Cut Glass – The accent that is perceived to be correct despite strangulation of vowels and clipped tones. Includes the addition of the letter ‘R’ which does not appear in the spelling of the word eg theatre and drawer to name but two. It is a distillation of all the countries that have invaded and subsequently ruled over what we now call Britain. It is now the accent of ‘perceived’ aristocracy.

I am complimented on my soft Scottish accent. The Americans love it. Most folk do not believe I am from Glasgow as, sadly, they expect all Glaswegians to have a course, thick accent that is difficult to understand.

Once, I was in Lancashire and someone asked if I was from over the border. I said yes, I’d travelled down that day. Further conversation revealed they thought I was Welsh.