry you have, Lucia :-)

Not sure that you can be proud of something which is not an achievement of your own doing. If I am proud to be English, and of English excellence, particularly in the field of literature - Shakespeare etc, then I must also be ashamed to be English when I think about the many wrongs done in the name of the English Empire all over the world. I have just finished reading a book about the Irish Famine and it makes me sick to think that it was allowed to happen and that English men in a position to do something turned their backs on people who were forced to starve to death. It wasn't in the dark ages it was in 1847 in a Christian country. nell

Helen a lot of people do not realise that the potato blight which caused the Irish Famine was also here in England at that time and caused a great deal of hardship. If memory serves me right it began in I. of Wight. However the exporting of grain from Ireland was usually done by Irish Land Agents acting on behalf of absentee landlords. Ann

Yes but Ann those absentee Landlords where English, what is known as the Landed Gentry. Queen Victoria did not have any interest in Ireland and only worried about the Capitol Dublin (known as the second city of the Empire) and Dublin was not affected the same as the rest of the Country. That is not to say the Irish themselves couldn't have done more, but by the time their staple diet had been ruined it was too late. I agree with Nell it was a tragedy on the Country that should never have been allowed to happen, it did and it will never be forgotten, nor should it. This is not to say that that my Ancestors in England faired much better, in the Victorian times the working class suffered terribly, so the rich could live in the lap of luxury and rule with an iron rod over the people who created the wealth. My opinion of course, no disrespect to you. I am (what I myself call) a mongrel (many nationalities in my blood) I am not proud of being anything but part of the human race and do not care where anyone comes from. Pat x

Well I am Scottish and Very Very Proud to say so. I also come from Glasgow and have to say that most of our Local news readers are infact Scottish Peter!! Also my own cousin happens to be a Newsreader in England and I am sure you would have no problem in understanding him infact the next time I see him I must slap him for making his accent sooo .... Non Scottish!! Why is it that Chloes question was to ask us if we are proud of what we are... English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish? and straight away someone has to start with the old... Scottish this and Scottish that and yet you wonder why sometimes the Scots have a problem with the English. Its the same when a Scots person does something bad then the papers report 'Scotsman does so and so' but Oh let him do something good and how does it read then? 'British man does whatever' Oh and before anyone wants to jump up and down shouting about Big Shaz having a problem.... I am living in England my children were all born here and my eldest son (almost 19) supports England, hangs his England flag out when they are playing and also wears England shirts and drinks from an England mug. He has been like this since he was a child and yes it was me who bought him his first England Shirt, Mug and Flag! Shaz Proud to be Scots!

English Empire!?! It was the BRITISH Empire, wasn't it? That should imply that all countries were involved, and yet only England takes the blame. As for the potato famine - it makes me so frustrated the segregation in Ireland. Back in 2000 we went to Fermanagh and Armagh (N Ireland) to see where my grandad grew up, and the defined segregation in the towns was overwhelming. Irish Republic flags on one side, Union Jacks on the other. I think the IRA have committed a lot of atrocities on England (not Scotland and Wales) all in the name of the potato famine (isn't this the root of all the problems?), and N Ireland still being a part of the UK. How they can justify killing any innocent is beyond me, makes them as bad as those in power all those years ago. It would be nice if everyone got on and were represented correctly in parliament. It makes me laugh when you hear Scots complain about 'those English' down in Westminster.... eh most of them are Scottish! LOL. Only heard a few Scots say it, but still makes me laugh. Chloe

Chloe Yes, it was the British Empire, but I believe most of those in power at the time of the Irish famine were English. Fortunately none of them were anything to do with me as my ancestors were firmly working/labouring class and probably only just scratching a living themselves. The Irish famine was a cause of some of Ireland's problems today, not least because those lucky enough to survive the emigration to America could stir up sympathies for their homeland, but the list of atrocities in Ireland goes way back, beyond Cromwell's butcheries in Drogheda. I am completely with you in that more violence is not the solution. nell

Strange but cant say I have heard any of my lot saying 'those English' down in westminster ?? I have heard some things said but Westminster has never been mentioned! Shaz