The new week begins with discussions on the future of the Glamis Prom, the condition of Fife roads, morality, public spending cuts and Scotland’s relationship with England.
Urgent action required to save Glamis Prom Sir,-I read with great sadness the news that Glamis Castle and Strathmore Estates have pulled out of the wonderful Glamis Prom.
The prom has been delighting audiences for many years and is truly one of the great events of the Tayside calendar.
I recall that when John Reid, its long-time organiser, lay dying just two years ago, Lord Strathmore and the estate promised that the “show would go on”, even sending a Glamis oak tree to be placed over his grave in Shropshire.
Surely Lord Strathmore should intervene personally to ensure that this prestigious event continues for the benefit of the community and the greater good of Scottish tourism.
Why cannot he reach a compromise with the organisers in the spirit of working together as illustrated recently by our own politicians?
It would be such a tragedy to abandon it.
The Grand Scottish Prom is a treasure and should be rescued.
It is a highly successful event musically, organisationally and financially, and so if Glamis Castle does not wish to host it, then some other venue in Tayside must surely be found.
To allow it to die off would be a national disgrace and an insult to the fond memory of its creator, John Reid.
I imagine the branches of that Glamis oak in Shropshire will be shivering with rage just now.
David Adams.19 Newton Street,Blairgowrie.
Taxing problem with Fife roads
Sir,-Having moved from the Fort William area to Crail I was, at first, amused by the dodgem-like antics of drivers here.
I was soon to realise that the locals were experts at evading potholes on most of the roads in this area in an attempt to minimise damage to their vehicles.
The condition of the roads, in Crail in particular, are some of the worst I have encountered and the few temporary repairs that have been carried out last only a few weeks.
These potholes and ruts highlighted by yellow paint serve only to indicate where the problems lie but are a good visual aid to the unsuspecting driver.
With road tax being increased and all other taxes going up, where is our money going?
William Tomlin.22 Sauchope Links,Crail.
Mirage of age of piety
Sir,-Does Norman Allan (May 13) have the statistics to back up his assertion that sex crimes, unmarried mothers, and so forth, have increased compared to his imaginary golden era of a century ago when piety prevailed?
Or could it be that those things were just as rampant in the past, only hidden away and not talked about?
Certainly the prevalence of venereal diseases among recruits for the first world war would imply that religious morality was as unsuccessful then as now.
Modern comparisons of societal health between the developed democracies find no evidence that the irreligious ones of Scandinavia and the Netherlands, for example, are any worse than the believing ones like the USA.
In fact, the enthusiastically devout USA has some of the highest homicide and abortion rates of any developed nation.
If lack of religion leads to immoral behaviour, then why are our prisons not full of freethinkers, rationalists and humanists?
(Dr) Stephen Moreton.33 Marina Avenue,Great Sankey,Warrington.
Prepare for wounding cuts
Sir,-With Clegg and Cameron now in control, I wonder if the silver-spoon-boys will convert more Scots to independence than Salmond ever could.
Cuts, deep and wounding, loom on the horizon, no less severe than those imposed by Long Shanks and his horde. Flower of Scotland seems more appropriate than ever.
Leslie Milligan.18b Myrtlehall Gardens,Dundee.
Irrationality of voting public
Sir,-Ian J. Angus (May 12) objects to my saying, “I told you so” in the aftermath of a confrontation between Scottish youths and an Englishman who claimed constant harassment because of his nationality.
He says I have lost the argument about Flower of Scotland and asks me almost as eloquently as the words of that dreadful dirge to “put a sock in it.”
No, Mr Angus. Just because a majority of those who phoned this newspaper favoured that horror as a Scottish national anthem does not make them right.
A similar phone-in voted in as the winner of a past X-Factor a young lad who could not even sing in tune. Did that make his supporters right?
Most of those who voted in a referendum decided in favour of Scottish and Welsh assemblies.
In spite of the huge cost involved in all the extra elected representatives, the buildings and the hordes of civil servants, what advantages have Scotland and Wales gained?
A Scottish Secretary and a Scottish Office did an equally good job for Scotland at a lot less expense to the taxpayer.
The SNP and others who keep churning out nationalist propaganda and those who chunter on about Scottish grievances against England in centuries long gone, all encapsulated in a hopelessly biased and dreary song, do Scotland no favours.
No, Mr Angus. I am not in the business of leaving in peace you, or any others, who see nothing wrong in loudly maligning their southern neighbours at every opportunity.
George K. McMillan.5 Mount Tabor Avenue,Perth.