Sir, When the call went out that all our Scottish regiments were to be amalgamated, I must say we were not too pleased.
However, we were assured that a golden thread would run through the regiments ensuring they would not completely disappear.
As soon as the announcement came out it was soon discovered that the golden thread was in fact a bit threadbare and since then the MOD have been chipping away at the regimental system, as recent announcements show.
Regimental pipe bands are now not to wear their regimental attire and will start to wear the uniform of the RRS.
Regimental names will now appear at the end of their titles and in brackets and we are confidently told that they will disappear altogether.
Hackles are to be standardised and the famous Red Hackle of The Black Watch is to be reduced to the size of a plume.
The promises that we were, rightly, a bit wary of have now come to nothing.
The continual drip, drip removal of creditable regimental insignias once loved and revered by soldiers and the general public means regiments have almost evaporated and the only way to recognise a regiment eventually will be by the tiny plume of feathers in their headgear which I should imagine will disappear as well.
We are nearly now just the big regiment with no way of identifying who is who or what area of Scotland they belong to. It is the end of an era. Such a pity.
At least veterans still have their regimental associations. They live on and the MOD can’t do anything to change them.
Major Bob Ritchie. 17 Bloom Court, Livingston.
Jumped on bandwagon too quickly
Sir, I would like to reply to George White’s letter of May 24, with its dazzling array of statistics.
I made no argument as to who comes off worst as a result of accidents between cyclists and motor vehicles.
I have no argument with the figures he gives.
I most certainly do know that if common sense were used there may be fewer accidents and the point he makes about the size and weight of a bike compared to a motor vehicle is also very obvious.
To all he has written I make no argument.
But if he had taken the time to read my letter properly, instead of jumping on the pro-bike bandwagon so quickly, he would have realised the point I am making is that no-one in this country should be presumed guilty and have to prove their innocence.
To this point he gives no clue as to his opinion.
One point about his statistics; he doesn’t quote what percentage of motorists were found to be at fault.
John Strachan. 23 Beechwood Avenue, Glenrothes.
Jim was right about Farage
Sir, In defence of Jim Crumley, re his recent piece about Nigel Farage, I would point out that both David Cameron and Ed Miliband on their recent excursions to Scotland were treated with civility and at worst peaceful protest.
Jim was quite right in saying Scotland does not want, or need, the likes of Nigel Farage or UKIP.
Whether it is about the sea eagles or independence Jim Crumley has always said what needs to be said and, I would imagine, won’t be deterred by the extremists amongst us.
Peter Bell. Arbroath.
Surely it affects everyone?
Sir, Fife Council are using the excuse of whole body vibration as the reason for declining to provide a bin emptying service to those staying in the country and whose homes are served by a less than perfect road.
These unfortunate citizens are being made to convey their bins to the junction of their service roads with adopted roads in order to prevent council employees suffering from any potential injury inflicted by whole body vibration.
If this vibration has the potential to cause their employees a serious injury, the vibration must also have the potential to cause motorists using potholed roads to risk the same injuries. Further, Fife Council’s addiction to the indiscriminate use of speed humps and rumble strips must also have the potential to cause similar injuries to motorists travelling along the roads which have them.
Or is it only Fife Council employees who are affected by such vibrations? If this is not the case, I can foresee motorists raising personal injury claims against Fife Council in the near future.
Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.
Allan Murray. 44 Napier Road, Glenrothes.
Sort seagull menace
Sir, The seagull population in Dundee is growing and must be a significant threat to the health of the city.
Not only do they scatter rubbish from bins, they are frequently seen trying to grab food from people’s hands.
Could the city council not offer a free nest removal service to any resident in the city?
Over a period of time that would reduce their numbers. Other cities offer a similar scheme which is very cost effective and humane.
Simon Hallum. Dundee.