Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir,-Further to the article by Stefan Morkis (August 23), about the threat to The Black Watch, he says that the Army is to cut 12,000 posts by the year 2015 and this could be up to eight battalions.
Personally, I think that they should be looking at the Airborne Division. They retain this division for no apparent operational reason.
The last time the Parachute Regiment actually jumped operationally was during the Suez crisis.
It doesn’t take a genius to work out the massive savings axing this division would make.
There are three Parachute battalions plus the associated corps such as the R.E.M.E., Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, R.A.M.C. etc., all being trained at a vast cost to the Army budget to parachute for no other reason but to wear jump wings.
Nobody wants to see the British Army reduced in size but if it has to, let’s start where the most money is being wasted.
Leave Scottish Battalions alone and honour the “golden thread” as they promised.
Colin Denovan (ex-Black Watch).Pitairlie Road,Dundee.
Demise of church mourned
Sir,-So the Rev Dr John Cameron of St Andrews is “absolutely fine” about the plans of a Fife minister to “marry” her female partner, causing division amongst her flock.
Dr Cameron says those with a problem should form their own sect.
It seems, according to Dr Cameron, that the church has been a “sect” for 2000 years and only now has become an orthodox church. Difficult to believe!
In my dictionary a “sect” is a religious group which deviates from orthodox tradition. The General Assemblies of 2009 and 2011 did just that.
Dr Cameron may be rejoicing, but there are thousands of broken hearts around the country mourning the demise of the Church of Scotland and praying about their future in what used to be their beloved Church.
N. Randall.Broughty Ferry.
Minister is out of order
Sir,-I am amazed at the story of the Church of Scotland minister wishing to marry another woman.
Whilst I have no issues over personal sexuality, I would have thought that someone preaching moral values should at least adhere to them.
What she would be doing is not a natural thing in the eyes of nature.
Sandy Alston.St Andrews.
Newburgh is no village
Sir,- In his rant against the proposal for community-owned turbines at Newburgh, your columnist Jim Crumley lost all local credibility when he described Newburgh as a “village”.
The proposal being put forward could not only help support community projects but also help deal with ever-soaring power bills.
Local residents have also wondered why he made no mention of the windfarm in Perthshire further along the same hill ridge as their application.
Perhaps he is content that the income from that project goes into the pockets of some big power company, as opposed to helping local people.
His column also repeated his love affair with sea eagles and their proximity to the proposed turbine site.
Apart from there being no adverse comments from the official environmental body on these imported birds, many Courier readers will also have noted the news report of an attack by one of these birds on a local resident.
Andrew Arbuckle.Chairman, Newburgh Community Trust.
Football fans left fed up
Sir,-Over the past few days a lot has been written and said about the early exit of Scottish football teams from the European competitions and the state of Scottish football in general.
As someone who has been involved in football for over 60 years, both as a player and a regular spectator, I have to say that, in my opinion, the game has changed dramatically and not for the better.
Yes, players are fitter, more athletic and faster than in yesteryear, but at the expense of skill and creativity.
In the main, entertainment and excitement has been lost. It would seem that games are played out on a blackboard before each game is played with a formation set up to counter the opposition.
There is a big difference between stopping a team from scoring and stopping a team from playing. Too often the play is condensed in midfield with very little action around the goalmouth.
I firmly believe that the “passing the ball to death yet going nowhere” style of football is leaving spectators disillusioned.
However, we, as fans, must shoulder responsibility. Fans nowadays demand their team wins, with little or no care as to how that win is achieved.
All the money in the world will not stop the drift of spectators away.
We, the fans, should be shouting for change.
R.T. Smith.30 Braeside Terrace,Aberdeen.
Designed by James Braid
Sir,-I was astonished to read (August 24) that James Braidwood had designed the golf course at Taymouth Castle.
Your correspondent is no golfer, or cannot see the wood for the trees.
James Braid, the famous Fife golfer, did it in 1923 and a jolly good job he made of it.
Donald R. Baird.10 Bowling Green Road,Cupar.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL.