YOUR front page headline ("Hello, goodbye", The Herald, January 31) showing Edward Heath and Boris Johnson reminded me of the story that the former, after winning his vote on British membership of the Common Market in the House of Commons in 1973, retired to 10 Downing Street and played on the piano a piece from Bach – Prelude in C Major, from the first book of Das Wohltemperierte Klavier.
One is tempted to wonder what he, as a strong proponent of involvement with Europe all of his political life, would play on the pianoforte upon the UK's exit from the European Union if he were still around today and able to display his acknowledged skills on the keyboard. Perhaps, he would stay with Bach and play his beautiful and moving melody Erbarme dich, mein Gott from Erbarme dich.
Ian W Thomson, Lenzie.
Confusion reigns in Milngave
CHRISTOPHER Ruane (Letters, January 28) mentions problems with the display screens for train departures at Lanark Railway Station.
At the other end of the line there is a major problem of a different nature in Milngavie Railway Station. The main display screen within the station advises the time of the next train departure. Most sensible people assume it is the next departure from the station, whereas confusingly it is the next departure from Platform 1 only.
Meanwhile there might be an earlier departure from Platform 2, which is not displayed on this prominent sign in the station near the booking office.
On many occasions I have observed frustrated passengers waiting on Platform 1, informed by the ambiguous sign overhead, watch a train depart from the other platform, thus involving an unnecessary delay of 15 minutes for the next train.
The managing director of ScotRail accepted this problem early last year and advised new screens would be provided soon thereafter. Apart from one much-improved screen beside the bus stance, no replacement screens have been installed within the station itself, as promised. Accordingly, confusion and frustration continues.
Robin M Brown, Milngavie.
Dock the politicians
I HAVE been watching the recent shipbuilding fiasco playing out in Scotland and I am shocked and dismayed that a frugal seafaring nation would allow such political incompetence to fleece its taxpayers.
From what I have heard and read, the politicians responsible were made aware of the risks involved. Yet they chose to ignore the advice of their own board and award the contract to Ferguson’s even though the staff and management lacked the technical ability, and the shipyard enough space, to construct the vessels.
Given their political malfeasance, Scottish taxpayers should be allowed to dock the responsible politicians, future salaries to recapture some of the £100 million pounds in this time-consuming and costly debacle.
Tom Fox, former board member and President of Interferry, the shopping association representing the worldwide ferry industry, Breezy Point, New York.
Poetry pleases
IT is good to have Lesley Duncan back again with Poem Of The Day. It was quite a coincidence that, recently looking at some of the poems by Paul Celan about the Holocaust copied into an early Commonplace Book a few years ago, I came across Lesley's own poem, "This is as far I'm prepared to go". It is a love poem. I am glad that I added it to my book and that sometimes Lesley treats us to one of her own poems. Many thanks!
Thelma Edwards, Kelso.
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