Sir, The emergency services, with whom I have a lifelong professional and personal association, are right to be very concerned about hoax calls. No-one can argue that their lives are on the line when they respond to all call-outs, as they do willingly, and as they did over the weekend in The Mearns.
They are, however, still failing to learn a long-established, hard lesson of history the more you publicise these wretched malicious events, the more of them you are guaranteed to get. I remember a campaign run in the West of Scotland following a spate of malicious calls to the fire service.
The Fire Chief involved was, rightly, determined to spare his crews the frustration and the agony of either being in fatal accidents on the way to a hoax call, or having their life-saving appliances and equipment in the wrong place.
He bitterly regretted his campaign. It rebounded on him mercilessly. As he put it ruefully: “For the next month it snowed malicious calls.”
Sadly, even using the education system to warn young people of the dangers of these calls may perversely sow the seed in some warped minds about the fun to be had watching fire appliances, lifeboats and helicopters respond to what are purported to be blue-light emergencies.
The only good news I can see is that as telephone technology evolves, the chances improve for catching the perpetrators.
In my time as a Courier reporter I attended a fatal accident outside the old JM Ballroom in Dundee. A fire engine on its way to what proved to be a hoax call, was involved in an accident with a young man out for a Saturday night’s enjoyment. The effect on his family was devastating. So, too, on the five members of the fire crew.
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher albeit in a slightly different context was absolutely correct when she highlighted the one thing these low-life morons crave, namely “the oxygen of publicity.”
I readily accept it must grate on the natural, reasonable responses of our emergency services to waive their right to condemn such reckless actions. It is, however, the best way forward.
Sadly, even this letter may inspire another idiot to make another call.
Michael Mulford. 82 Hogarth Drive, Cupar.
Not as bad as 50 years ago
Sir, I am sure that today’s doctors work hard but compared to 50 years ago they seem to have it much easier if you consider that surgeries are shut on bank holidays and for a long period over Christmas and new year.
Also, it is a long trek to Forfar if you need a doctor overnight and worse, living in Montrose, if you have to go to hospital in Dundee.
My mum ran her doctor’s practice in the Forties and Fifties. She was widowed when we were all young and within two weeks of my father’s sudden death she took over his practice in Montrose.
Two teenage girls were recruited to live in and look after us so that mum could begin to run the practice.
From 8am the phone would ring with patients asking for a house call or advice and by 10am she was out on her rounds. At 11.30 am she went downstairs to her surgery and consult with patients till all those waiting were seen (could be after 1pm).
There were no appointments but as long as patients were in the waiting room by 12.30pm they would be seen.
Afternoons were out doing more home visits.
The second surgery began at 5pm and often lasted until after 7pm.
She was on call most nights but managed to get alternate weekends off. How she managed seems like a miracle.
Alison Williamson. The Glasshouse, Montrose.
Let’s have this EU referendum
Sir, Another good article by Ewan Pate (Farming, October 13). The extent to which so called “greening” in my opinion, much of it based on foolish science and misplaced environmentalism is now affecting our very food production is alarming. From reading other farming authors, it is apparent to me that the EU agricultural subsidy system (CAP) is one big mess.
We must allow our farmers to farm. Food, along with a sound public water supply, are essential to our lives, never mind our general comfort.
I would suggest that the UK returns to a system of subsidising our own farming communities (as in former times) and leaving the CAP.
This would kill several birds with one stone apologies to RSPB. We could reduce our own contribution to the EU part of the UK’s desired reform package.
We could reduce the huge (expensive) bureaucracy which has “crept” into agriculture leaving more funds for farming assistance. Or other things.
Get rid of the on field “greening” nonsense. From my own lay experience this has created little more than acres of wholly unwanted weeds of the nastiest varieties whose seeds, when wind driven, require even more herbicide! Not in the old days when farmers farmed.
Mr Pate makes the excellent point that, from his own travels, it is clear that other EU countries pay scant attention to Brussels and get away with it.
Need for reform? Of course. Let us have this EU referendum.
A T Geddie. 68 Carleton Avenue, Glenrothes.
Why did it take so long . . . ?
Sir, Tesco tell me that I will save the planet by paying 5p for each of their plastic bags from October 20. Why was this simple solution not discovered before now?
Malcolm Parkin. 15 Gamekeepers Road, Kinnesswood, Kinross.