Nominations for what makes a gentlemab

My dear late mum always used to say you could tell a gentlemen by whether he had clean shiny shoes!

My mother's ?definition of a gentleman: a man who uses a butter-knife when he's on his own. I suppose this is very dated now. Who uses a butter-knife these days? (What's a butter-knife Mum?)

out not it

Hmm, Phoebes, would I swop DH for David Beckham..................errr...............ok, no.............mainly due to the tatts! (On DB that is, not DH, thank Gawd).

Of course so-called gentlemanly behaviour will die it. That's because it is viewed as patronising by modern women. Let's just hope it will be replaced by respectful behaviour between both sexes.

I am married to a real gentleman, even though he was born in a refugee camp and spent his formative years living from hand to mouth. I wouldn't swap him for David Beckham!

What a shame that gentlemanly good manners seem to be fast fading from present day society. They'll be sadly missed by some of us.

I'd like to think I am, but I agree with NotToOld. I'm fed up of being growled at, by young AND old, when I hold a door open.

Would a Gentleman have pride, self-discipline, good manners and respect for others? If so, and this is deemed a good thing, who grooms the younger generations? Parents/guardians/families, religious leaders, teachers, coaches etc. or let them find out themselves through life experience?.

I have practically given up walking on the outside of the pavement with any ladies except my contemporaries as they have no idea what I am up to and I end up in the gutter. This is even true of my own DDs.

Well yes it is old faahioned so i suppose I am too. I used to say to the children in shops for example 'give the money to the lady' so it seemed only polite to say 'give it to the gentleman'where appropriate. It would be rude to say 'give it to the woman' so i tried to treat men the same. I still say the same to grandchildren. I think it will die out with our generation though.

It was my mother's terminology for every man on the street, so it makes it seem a bit of an old fashioned term to me

PS I've always been a big Davis Attenborough fan and agree with all the comments here.

I have as acquaintances several elderly men who walk on the outside on pavements, open car doors, and other doors for women,help them on with their coats etc. I rather like it but my daughter thinks it's very sexist . My husband does all these things for me but is wary of other women especially younger women as he has been shouted at in the past, mainly at work. He used to say - 'but I open the door for anyone, male or female !' But was still told off. I think it's a shame. Just good manners really.

Gentle Mabel!

I used to have a friend called Mabel. She was very gentle.
David Attenborough is certainly my idea of a gentleman. I really love him...from a distance of course..

dratted typos - that should read. his son, not 'is'. Note to self; preview ahead of posting...sigh!

yes agreed, Alima, Terry Wogan was a gentleman...as was my own dear (step)dad and is his son, my (step) brother. Lovely men, all.

'Zactly grumppa.

A gentleman might never be so crass as to want a huge anything, but he would know how to use it in a gentlemanly fashion if it was what he had.

I vote for my Grandad , I am the only person alive now who remembers him .
A man of great integrity, dignity and kindness.

Yes to Michael Palin.
Never heard of Justin Web or Gary Wilmott.

I am sorry but I really do not think a gentleman would ever be so crass as to want a huge anything
a bit of a plonker
Oh no, leave poor Justin alone
Although that wasn't a very gentlemanly thing to do

Yes, yes to Michael Palin

I agree, they are mostly getting on a bit or have died.

Probably why we can think of so few live ones. They have all been scared away.

Didn't gentlemen go out of fashion when women's lib came in? Blokes are scared to walk on the road side of the pavement to keep the horses from splashing a lady's dress, or to lay down their coat in a puddle for a lady to walk over, or even to give up their seat on the tube, in case the 'lady' turns round and wops them one for being sexist.

Yes to Monty Don and Michael Palin, I think.