Sir, – A study by Oxford University (The Courier January 25) has found that regulars with a pub nearby are significantly happier, have more friends, better life satisfaction and actually drink in more moderation.
The Courier’sexcellent article alsohighlighted the benefits of face-to-face interaction and Professor Robin Dunbar of the university stated that community and friendship areprobably the mostimportant factorsinfluencing our health and well-being.
The Glenfarg Hotelsituation has been well reported in the press and many of the objections to the planning application submitted to Perth and Kinross Council refer to these very issues.
Many agree withProfessor Dunbar inthat “having relaxed accessible venues where people can meet old friends and make new ones becomes ever more necessary”.
The study highlighting the benefits of responsible and moderate drinking in a pub may also help in addressing the issues of unsupervised and excessive drinking in some homes, loneliness and depression of the isolated and the diminishing of social skills.
I owned a coffee shop for 11 years and I sawcustomers who came in daily simply to meetothers, chat and avoidsitting alone in their own homes with no social interaction.
I moved to Glenfarg 40 years ago and many of the friends I have today are those I met here all these years ago and those I have met along the way at various social events or informal gatherings at the Glenfarg Hotel.
Many of these friends are a good deal younger than me and I personally feel this fact has allowed my attitudes and abilities to belie my age.
Long may thatcontinue.
Kate Armstrong. Culmore, Church Brae, Glenfarg.
Labour leaderis out of touch
Sir, – Are there no depths to which Jeremy Corbyn will not stoop?
We read that he has apparently had secret talks with Argentina over control of the Falkland Islands and is reputedly favouring a power-sharing deal.
This ignores the sacrifices our soldiers made to liberate the islands in 1982 and the wishes of the islanders in the following decades.
This comes on top of his ludicrous claim that he would be willing to allow submarines to “protect” us but without nuclear weapons. This is a distinct show of weakness in this increasingly dangerous world andwill encourage thosededicated to doing our country harm.
It is more of an act of appeasement to his union masters, one might conclude, who would be alarmed at the impact upon theirmembers of scrapping Trident, rather than of personal belief.
Finally, when thought that he must have run out of off-the-wall ideas, he pops up in Calais supporting the would-be immigrants and deriding the conditions they are living in, with the suggestion that Britain should do more to providesupport to migrants.
David L Thomson. 24 Laurence Park, Kinglassie.
Fair City has become a joke
Sir, – I read with interest Patricia Mayland’sletter (January 22) about the sorry state ofbuildings in Perth city centre.
Having contactedyou on this subject a number of times, Iagree wholeheartedly with her opinions on the matter.
In addition to the buildings she mentioned, I would add the former St John’s RC Primary School in Stormont Street, the former St Andrew’s Church in Atholl Street, up for sale by the YMCA, and theformer White Horse Inn in William Street, which has been empty for a long time.
I think our councillors should take a reality check.
Before going ahead with the ludicrousThimblerow development – I do feel we need the car park though – they should be addressing the enormousproblems created by the eyesores which aremaking our Fair City a real joke.
Alister Y Allan. 18 Castle View, Letham, Perth.
Social benefits of cadet forces
Sir, – May I endorse Jenny Hjul’s column about the cadet forces.
My late husband, Major R. Boylen MBE was testament to thebenefits of the Army Cadet Force.
He began as a cadet in his teens and worked his way through the ranks to become executive officer of the Dundee and Angus ACF, a post he held until his retirement and for which he was highly respected by all who knew him.
He was totally dedicated to the ACF, a true leader and dedicated to those in his care.
Many of those cadets have never forgotten his wisdom and guidance and have prospered in their own lives as a result.
It is so important to young people to have love and discipline in equal measure, good manners, respect forothers and the law and self-confidence to face the world.
The cadet forces can provide all of the above to benefit society in a very positive way and are to be commended.
Beth Boylen. 40 Fintry Place, Broughty Ferry.
Secularists are missing out
Sir, – I am tired of members of the Secular Society constantly banging on about Christianity being taught in schools.
The aim of schools has always been to teach pupils the things they should know and what their parents want them to be taught.
My local Catholicprimary school usually has a waiting list of would-be pupils from non-Catholic families who just want the basics of Christianity instilled in their children.
I think parents are entitled to that.
Britain has always been seen as a Christian country and that is how it should stay.
We hear plenty of atheist bleatings from unbelievers but they are truly missing out and trying to put others off knowing a loving God.
Leslie Morrison. 8 Nursery Caravan Site, Nursery Lane, Brechin.
Get tough on rogue charities
Sir, – I am in fullsupport of the Government’s announcement of a voluntary regulator to clean up the charities sector.
This is something I believe is long overdue.
Many people are sick of aggressive and manipulative advertising campaigns from big charities through the media and mail shots. This has got to stop.
The money spent on these campaigns could be spent helping those in need.
And if people do give to charity they are bombarded by phone calls asking to increase their donations. It is impossible to walk down a high street without getting harassed by chuggers who are being paidby charities to raise money.
This comes on the back of the revelations last year that executives of charities were being paid huge salaries.
Why do so manycharities have highoperating costs and pay such high salaries?
Change is essential before the people of this nation stop donating to charities.
But is self-regulation really the correct answer?
Gordon Kennedy. 117 Simpson Square, Perth.
Skill crisis may face oil bosses
Sir, – As the downturn in the oil industrycontinues and we eagerly await the support of David Cameron’s broad shoulders, it would seem the oil companies are and have been planning for the upturn for some time.
We all know the sector like many others iscyclical and is sure to recover as it has from slumps in the past, but no one knows it better than those skimming off the profits.
However, this time it would seem the fat cats have been overly keen to use this occasion toplunder the termsand conditions of the workforce.
Be it rates or rotas, these corporations have taken every opportunity to reduce the incentives for offshore workers: those who still have a job that is.
Less than two years ago, these samecompanies were complaining of a skills shortage, now they are forcing thousands of experienced oilmen to look elsewhere for a living.
So when oil exploitation becomes fashionable again, as like any finite resource itcertainly will, these same firms may find themselves in a bit of a bind.
Where will they look to for the next generation of employees to keep them in the lifestylesto which they areaccustomed?
Richard Clark. Craigton, Monikie.
Why the hike in parking fees?
Sir, – I note that parking charges have been increased by 25% in Charlotte Street, Perth.
Can Perth and Kinross Council please explain why it is necessary to increase charges by 100 times the annual inflation rate and how the money collected from parking meters will be spent?
Garry Barnett. The Garden House, Campsie Hill, Guildtown.