I SYMPATHISE with the sentiments of Agnes M Cowan (Letters, August 20) With reference to her plea to broadcasters, I urge her understanding of the plight of "non-Scots" charged to read the Shipping Forecast (I do not sleep well and am a regular listener - at both ends of the day).
As the report unfolds I imagine the announcer as a competitor in an obstacle race (or steeplechase). The start is plain sailing, featuring familiar stations (Viking; North Utsire; South Utsire and so on). The commentator confidently jogs on managing the warped syntax that denotes wind direction and speeds, visibility etc).
By the time Isle of Man and sea area Malin is reached, a slight degree of anxiety affects delivery (various "lochs" " and "Ardnamurchan" are yet to be negotiated). The voice falters (as a runner adjusts his stride pattern on the approach to an obstacle) – "Ardnamur-chan," he pronounces…
"Another one bites the dust,", I say – and try to get back to sleep.
Eric Arbuckle, Largs.
TV borders
I WAS surprised to find out that Border TV and not STV was the commercial TV channel around Peebles. I was even more surprised to learn that Border Television covers most of Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders. I am sure there are historical reasons for this, but by definition a channel based in Carlisle cannot hope, despite its best efforts, to report on and relate to things that are happening in the whole of Scotland.
We live in modern times with news available from a number of sources, but would it not seem time to review the coverage area? This would give people in the South of Scotland a chance to share with the rest of Scotland what is going on in their own country on the main ITV channel – and provide an alternative to the BBC’s Reporting Scotland, which is not without perceived bias.
Hugh McNeill, Oban.
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