MARTIN Russell (Letters, August 11) responding to Alison Rowat’s column on “Scottishness” (Listen here in Scotland: just who do you think you are", The Herald, August 9) writes: “I too wonder what this term might mean”.

I read some time ago that Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham, the First President of the National Party of Scotland (the SNP) said of his fellow countrymen: “The Scots: a fine free fornicating pious folk are we”.

If he were alive today would he need to change his opinion?

I am only asking.

Thelma Edwards,

Old Comrades Hall,

Hume, Kelso.

A SIMPLE test to identify the indigenous Scot is their ability to pronounce “loch” without the anglicisation of the velar fricative to the abrasive “lock” favoured by those who are not “one of us”.

However, I would accept a liking for Barr’s Irn Bru and familiarity with a McCallum – ice cream with raspberry sauce to the uninitiated – as mitigation for unfortunates.

R Russell Smith,

96 Milton Road, Kilbirnie.