NOSEY Harold Bishop is Britain’s favourite neighbour, a new nationwide study shows today.
NOSEY Harold Bishop is Britain's favourite neighbour, a new nationwide study shows today.
The widower from Aussie soap 'Neighbours' topped the poll, beating Britain's own Coronation Street meddler Vera Duckworth and EastEnder Pat Butcher into second and third places.
Emmerdale's troublesome Dingle family were voted the neighbours from hell - followed closely by the Battersbys from Coronation Street and the newly arrived Slater family in EastEnders.
The 'Good Neighbour' study from leading insurer, Norwich Union, also shows that neighbours are thought to be the best sort of crime prevention. Twice as many people would rather have a watchful neighbour to keep an eye on their home than invest in a burglar alarm.
Rebecca Hartley, sponsorship manager at Norwich Union Insurance, said: "Our research shows that despite concerns that Britain is losing its community spirit, people are still very neighbourly. Homeowners place great importance on chatting to their neighbours over the garden fence, with more than half of those surveyed talking to their neighbours every day."
John Howell, director general of National Neighbourhood Watch, said: "Good neighbours can make a real difference in the fight against crime and help to build a safer community for everyone. The results of Norwich Union's survey are very encouraging, with over a third of people saying that the best type of neighbour to have is one that they can trust to look out for their family and their home."
The study also shows:
- More than a third of people consider their neighbours to be 'friends'.
- Only one in twenty people say they never talk to their neighbours.
- Neighbours in Yorkshire are the friendliest, with two-thirds talking to their neighbours daily
- Londoners are the least friendly neighbours, with only a third talking to them daily and one in five never meeting or talking to their neighbours
The 'Good Neighbour' study coincides with a reminder to Neighbourhood Watch members across the UK to send in their entries to the Norwich Union National Neighbourhood Watch Awards.
Commenting on the awards, Rebecca Hartley added: "Through our sponsorship of the awards, we're recognising and rewarding the valuable contribution that neighbours can make to improve community safety."
Entry to the Norwich Union Neighbourhood Watch Awards is open to all 10 million Neighbourhood Watch members.
Full details of the Awards and how to enter can be obtained from the National Neighbourhood Watch Association, Schomberg House, 80-82 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5HF - telephone 020 7772 3348 or e-mail info@nnwa.org.uk. The closing date for entries is 31 July 2001.
-Ends-
For further media information or to arrange an interview, contact Gabrielle Brewer or Matthew Buchanan at QBO on 020 7379 0304 or Liz Nicholson or Jenny Chapman at Norwich Union press office on 08703 666 863
Notes to Editors:
- Norwich Union commissioned Taylor Nelson Sofres to conduct an independent survey of more than 1,000 adults. The survey was carried out in May 2001.
- Norwich Union Insurance is the UK's largest general insurer - insuring one in five households.
- CGU plc and Norwich Union plc merged on 30 May 2000 to create CGNU plc, the UK's largest insurance group and one of the top-five insurers in Europe with substantial positions in other markets around the world, making it the world's sixth largest insurer based on gross worldwide premiums.
- CGNU's principal business activities are long-term savings, fund management and general insurance, with worldwide premium income and retail investment sales from ongoing business of over Ł27 billion and assets under management of more than Ł210 billion.
- From October 2000, the combined life and pensions, general insurance and retail fund management businesses in the UK operate under the Norwich Union brand, while the institutional investment business operates under the Morley Fund Management brand.
- Norwich Union's news releases are available on this website.
There are eight award categories in the Norwich Union Neighbourhood Watch Awards, with a Ł1,000 prize on offer for each:
- Co-ordinator of the Year
- Urban Award
- Rural Award
- Community Service Award
- Partnership Award
- Police Award
- Home Secretary Award for Young People
- Scottish Young Persons Award
Certificates of Commendation will be given to the best entries from every police force area in the UK. In addition, a 'National Award' will be given to the overall winner from amongst the eight Category winners and will be announced at the presentation ceremony to be held later in the year.
The Norwich Union Neighbourhood Watch Awards 2001 are sponsored by Norwich Union in association with BBC Local Radio, the Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Local Government Association. The judging panel will include representatives of all the supporting organisations.