Last updated 13:10, Friday, 16 May 2008

THIS WEEK I have been wondering what happened to the handshake.

It used to be that when you were introduced to someone you shook hands with them. You probably then called them by their formal title; Mr Brown or Mrs Thatcher or whatever.

These days, meeting new people is a minefield. Do you shake hands with them or clasp them to your bosom and address them as Gordon or Maggie?

People of my generation are wary of all this familiarity and never know whether to extend a hand or lunge at somebody.

The younger generation are more confident - exam results day is just a festival of shrieking and hugging.

In my first job, all the older members of staff, from the editor down to the elderly lady who had plaits wound up in a hairnet and who typed up the stop press in a dingy basement, were referred to as Mr or Mrs.

These days, our editor receives emails from job applicants which start with a matey ‘Hi Steve.’

On the other hand, you can take formality too far. About 80 years ago, my grandparents, as a young couple, moved into one of a row of new houses in a mining village (and the New Houses they remain to this day).

Moving in at the same time were two other young couples, and the three families forged friendships that lasted for well over 60 years.

When they were well into their 70s, my grandad would go for walks with his friends, Mr Wilson and Mr Burns, while my gran would take part in chapel functions with her friends, Mrs Wilson and Mrs Burns.

Never, in all those years, did they call each other Annie, or Mabel, or Jimmy or Walter or whatever, much less hug and kiss each other.

I met a new acquaintance only this morning. He was of my generation and I am happy to report that I called him by his formal title and he did not try to hug and kiss me.