Sir, – Even if Stewart Hosie’s “guesstimate” of the All Under One Banner attendance figures was correct at 16,000 it is still a pretty poor turnout for a movement that thinks it has a passionate and mass following – particularly when Dundee is supposedly a “Yes” city.
Football in Scotland commands far more interest with Rangers and Celtic averaging 50,000 per home game.
The Royal Highland show attracts more than 48,000 each day and even the Braemar Gathering has an annual attendance of around 16,000.
If the march organisers would have us believe that there is a sustained and hugely popular demand for independence then they have failed miserably.
This was a limp display which achieved little except perhaps to bring to mind what would have happened if Scots had voted for independence in 2014, the general consensus being that we would have faced economic Armageddon and decades of fiscal hardships.
Banners suggest Scotland seeks freedom, but from what?
We are not oppressed.
Noisy, bad mannered, abusive banner waving displays cannot and will not address the real questions that the Nationalists are unable to consistently answer with real facts rather than fanciful delusions.
Mr Hosie, like the Grand old Duke of York who had ten thousand men, marched them up to the top of the hill and then marched them down again – an utterly pointless exercise.
Iain G Richmond.
Guildy House,
Monikie.
Dangerous statements
Sir, – Mandeep Singh, the organiser of the Dundee All Under One Banner event in support of Scottish nationalism, appears to basically also support the abuse against The Boozy Cow staff as he implies they might be guilty of “discrimination” against the marchers (“Staff swamped by abuse after ban on indy marchers”, Courier, August 21).
Some of us can remember when German nationalists made much the same sort of comments to excuse their discrimination against those who disagreed with them.
Of course, we all very well know where that led.
Or do we?
Andrew Lawson.
9 MacLaren Gardens,
Dundee.
Landlord has the final say
Sir, – I was somewhat disappointed to read the organiser of the recent march in Dundee has accused The Boozy Cow of discrimination.
A landlord is perfectly entitled to refuse to serve anyone he, or she, thinks might be a source of unwanted trouble.
It was even more worrying to read of the subsequent intimidation and harassment of staff by Nationalist trolls.
This sort of behaviour is not in the interests of the SNP and should be discouraged.
The rather frightening thing is that intimidation, insult and harassment of people of a differing opinion whether physical or verbal, is frighteningly reminiscent of Hitler’s Brownshirts in the 1930s.
John D Ridley.
Spoutwells Drive,
Scone.
Dundee’s good and bad side
Sir, – Visiting Dundee for the first time in 55 years, I was struck by the number of parks and green spaces.
I was also impressed by the solidity and grandeur of some of the old Victorian buildings in the city.
On the other hand, I was disappointed by some of the dilapidated buildings and run down parts of the city centre.
It seems to be that in addition to the monies to be spent energising the waterfront area, more monies need to be spent regenerating old warehouses and factory buildings and getting rid of the graffiti defacing these buildings.
I am sure that Dundee would be a much more attractive and vibrant place for visitors if there were monies invested in these types of projects.
Anthony Wills.
55 Crabtree Lane,
Harpenden.
Regeneration is for everyone
Sir, – I recently got a bus to the Seagate after an appointment at Ninewells.
Now I know Dundee is going through a renaissance but I was asked by a less than well dressed chap at the bus station if I could “spare a fiver for a kebab”.
Clearly this Dundee element has progressed a long way since asking for 20p for a cup of tea.
It is amazing to see how the tentacles of regeneration can reach all.
However, I am sorry to report he did not get a kebab from this weary traveller.
Jane Simpson.
3 Hillbank Terrace,
Kirriemuir.
Baffling news ruins breakfast
Sir, – The Courier that drops through my letterbox every morning should come with a health warning.
It is only after reading some of your reports that my blood pressure goes through the roof.
For some time now we have been fed on a diet of financial cuts to this, that and the other affecting all of us.
Some time ago you reported that the head of Fife Council revealed the possibility that an unbelievable number of employees would likely lose their jobs because the council had to make savings of some £90 million.
I choked on my coffee when I read further to find that the council was to be congratulated on starting the final phase of tarting up Kirkcaldy High Street at a cost of £4 million.
Then there was the morning when my flakes went all over the place when I read that a council leisure centre car park would close for a week for resurfacing work – the day after I almost ran off the road after hitting a pothole on the main road from St Andrews.
After reading this I felt I would have to go and lie down , and then I noticed your report that the powers that be had announced that dog poo bags were to be issued free of charge in Fife’s flower and maintenance deprived parks.
No doubt this will require dispensing machines, someone to maintain them, fill and keep them topped up as well as the cost of the bags.
It was noted there was no mention of the cost.
You just couldn’t make it up –talk about priorities.
A well meaning friend says that for the good of my health I should stick to the sports pages, but then again he isn’t a United supporter.
Fred Barbour.
Millgate,
Cupar.
Scottish votes of limited use
Sir, – It is striking to note Jeremy Corbyn claim that Scottish seats are the “key” to a Labour victory in the next General Election.
This is patently untrue.
Even if Labour had captured every seat in Scotland in 2017 they would still have lost the UK General Election.
To provide Mr Corbyn with a brief history lesson, in the 20 General Elections since the Second World War only twice – Labour’s wins in 1964 and 1974 – have Scottish seats swung the result.
This neatly highlights the fact that, with very rare exceptions, Scotland gets the Government England votes for.
Alex Orr.
Flat 2,
77 Leamington Terrace,
Edinburgh.
Spectacle was a joy to behold
Sir, – At a time when it appears to be the “done thing” to criticise our local councillors, may I offer them my congratulations?
Last Sunday saw the annual parade along Tay Street to the North Inch.
This was watched en route by hundreds of people, both visitors and locals alike.
The mini tattoo which followed on the North Inch was a real spectacle and most enjoyable to watch.
The organisers must be congratulated for their efforts.
To integrate local performers with the international performers worked extremely well and would have entailed a lot of effort behind the scenes.
It was great to see that our local performers – dancers, musicians, circus performers and so on – were all excellent and certainly flew the flag for the city of Perth very well.
Special mention must be made of the Chinese primary school children from Beijing who were a delight to watch.
Meanwhile, what can one say about the closing act, the Secret Band of Basel?
They were absolutely amazing to see – we were so lucky to be able to watch this world renowned group of performers.
In the words of Provost Dennis Melloy: “I am looking forward to next year”.
Adrian Harris.
3 West Mains Avenue,
Perth.
