Butlers called Jeeves, fuel in gallons and Top of the Pops are also some of the items Britons yearn for along with postcard writing and Spangles sweets.

More than half want to see children playing in the street again, because they believe it is healthier and more sociable than sitting indoors in front of the TV or playing computer games.

The research by OnlineOpinions also found calls for council-run outdoor lidos which have all but disappeared because of local authority cost cutting and health and safety worries.

TV shows that those wish to return include Only Fools and Horses and It's A Knockout while football fans wanted referees to wear black again, a return to standing on the terraces and the re-emergence of Home International matches.

A spokesman for OnlineOpinions said: "The advantages of new technology are marvellous, of course, but sometimes there is just a good feeling about older products and brands.

"And with so many faceless multinational brands, there is a growing demand to return to more personalised technology brands like Ask Jeeves, VHS recorders and film in cameras."

Not everything from the past was in big demand however, with only two per cent wishing to see big "brick style" mobile phones returning, while only seven per cent wished for the return of TV soap Crossroads.

The spokesman added: "Many people associate some of the memories with better times so when they think of bobbies on the beat they remember the streets being safer.

"When they think of children on the street it reminds them of days when everyone knew their neighbours.

"And the nostalgia for local bank managers in these days of dealing with foreign call centres is more keenly felt as banks collapse and people worry about what happens to their money."

What people want to see return (in per cent)

1. Bobbies on beat - 72

2. Snow at Christmas - 59

3. Top of the Pops - 53

4. Children playing in street - 52

5. Opal Fruits - 44

6. Apprenticeships - 44

7. Only Fools and Horses - 44

8. Red Phone boxes - 43

9. C&A - 42

10. Steam Trains - 40

11. Postcards - 38

12.Ask Jeeves - 37

13. Fuel in gallons - 37

14. Letter writing - 35

15. Local bank managers - 33

16. Outdoor swimming pools/lidos - 31

17. It's a Knockout - 31

18. Marathon Bars - 30

19. Spangles - 29

20. Old Grey Whistle Test - 24


http://tinyurl.com/b249nj


What would be the one thing you want to return?  Mine is bring back real measurements, yards feet and inches, I knew what they were...

What is needed...like the 1960`s..when police houses
were built in council estates...their presence must
have detered some. Why does the E.E.C...and our own
government laws...favour the criminals and not the
law biding citizens !

No 6 apprenticeships ...........give the youth incentive do well.
I dont agree with the order they are in does anyone else ?


Val I have always used yards,feet amd inches,lol
I have always said ` a 1/4 of ham not gonna change now mate !!!

Do you know there is a very important one missing from that list, and its COMMON SENSE, cause there aint alot of it around at the moment!

Shucks Chris, You  have taken the words right out of my Mouth!!   "Common Sense and Logic" are the two vital ingrediantes that are missing. Everything else would follow on, naturally!! As I have mentioned before -- Lets go back to The 1950s. and start all over again. Learning by our past mistakes!!--- In 1997 brown stated British Jobs for British Workers he also mentioned appentiships ??
Where are those skilled people to Teach this younger generation the skills required fo Today 
The Police??  Let them actually catch The Criminals, do away with so much paperwork (use computers)-- There is so much that needs to be re-adjusted ?? to comment on!!

Freedom from the EEC as it is now, and return to what we voted for- free trade and friendship with Europe and nothing else. A fat chance!

I remember throwing snowballs at a policemans helmet when we were kids, I can't remember if it got knocked off, we all legged it.

And for Gods sake give them some power back !!!!!