The world has been historically prejudiced against left handed people.

The very name for being left handed has meant, in different languages through the ages, clumsy, corrupt, awkward, strange, wrong, bad, illegal, sinister, weak, wicked and evil.

It became educational practise in Victorian times for teachers to insist left handed children use only their right hand for school work.

Left hands were caned or tied behind the back to encourage youngsters to be “normal”.

How could you grow up normal with treatment like that?

It was said left handers were the children of Satan, died younger and were more prone to criminal activity and insanity.

Happily, times have changed, and all these myths have been disproved, discredited and laughed out of society. The rights of lefties have been accepted. Well, almost.

Specialist shops now exist where the 10% of the population who favour their left mitt can buy scissors, pens, tin openers and bread knives that have been designed specifically for their way of doing things.

But they are still few and far between and usually only available mail order.

Which is why International Left Handers Day is being celebrated tomorrow, to raise awareness for the problems that can still face those of a left handed disposition.

They will take comfort from the fact being so inclined has not stopped others of similar persuasion from achieving great success.

Barack Obama is left handed, as were five of the last seven presidents of the United States of America. Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great and Nelson were all lefties. Napoleon had such little use for his right hand that he kept it tucked in his waistcoat.

Kenneth Branagh, Charlie Chaplin, Nicole Kidman, Robert de Niro, Steve McQueen, Greta Garbo, Bart Simpson, Kermit the Frog, Goldie Hawn, W C Fields.

The list of people prominent in the arts, literature, science, sport and politics goes on and on and after overcoming the ordinary trials and tribulations of a right handed world, they even have their favourite jokes.

Such as the husband who asks his wife: “If I die, would you remarry?”

“After a considerable period of grieving, I suppose I might. We all need companionship.”

“If you did, would he live in this house?”

“We’ve spent a lot of money getting this house just the way we want it. I don’t want to live anywhere else. I suppose he would.”

“Would he sleep in our bed?”

“Well, the bed is brand new and cost a fortune. I suppose he would.”

“If I died and you remarried, and he lived in this house and slept in our bed, would he use my golf clubs?”

“Oh, no,” the wife said. “He’s left-handed.”