My great-grandfather, the World War I hero

I am not a patriotic person. I felt joy at London 2012 and like it when our sports teams and players win things; so much of Britain’s history is rich, eclectic, and impressive. But given the fact I barely have a drop of British blood in me, I don’t feel a huge amount of pride in our nation, just for the sake of it. The mindless patriotism of Americans puzzles me to the point of annoyance. Which is why I don’t bat an eyelid when people decide not to wear a poppy on Remembrance Day. Often, they have very personal, strongly held reasons for abstaining. Nobody should feel forced into it or be bullied about their choice not to wear one.

My own choice is to wear a poppy, and it isn’t out of any sense of social duty. I do so because of my great-grandfather, Sgt Bernard Brookes, who fought in World War I.