As such, the right to vote, in my opinion, is also a responsibility. Having been given, by accident of birth, the privilege of living in a free society, we should accept this responsibility and take seriously our part in the running of our country.
Our children are now both old enough to vote in their first general election, which has come much sooner than we could have foreseen.
It is fascinating to engage in debate with them and discuss the issues that are important to them.
This is encouraging to us. After many years of unswerving political affiliation we are, for the first time, questioning the best and most tactical way to vote, weighing carefully the implications of our choices. The children may vote differently from us, we may even make different choices ourselves, but the one thing that is certain is that we will all be at the village hall on June 8th casting our vote. I am proud of their interest, engagement and analysis of the election process.
We recall the politicised days of our student lives; the miners' strike, apartheid, Thatcherism... followed by a creeping apathy which seemed to smother the generations behind us. It was as if Johnny Rotten had never spat at an audience or sworn on TV. As if we had never sung along to the Specials as they called for the release of Nelson Mandela. Casual and organised racism insidiously grew and no-one seemed bothered.
Race riots, youth unemployment and even the more recent introduction of tuition fees and the burden of debt could not galvanise the young.
And then, to our horror, we sat aghast and heard the fateful news that the British public, ill informed by all sides and swayed by unfounded emotion, had voted to take us out of the EU.
This was the turning point. That their future could be so determined by people who would not live long enough to see the consequences of their action, stirred those who would be most affected and shocked them out of their apathy and inertia.
I am heartened by the number of people who have registered to vote, by a heightened awareness and willingness to participate amongst the younger generation and I can only hope for a more questioning and challenging attitude from the older generations, who should not blindly accept the lead of the press and the personality of individuals.
Individuals cannot run the country, we need a government with the interest of everyone at the forefront of their policies, to protect the vulnerable, to educate, to look after the environment, give the strong the backing to succeed in a socially responsible way, to serve the needs of the nation.
Make your own choices, but make them wisely, and make sure you vote, whether you are 18 or 108.
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