| Letters - 20 October 2005 |
| Kids must be encouraged |
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| MY SIX-YEAR-OLD son Callum plays golf to a very high standard for a boy of that age. He can hit the ball 150-200 yards and has a very good short game.
He recently went round 18 holes at Ballumbie in 84.
He also played on the driving range at the Dunhill Links Championships, St Andrews, with the pros.
The big concern for me was when I took him to Dundee City Council’s Caird Park course. I phoned and asked prices for juniors telling them he was six, and was given the price.
But, when I arrived at the Starters’ Hut, I was told he was too young to play as he was under 10. Of course that meant Callum standing there in tears wondering why.
I spoke to someone at the council who told me the rules are made and that’s that.
How can you encourage kids to play sport when no under 10s are allowed on a course?
No wonder this country is struggling to produce sportsmen/women when our council make these rules.
Private courses allow children under 10 to play, as long as there is an adult with them. — Stuart McAra, Dundee. |
| Driving to the shrinking city |
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One of the signs as you “approach” Dundee.
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| WHILE DRIVING along the excellent new A92 I couldn’t help but notice that the signposts seem to be constantly referring to ‘Dundee’ as if it was still ahead, all the way up to Claypotts junction.
Is this another attempt to shrink our city once again?
Surely the correct signage from Grange Road should state ‘City Centre’ as from this point you are clearly inside the city’s already tight boundaries. — Commuter. |
| Not above law |
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| I CAN’T agree with Westender that the 16-month sentence imposed on Lord Watson was excessive.
I doubt if Westender would have had the same opinion had the hotel burned to the ground killing scores of innocent people?
Watson deserves every minute of his 16-month sentence. People like him need to realise they are not above the law. — Marksey. |
| Wait for uniforms |
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| REGARDING THE letters about NHS workers’ lack of uniform, or wearing uniform to travel to work.
I started a new post with NHS Tayside in May this year. I work five days a week. The standard number of uniforms for my type of job and hours worked are eight tunics and eight pairs of trousers.
On the day I started I was given one second-hand tunic and had to wear my own trousers. Despite several attempts to get more I was persistently told they were “ordered”.
I had no choice but to take them home and launder them. I eventually got my uniforms. When I complained about the time taken to get them I was told I was lucky to have them as it could have taken up to eight months.
I am well aware of the dangers of cross-contamination. I have two young children and I was not happy at having to take contaminated clothing home.
This has no bearing on whether I’m a good nurse or not. The writer should be aware that wearing uniforms outside is a sackable offence, but I know of many others in the same predicament. — Spic ’n’ Span, Dundee.
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| Fireworks appeal |
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| ASSISTANCE DOGS UK appeals for sensible celebrations around Bonfire Night to avoid frightening working dogs.
Fireworks are a nightmare for guide and other assistance dogs. Many of these working animals become so terrified they are unable to work for days at a time.
A firework can often be the catalyst for sound shyness and increased sensitivity to thunder, backfires, or car doors slamming. It becomes impossible for them to work. Last year, 52 guide dog puppies; 20 dogs for the disabled; 20 hearing dogs and two support dogs were badly affected during firework season and many more dogs were prescribed medication to reduce noise-related stress.
Whilst we don’t want to appear killjoys, we do want to encourage people to use fireworks responsibly, safely, away from residential areas or ideally by attending organised displays.
Guide Dogs has produced a leaflet, offering guidance for the fireworks season. For a complimentary copy, phone 0118 983 8381. — Alan Brooks, Chairman, Assistance Dogs UK.
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| Sacrifice |
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| IT APPEARS a few readers do not understand why some organisations and individuals commemorate Remembrance Sunday.
No-one should belittle anyone wishing to show their respects for the brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
I would also like to point out to Dundonian that it was not just Scots who gave their lives in conflicts. — Alan Mitchell, Secretary, ABOD.
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| Criminal activity |
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| FRIEND OF Sinn Fein correctly states no one should forget that Loyalist paramilitaries remain armed and involved in criminal activity. Neither should he or she forget this also applies to the Real IRA and Continuity IRA or that many lucrative parts of the IRA network haven’t ceases operating.
Nor should we forget the murderers of Robert McCartney remain at large cynically protected by the Provos’ code of silence. — S. M., Dundee. |
| New Labour — New Tories |
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| THIS COUNTRY doesn’t need the Tory party as New Labour is just the Tory party with another name. Since May 1997, this country has had nothing but right-wing policies inflicted on it.
The latest is an attack on the sick and disabled by David Blunkett. Then it’s on to a police state, with Tony Blair’s proposals to reinstate internment by holding people for three months without charges or trial.
Already the police have longer batons to beat us, gas canisters to gas us and tazers to give us possibly fatal shocks.
Police carry more firearms than they ever had, yet decades ago we were told an armed police force would lead to an armed underworld. They can’t have it both ways. — Real Socialist.
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| No empire left |
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| HOW CAN anyone be given an MBE, OBE, or any such award? Britain hasn’t had an empire for at least 50 years. It’s time the class ridden honours tradition was ended. — Scottish Republican. |
| THE ADDRESS for readers’ letters is - Readers’ Page, Evening Telegraph, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL. They can also be placed in our post box at our offices in Albert Square, Dundee, emailed to us on letters@eveningtelegraph.co.uk or faxed on 01382 454590. We ask correspondents using a nom-de-plume or sending by e-mail to provide a name and address for reference purposes. The editor reserves the right to reject or edit any letter. Please keep letters as short as possible.* |
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