Sir, As a Yorkshire-born Dundonian I am reluctant to enter into politics and local debates. However, I am drawn into the discussion about the future, or not, of Perth City Hall. After a lifetime spent in exploring architecture and organs I cannot but believe Perth and Kinross councillors are moving in the right direction.
From the outside the building is undistinguished by anything else other than its piano-playing sculptures on the roof. Inside, it is ghastly, resembling a disastrous experiment in the design of swimming pools. Its acoustics were never better than ordinary. The large organ, which has found a new home in Australia, was no more than third-rate in spite of its size and many rebuilds.
The new Concert Hall was built without any accommodation for an organ, an essential part of any good concert hall, but its nativity heralded the death of the City Hall.
A distinguished cathedral organist met me at Perth Station and we went to the City Hall. The caretaker gave us a warm welcome and we explored the organ and hall. Impressions were very muted.
We took the train to Dundee and went into the Caird Hall. This building was never finished, Thomson’s panels round the upper walls remain blank, instead of hosting paintings.
The organ case is possibly one of the most hideous in civic building. The organ was not built to the original Hollins’ specification because Lady Marryat chose to spend some of the money on the wonderful arcade facing City Square.
She was probably right, though the Caird Hall organ does need its intended 32-ft reed. But the acoustics are amongst the best in Europe; the hall is very impressive indeed and the Harrison and Harrison organ is almost certainly the finest instrument that ever came out of Durham. As all organists are, my friend was overwhelmed by both organ and hall.
I am reluctant to say this, but what a contrast to Perth, a city of which I am very fond.
Robert Lightband. Clepington Court, Dundee.
Need to look at bin design
Sir, Is there a genius somewhere who can re-design our council bins so that they don’t blow over and deposit their contents all over roads, pavements and gardens? Our bin has already toppled over twice this morning.
The flaw in design, as I see it, is that the current bins are top heavy whereas if they were, for want of a better expression, bottom-heavy, they wouldn’t topple as easily.
It has been a winter of strong to gale force winds and householders who religiously put out their bins where and when they should, have had a nerve-wracking time waiting for the thud which means a journey from the warmth and comfort of a living room into the cold, dark and probably wet night to scrabble about picking up stuff.
The bin men, in our instance, have a pretty regular pick-up time, but even then it does leave a problem for the householder. Do the bins go out the night before or do you risk waiting until just before the usual time the lorries call?
If you have to go out, do you leave the bins out at the mercy of a gale and simply hope they won’t topple over?
It’s a small problem, I know, compared to world events, but for many, many householders it is a serious problem and one that definitely requires some attention.
Ian Wheeler. Springfield, Fife.
Completely out of touch
Sir, I was appalled by the internet advert on behalf of the Conservative Party after the budget encouraging hard-working people to drink alcohol and play bingo. It was patronising and condescending to say the least.
It really showed that this government is completely out of touch with the poorer and working class people of this country. Not only does it have the potential to encourage gambling and alcohol addiction, but with families worse off by £1600 per year after the budget, it reminds me of the Marie Antoinette saying: “Let them eat cake.”
This is a modern example of the leaders being out of touch with the poor of their country and saying: “Never mind, let them play bingo.”
Gordon Kennedy. 117 Simpson Square, Perth.
No hold-ups Down Under
Sir, My daughter lives in Australia and I recently drove from Melbourne up to the Gold Coast and back.
Much of the road is very like the A9 with long stretches of single carriageway and then a stretch of dual.
The roads were very busy in places but there was never any queuing. It took me a while to work out what was different, then I twigged the lorries, most with two trailers, were travelling at the same speed as the cars.
The driving was quite relaxing and not as frustrating as it is here with lorries limited to 56mph and constant queues to get past.
Of course over here when they try to change things using common sense, you get all the doom merchants, who are usually totally ignorant of the facts, putting in their two-pence worth then politicians, who are frightened to rock the boat, backing down.
I don’t know what the facts and figures on accidents etc are, but it might be an idea worth looking at.
John Strachan. formerly Beechwood Avenue, Glenrothes.
Andy’s jokes the problem?
Sir, I was very surprised to read in the local press of the split between Andy Murray and his coach Ivan Lendl. Murray has done so much under Lendl’s guidance. I wonder if the split was caused by him having had enough of Andy’s jokes!
Ed Thomson. Camphill. Broughty Ferry, Dundee.