HAVING previously attended several performances at the Palace Cinema in Cinderford, my wife and I went along again this weekend to enjoy a night out. I personally feel that what the proprietor has done has been to bring something wonderful and much needed to the town and offers an excellent setting to watch current movies in a pleasant, friendly and warm environment.

But our enjoyment on this particular night was marred by the presence of a horde of unruly teenagers who were apparently sadly lacking in the manners department. The cinema, Friday night, was overrun by these youths who showed little or next to no respect for either the owner of the cinema or the respectable people present, instead choosing to be vulgar and base in both language and actions.

For a night at the cinema I do not expect to be subjected to certain wayward, boorish juveniles who are constantly screaming and shouting across the room to each other, clambering over seats, throwing popcorn, speaking on mobile phones (why school-age teenagers need them is beyond me and another point altogether) and chattering rudely throughout the film.

Apparently these youths seem to find it amusing to abuse this boon that has been offered to them, and it seems as if their mentality is 'abuse it and drive it away, so we can get back to dossing around on street corners. It's only Cinderford, after all.'

I find this insolent reasoning very sad and depressing and it must make those good people who try to make a difference question their own motives, and wonder why they bother trying at all.

Upon leaving the cinema, I felt ashamed, embarrassed and sorry for the owner and his staff, who were left with a disgraceful mess of empty sweet wrappers and pop cans filling the floor, and in one section the carpet could not be seen for the layer of popcorn that was burying it.

Now I have noticed that the entrance fee to the Palace has been increased. Whilst I do not begrudge giving a little extra for the great service that is being provided, I do begrudge having to pay it if the only reason for the price hike has been to pay for extra cleaning, caused by these disrespectful adolescents.

I would like to publicly thank the proprietor of the Palace Cinema for a superb service, and I would like to thank the caitiff teenagers that were there for ruining my night and giving me a headache.

Next time someone comes along and offers these teenagers an alternative to making public nuisances of themselves on street corners and littering the town, perhaps for some it should be a finishing school in order to teach some of the youths of today those fading traits called 'manners' and 'respect.' – L. Jackson, Cinderford.