Biddys and Codgers
It was supposed to be a humorous way of describing the pensioners who are enjoying retirement in the seaside town of Selsey in Sussex by the sea.
Instead, the decision by a taxi firm to describe them as 'biddies and codgers' in an advertising campaign, sparked uproar yesterday. One dictionary describes biddies as 'interfering old women' and codgers as 'old or eccentric men'.
Chichester District Council - which last year outlawed the phrase 'man in the street' because of its sexist overtones - announced it had launched an inquiry after registering a complaint from 66 year old widow Maribel French who said she felt 'quite sick' when she picked up a leaflet from taxi company Area 24/7 which offered discount travel to OAPs.
The leaflet advertised a 'Biddys (sic) and Codgers Taxi Scheme' and offered travel anywhere in Selsey between 9am and 11pm seven days a week for £2.50.
Mrs French, a mother of four who has lived in Selsey for ten years, said: "The card came through my letter box on Sunday and I just read it and phoned them up and asked them who they classed as biddies or codgers. The chap on the phone said he knew nothing about it. I asked to speak to his boss and was told he wasn't there.
"I think the whole thing is disgusting. I might be an OAP or a senior citizen but I'm certainly not a biddy.
"It's like being called an old hag. And if my husband Alfred was alive I would certainly not dream of calling him an old codger. I will not leave it. I feel really strongly about it.
"Everybody I have spoken to has said it is disgusting. I will be going round knocking on doors and asking elderly people what they think."
Michael Ellerton, a partner in the cab firm, said: "We gave out around 7000 leaflets and out of all of them we have received only two complaints. It's the talk of the village - they love it. They talk about it at bingo. We take them to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester and encourage them to get out there and back into the community and to enjoy their lives. It's all good fun."
Controller Gary Healy added: "It's sad that someone can take offence. To me, if someone says 'old codger' they mean it in a nice way, not nasty. If we were trying to insult people we would be charging them £5 not £2.50.."
A spokesman for Chichester District Council said: "Ian Smith of our licensing unit has received a complaint from a lady in Selsey and he will be taking up the matter with the taxi company."
Last year the council brought out an eight page 'Language Guide' for staff and councillors which said that the phrase 'man in the street' should be replaced by 'the general public'.
Among the other outlawed expressions was 'manning the switchboard' because it was 'not a fair reflection of reality and makes either the views or work of women invisible.'
The council said: "The aim should be to try not to cause offence and therefore for most purposes the use of woman or women is accurate and appropriate. 'Old woman', 'old fool' and 'old codger' 'stereotype old people as fussy, stupid and dependent. The positive alternative, on the advice of Age Concern, is 'older person'.
Meanwhile, Selsey's most famous resident, astronomer Sir Patrick Moore was incredulous at the furore yesterday. "Are you sure it's not April 1," he said. "You'd better put me down as an old coot."
According to the Collins Concise Dictionary a biddy is either a dialect word for a chicken or hen or a gossipy and interfering woman.
A codger is an old or eccentric man, used either as a term of affection or in mild derision.