This was sent to me by an English friend and I believe a lot of people echo these feelings.
An open letter to the Scots.
Dear Friends,
There has been much argument about currency, defence, oil reserves, the NHS and the EU in the Great Debate.
I have nothing to say about such matters. I leave that to the experts on both sides of the argument.
What I do have to say, as a simple and unimportant Englishman, is this: If you decide to become independent then I wish you well. May you be prosperous and happy as a result. My affection, my best wishes and that of all my friends who agree with me (and they are many), goes with you, if that is the journey you decide to make.
And it is for you alone to decide. I would not presume to guide you but I can tell you how I would miss you.
For, as a friend of Scotland, privately, I hope, fervently, that you do not leave us. We shall miss you sorely if you do.
If you do go, it will be like a Hogmanay party where the most entertaining guest leaves and then suddenly the room quietens and all the other guests start drifting away.
You have given us all in the UK so much. Your explorers, your engineers, your scientists, your philosophers and economists, your doctors and your formidable fighting men have given your brains and your blood for our common good. If you do go, then we owe you a tremendous debt of gratitude for all that you have given us. I thank you warmly for all this.
But it will be a sad place here without you at our side.
I suspect that our Queen, who we know has a special place in her heart for Scotland, will be quite as sad as this common Englishman too.
So, if you go, you go with my blessing and good wishes but, just before you leave, turn at the door if you will, pause for a moment and understand just how much your many friends will miss you.
We ordinary Englishmen badly want you still at our side, with that special brand of Scottish courage, for all the challenges and all the battles that may still be to come in this uncertain world. You have our affection, our gratitude and our admiration for what you have achieved and what you have given us. You will be sorely missed if you go. We need people like you as our staunch friends and as fellow defenders of the United Kingdom.
Yours truly
Leofric Jones
An open letter to the Scots.
Dear Friends,
There has been much argument about currency, defence, oil reserves, the NHS and the EU in the Great Debate.
I have nothing to say about such matters. I leave that to the experts on both sides of the argument.
What I do have to say, as a simple and unimportant Englishman, is this: If you decide to become independent then I wish you well. May you be prosperous and happy as a result. My affection, my best wishes and that of all my friends who agree with me (and they are many), goes with you, if that is the journey you decide to make.
And it is for you alone to decide. I would not presume to guide you but I can tell you how I would miss you.
For, as a friend of Scotland, privately, I hope, fervently, that you do not leave us. We shall miss you sorely if you do.
If you do go, it will be like a Hogmanay party where the most entertaining guest leaves and then suddenly the room quietens and all the other guests start drifting away.
You have given us all in the UK so much. Your explorers, your engineers, your scientists, your philosophers and economists, your doctors and your formidable fighting men have given your brains and your blood for our common good. If you do go, then we owe you a tremendous debt of gratitude for all that you have given us. I thank you warmly for all this.
But it will be a sad place here without you at our side.
I suspect that our Queen, who we know has a special place in her heart for Scotland, will be quite as sad as this common Englishman too.
So, if you go, you go with my blessing and good wishes but, just before you leave, turn at the door if you will, pause for a moment and understand just how much your many friends will miss you.
We ordinary Englishmen badly want you still at our side, with that special brand of Scottish courage, for all the challenges and all the battles that may still be to come in this uncertain world. You have our affection, our gratitude and our admiration for what you have achieved and what you have given us. You will be sorely missed if you go. We need people like you as our staunch friends and as fellow defenders of the United Kingdom.
Yours truly
Leofric Jones
