THE Very Reverend Albert Bogle's innovative views on the future structure of the Church of Scotland is awaited with interest ("Digital church is a big part of Kirk's future", The Herald, March 26). Considering Kirk membership is listed at 325,695, albeit 25 per cent of that figure more accurately reflects actual weekly attendance, and taking in the age profile and dearth of new members, action is imperative. Not after a five-year internal feasibility study, but now. Predictably, objections will come from within, notably from some obdurate congregations and clergy disinclined to alter the status quo.

On the positive the current lockdown has occasioned many churches to respond to growing community and social needs. Hopefully these initiatives will be embraced in Mr Bogle's vision of the church's future role of service in our society.

Allan C Steele, Giffnock.

A painful loss

I FELT a wave of sadness on reading your obituary of Michael Tumelty ("Classical music critic loved for being fearless and passionate", The Herald, May 27). Although he hasn't been writing for some time, I vividly recall his lyrical style and his often-ecstatic reviews of classical music. He never held back his own emotional responses. Of Ian Bostridge's Schubert recital at the City Hall, years ago, he described the much-admired tenor as looking "devastated" as he left the hall.

Although his enthusiasm was generously shared, he was not uncritical and, of a performance he rated as less than brilliant, he prefaced his review with "someone had to say this".

I battled through a winter snowstorm to attend a choral recital of modern music at Glasgow University's Bute Hall, solely because Michael had recommended it. "This is all your doing," I remarked, heading out into the storm. He merely smiled.

Who else, apart perhaps from Conrad Wilson, would have attended two consecutive performances of the same orchestral programme in Edinburgh on a Friday, and the next night in Glasgow, for the purpose of comparison?

I had an amusing correspondence with Michael on email, expressing my view that many performers played far faster than the composer intended, "because they could". Michael offered qualified agreement, and later wrote a column on the subject.

Goodbye, Michael. When will we see your likes again?

Alison Lambie, Stirling.

The invisible brigade

DAVID Crawford, who states that he is in his 70th year, writes (Letters, May 28) that he is amazed how often he is ignored whilst out walking and has to step aside to avoid fellow walkers who are acting like zombies. What he should be aware of is that many younger people are affected by a strange inability to see older people. Unfortunately the older you become, the more invisible you are to the young.

This affliction has been around for many years but got worse with the increased habit of people staring at mobile phones whilst walking. Knowing that many people are affected in this way, I made it a habit of apologising to them when they bumped into me. I would say "Sorry, I keep forgetting that I’m invisible."

Of course the pandemic has now changed many things but I worry that once we are released from lockdown it will be extremely difficult for us oldies to stay two metres apart if others can’t see us.

Jim Sheehan, Bridge of Allan.