Sir, – I am the friend of Susan McLean who came to Aberfeldy a month ago to fire up the waning search for Susan.
While I am pleased that we were able to find her remains, I must forward all praise to the amazing people of Aberfeldy.
From my arrival, they were unbelievably welcoming and most kind to this foreigner who came to stir up their community with questions, requests, and needs.
They offered me help in any way possible, even giving me housing and teaching me about the hills and trails surrounding the town, including the Loch Hoil Trail and walking there with me countless times.
In the end, it was Aberfeldy volunteer searchers who found Susan last Saturday.
They, and I, are left wondering why the police rejected their many offers to help search from the first moment they heard of the missing person.
How can I say an adequate thank you to these people with the biggest hearts and greatest caring spirits?
Susan would have been so pleased to know that this community reached out to her with endless concern.
If she had known of the character of Aberfeldy, she might have reached out to you for help instead of seeking isolation in your beautiful forest.
Lorna VanderZanden. South Grant Street, Arlington, Virginia.
Hospital staff were wonderful
Sir, – Frequently, it seems, there are disparaging reports about aspects of the performance of Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy.
This is to present another view.
I have recently undergone major surgery in the hospital where I was a patient for two weeks at the end of July and beginning of August after a period of consultations and tests of various kinds.
At every stage I was treated with the utmost care and kindness, thoughtfulness and imaginative consideration.
And I have every reason to believe this will continue while I have post-operative treatment.
From the surgeons and consultants whose day frequently began with a visit at 7am, there was constant and meticulous professional attention, combined with personal kindness and encouragement.
From nurses, stretched to their limits sometimes by staff shortages, there was cheerfulness and efficiency. Nothing was left to chance and the bell asking for help was invariably answered in a very short time.
The ward cleaners went about their work considerately and always with personal interest in the welfare of patients.
Meals are often singled out for criticism. I found this to be unjustified.
There was always a variety to choose from, requests for small, standard, large or vegetarian portions were provided for and they came punctually and hot.
There was always plenty of opportunity for tea or coffee.
Beyond this, there were many instances of personal devotion, like the trainee in the recovery suite who rang up from a day off to ask how I was progressing, the nurse in the high dependency unit who sent me off to the regular ward with a warm hug and the night nurse who brought me the ward telephone so that I could speak to a son who had rung from far away at a late hour to know how I was.
These are just examples of the general attitude that patients were real people who needed to be cared for.
Others have perhaps different stories to tell.
But I shall always be grateful for the loving kindness with which I was surrounded while I was a patient in Victoria Hospital.
Brenda Hall. 15 High Street, Elie.
Benefits of education
Sir, – At last the Scottish Government is making some plans (though short on detail) to address the abysmal situation regarding falling standards in the Scottish education system which has fallen behind most other countries while the SNP has been in power.
Unexpectedly, Nicola Sturgeon’s inspiration to change the Scottish system appears to come from the success of failing London schools which have had a remarkable turnaround in outcomes for disadvantaged pupils under David Cameron’s government.
Quite rightly, Ms Sturgeon said that she’d like to see every child in Scotland enjoy the same advantages that the education system gave her in life, conveniently omitting of course that her secondary and university education was at a time when the Tories under Margaret Thatcher were in power.
Her good fortune came at a time when the Conservatives had saved the country economically from the ravages inflicted upon it by successive socialist governments largely under the control of militant unions.
Indeed, Ms Sturgeon’s parents were also fortunate under a Conservative government by being able to purchase their council house at very low cost, contributing no doubt to her family’s security and comfort at a time she was enjoying an educational journey which obviously she found so enriching.
By the time Ms Sturgeon was finishing university, unemployment was falling, the economy was stable and strong, inflation was low and Margaret Thatcher had been elected for a third consecutive term.
It was a good time for the nation and young ambitious graduates.
Mrs Thatcher, like Ms Sturgeon, considered her education pivotal to her success in life, reportedly being more proud of becoming the first Prime Minister with a science degree than being the first female Prime Minister.
Iain G Richmond. Guilty House, Monikie.
Accept result of people’s choice
Sir, – Having read Dr John Cameron’s latest hugely comical letter (August 20) I find it hard to understand where he believes he is living when he accuses Scotland of being a one-party state.
To insult politicians is one thing but to insult the electorate of Scotland is quite another thing and now takes his bitterness to a whole new level.
The SNP were elected into power in Holyrood because the people of Scotland voted for it. They returned 56 MPs to Westminster because the people in Scotland voted for it in a fair and equal election and equally they voted against independence. This is democracy.
Now, you can question the way elections are run but you can only campaign under the system in place and that is exactly what has happened in both elections.
When Labour ruled the roost in Scottish politics I did not hear complaints of a one-party state, or, when Margaret Thatcher ruled the roost, I did not hear that complaint either.
So come, come Mr Cameron, try to be a little bit careful about the words you use, especially towards your fellow Scots. Remember, you are very lucky to live in a wonderful place with wonderful institutions and great people.
Failing that, you are always free to leave the one-party state of Scotland.
Bryan Auchterlonie. Bluebell Cottage, Ardargie.
Delay vote for good of nation
Sir, – Delivering real progress in government is no easy thing. It is good to see the First Minister recognising that eight years of SNP government have resulted in a progressive undermining of our education system. Now Nicola Sturgeon plans to try to set about reversing that. Fair enough.
But perhaps she should be equally frank about why the SNP have underperformed in this and other areas.
I do not think they are incapable. Rather it is the obsession with constitutional matters that has so often been their main preoccupation.
In particular, all the most able people in the Scottish Government spent much of 2011 to 2014 focused on the referendum.
When your mind is really elsewhere, it is all too easy to jump for simplistic and badly thought through solutions to problems which is sadly what the SNP have done in education and other matters.
If the First Minister is genuine about addressing the many critical performance shortcomings of the SNP Government across education, health and the police, she should clarify that there will be no second referendum distractions.
Keith Howell. White Moss, West Linton.