THE recent death of Professor David Bellamy ("‘Larger-than-life character’ and naturalist broadcaster David Bellamy dies aged 86", The Herald, December 12) gives further cause for troubling reflection on the power of the media. For many years he enraptured BBC audiences with his unique brand of unbridled enthusiasm and encyclopedic knowledge of the natural world. The BBC Charter claims to "provide important views and information to help people understand and engage with the world around them". It also aspires to "champion freedom of expression – and to participate in the democratic process at all levels".

Unfortunately for Prof Bellamy this once-commendable code of practice took on a sinister tone when he challenged the political and scientific establishment on the perception that human-induced climate change was being attributed primarily to increased carbon dioxide emissions. True to the ethos of science he declared that "when facts change I change my mind" and in his inimitable style, dismissed mainstream opinion as "poppycock". His voice was quickly silenced because he was no longer politically correct. His name was however added to "The List" of like-minded scientists compiled by Dr Roy Spencer who had been a senior scientist in climate research for NASA. He had felt compelled to resign on discovering that his name had, among many others, been wrongly included in the much-quoted 97 per cent consensus of climate change alarmists. The BBC subsequently perpetuated this imbalance and revealed its bias in a progress report that advised its reporters that "to achieve impartiality you should not need to include outright deniers of climate change in BBC coverage".

A newspaper headline from 1931 declared "A Hundred Scientists against Einstein" to which he replied,"If I were wrong, one would have been enough." Another of his pithy statements said: "We still do not know one thousandth of one percent of what nature has to reveal to us." With views like those he might well have lent his weight to the argument that our climate is in large part a chaotic, multi-faceted combination of natural forces.

Neil J Bryce, Kelso.

Queen sets example

IN contrast to the pageantry and flummery which supported the Opening of Parliament proceedings her Majesty arrived in tasteful matching costume attire escorted by her equally soberly-suited eldest son.

Delivery of her Queen's Speech done, she departed swiftly in a silver Bentley with police escort. No horse-drawn gold carriage or plumed outriders. Unlike the excess of over-dressed personnel both within the House of Lords and in attendance at Westminster, the Queen, perhaps unwittingly, gave her new Government a simple message. Get you own house in order by limiting extravagance at a time when millions continue to suffer from the effects of Government induced austerity.

Allan C Steele, Giffnock.

A new low

I WAS interested to note the health benefits to users and projected savings of £4 billion a year for employers with a new toilet tilted at an uncomfortable 13 degrees designed by developers at Standard Toilet ("Tilted toilet promises to flush out time-wasters, December 19).

The same benefits can be achieved of course at no cost by diminutively-scripted graffiti or motivational messages in the lower half of the door.

R Russell Smith, Kilbirnie.

Parliamo Italiano

YOUR correspondence about the Locarno ballroom in Sauchiehall Street (Letters, Decmber 19) has reminded me of a work colleague who claimed that the Italian for Charing Cross was "pasta Locarno".

James Gracie, Sanquhar.