Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – I write in response to Mr Whitelaw’s interesting comments about HMS Unicorn (July 10) and to explain the ship’s predicament, which is fundamentally because for the last decade we have thought we were just on the point of finding a permanent berth for Unicorn, ideally near to RRS Discovery.
Unicorn’s roof at some point had its eaves cut short giving much less protection from rain and temporary canvas patches had been fixed over some decayed planking.
Once it became clear a permanent solution may be some years away, we set about re-extending Unicorn’s roof in 2010 and then removed the canvas patches to give ventilation. The result of this major, expensive work is that the ship’s side is now almost completely dry. The outside of the ship, including the headrails and figurehead, were then repainted and more cosmetic repairs are planned.
We have made new gangway and entrance displays with more welcoming lighting, but this is no cause for complacency. Museum display is always contentious, with some visitors wanting more display and some less and this is complicated by the fact that Unicorn is not a ”single date” ship her story covers nearly 200 years.
The ”row of desks” were in the ship through much of the last century and are shown in the ship’s drawings. However we didn’t make that clear and new explanatory labels have been made also describing Unicorn’s wartime service in Dundee.
The chairs, too, are part of the ship’s long story. Unicorn tells so many interwoven stories and they are all interesting in their own way. Ideally, we would have a shore facility in which to disentangle these threads.
Mr Whitelaw also rightly points out we have a continuing problem with storage onboard.
This is because we have also made good progress with internal work which creates its own mess.
Keeping things tidy is a high priority but a constant battle in a ship designed for a ship’s company of 300 but currently run by one full-time and one part-time employee!
Letters such as Mr Whitelaw’s, however, are very helpful in keeping us focused!
W Roderick Stewart.The Unicorn Preservation Society.
McTaggart statue is a must
Sir, – I read with great interest, as did others, I assume, the article concerning the statue of Dick McTaggart (July 10).
A perfect example of Dundonian pride which should be prominently on display within the city centre and should be positioned by the council as soon as possible.
The man is a positive example of national pride, sporting excellence and ”can do” attitude and the last-mentioned is sorely needed today.
Matt Phillip.Menzieshill,Dundee.
Not the good news it seems
Sir, – I write in response to news last week on the Westminster government’s ”pay when you die” loans.
There is a lot of confusion around the matter here in Scotland and it is important to understand that this is a devolved issue and would not apply here. These proposals only apply to England and Wales.
Scotland has its own system called a charging order where the local council will put a security against the property and pay for care but this is repayable on the sale of the property rather than death.
With an ageing population and a tightening public purse, we do need innovative solutions. The ”pay when you die” scheme is another option for funding elderly care and therefore good for providing added flexibility. However, it is certainly not the only answer and good news that everyone seems to be heralding.
I have concerns that these new types of loans could end up leaving the family worse off in the long term because a property left empty will not generate any income and may potentially deteriorate. The interest, the rate of which has not been announced yet, will also roll up and will be payable on death.
If the property was sold, the funds could be used to generate an income and there would be no interest meaning the family may be better off in the long term.
The new scheme might work for some people and it can be good to have as an option as it will take the pressure to sell off at what can be an emotional time.
The important course of action right now is to watch with interest and see if there are lessons we can learn in Scotland as we face the same issues.
Lianne Lodge.Associate, Pagan Osborne and Member of Solicitors for the Elderly,St Catherine Street,Edinburgh.
Has sunk to a new low
Sir, – Jenny Hjul has sunk to a new low today (July 11). Firstly, she uses a brave serviceman to hide her anti-Scots bile behind, then, true to form she uses Andy Murray’s fantastic achievement of getting to the Wimbledon final to bash Alex Salmond.
There is a difference between national pride and being a nationalist and I am sure Andy Murray was appreciative that both Mr Salmond and Mr Cameron recognised his achievement by attending the match (whatever their politics), with the latter even replacing one of the Union Flags at Downing Street with a Saltire to mark the occasion.
It is shameful she has now resorted to hero-bashing.
Conor Watt.Lochgelly.
A yob is a yob
Sir, – In last Tuesday’s Courier, two of the taster articles on the front page caught my attention: one about rubbish left behind by ”revellers” at T in the Park, and another about rubbish left behind by ”yobs” at Craigie.
Why are people ”yobs” when they leave rubbish at Craigie, but not at Balado?
Surely both groups of people were equally capable of taking their rubbish home?
Thomas Steuart Fothringham.Murthly Castle.
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. Letters should be accompanied by an address and a daytime telephone number.