Honours system just a laughing stock

Sir,—The current row about so-called “cash for honours” is becoming difficult to comprehend.

Corruption has permeated the honours system since the 11th century up until the most recent New Year’s List. It is now nothing more than a laughing stock.

If the limit of a person’s ambition is a peerage, or a knighthood, (or one of the meaningless gongs which are freely handed out), it is merely a harmless indication of their intelligence.

The interviews with and arrests of senior political personnel are to be applauded. It should serve as a reminder of their vulnerability.

After all, the patience of the British public is surely not boundless, and the majority of the British public do not have the comfort of an offshore bank account to soften the blow of redundancy.

Think they’re above the law

Sir,—I am afraid I have little sympathy for the unfortunate smokers who were fined for littering recently.

A significant number of smokers do seem to consider themselves exempt from any responsibility for their actions, let alone the law, and think nothing of throwing away cigarette ends wherever it suits them, sometimes even still lit.

Why is it that some people show such irresponsibility and lack of consideration for others?

This is not simply an issue to do with smoking, it is about people showing respect for others and not expecting ‘someone else’ to clean up their mess after them.

Growing interest

Sir,—I would like to offer a short response to the article Challenge facing the Church, which appeared in The Courier last week. It is not intended to contradict your article but simply to provide some further information to help paint a fuller picture of the health of the Church in Dundee.

As Ministry leader of Dundee For Christ I work alongside the churches in Dundee and have a good overview of what is happening throughout the wider church.

On Monday I met up with the minister of a new church in the city that, within one year in the city, has 60-70 attending each Sunday. There are another five or six other such churches in the city that have come into being within the past five years, the majority of which do not own their own church building, but hire secular venues to meet in.

Of the older churches in Dundee the Elim Pentecostal on Dudhope Crescent are set to move premises to meet their expanding church growth. From conversation, I understand The Gate Church is doing very well with approaching 400 attending each Sunday.

In addition it was heartening to attend my own church, Central Baptist on Ward Road, on Sunday and see it filled to capacity! These are just some examples.

This Easter Sunday, Dundee For Christ will host Dundee’s Easter Celebration Resurrection Day at the Caird Hall when 2000 people will come together to praise the risen Lord Jesus.

This is a church body that is certainly not defeated as some might have sensed from the article last week, but a church that’s changing in shape, moving forward and excited about what God is doing in this city!

Changed days indeed

Sir,—I read with interest Roy McIntosh’s letter (January 25), referring to a possible cultural centre and the many changes to businesses and leisure facilities in the East Neuk of Fife.

Roy and I attended Cellardyke Primary School in the mid-fifties along with Elwyn Ritchie , Bobby Nicol and the late Fergus Hughes. Bobby Nicol’s father was the dairyman at Kilrenny Mill farm, just beyond Cellardyke swimming pool and it was there that we spent much of our free time, playing in the steadings and often helping in the byre.

Along the shore to Caplie coves, and inland to the woods beyond Kilrenny common called little Africa, we had complete freedom from dawn until dusk.

In the summer we swam in Anstruther harbour, and when we were older we played snooker in the Murray library and enjoyed the facilities at the holiday camp.

Yes, Roy, changed times indeed.

Pity more weren’t same

Sir,—Well done Mr Brocklebank for sticking to your principles over the EU fisheries policy. If more politicians were like you we wouldn’t be in the mess we are in today.