Here’s what the legacy of the Birmingham Games must be for Scotland

Many commentators have tried to define “legacy”, and quite frankly I’m not impressed by expressions like “bringing us together”.

READ MORE: Alyn Smith: Yes campaign should take inspiration from Scotland’s athletes

As I have said, I enjoyed the Scottish medals, but to be frank they really make no long-term difference to my life and therefore an extra half-a-dozen medals next time round would be unlikely to improve on that. New or improved sporting facilities such as swimming pools or running tracks will help the people of Birmingham, I hope, but are unlikely to do much for the Scottish population.

For me, the only legacy that is really worthwhile would be that people are inspired by these super athletes who have performed for us over the past couple of weeks and will start taking part in more sports. PARTICIPATION – that should be what it is all about. That should be the legacy.

READ MORE: The Scottish people need to know whether or not we are in a voluntary union

Sports and physical activities are worthwhile in their own right. We won’t all get medals, of course, but I believe the health and social benefits make participation truly worthwhile for all ages and social groups.

We all remember the old saying “look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves.” Maybe the equivalent expression in terms of sport would be “get people participating and the medals will look after themselves”.

This of course would take planning and perhaps some expenditure from the government, local councils and sports clubs. Are they up to it?

Alex Leggatt
Edinburgh

THERE can be very few in Scotland who did not feel a surge of pride while watching our athletes performances in the recent Games.

For a small country we did remarkably well, and while it would be invidious to pick out individual athletes there were some outstanding performances which will long live in the memory.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson offers nothing new to tackle energy bills despite crisis talks

It seems a pity that we have no way of honouring such citizens, and I would like to suggest that we could possibly organise something along the lines of the French Legion D’ Honour that could be given in such circumstances.

Of course it would not only apply to sportspeople but could include anyone who brings respect and honour to our land: writers, artists, painters, any one in fact who we applaud for whatever they achieve.

Jim Gibson
Selkirk

IT is sad to see your newspaper reporting on the forthcoming strike by Royal Mail workers and using a picture of the English livery.

Royal Mail in Scotland should be using the Scottish livery. The Scottish crown on the cruciform, and no EIIR to be shown either.

When the present Queen came to “power” there was much protest in Scotland at the English livery and the EIIR symbol being used, to the point that letter boxes were defaced and even blown up. At that point the Scottish Postal Board took the decision to only use the Scottish crown and no EIIR symbol.

Alas there appear to be many more “EIIR” liveried vehicles seen around Scotland.

Perhaps you could investigate why Royal Mail are doing this!

Ken Ross
Inverness

THE picture of the farm cottage which has emerged from the depths of Upper Glendevon Reservoir (Picture of the Day, Aug 10) has reawakened memories from a long time back. These are actually the remains of Backhills Farm, which disappeared from view when the reservoir was enlarged in, I think, the 1930s.

I remember many tales being told to me by the McKechnie brothers, shepherds on Sheriffmuir until around 1960. They recounted the fact they would leave home very early on a summer morning and walk the considerable distance through the Ochil Hills in order to assist the farmer there with a day’s heavy seasonal work such as sheep shearing, at the end of which they would make the return journey through the hills. Their meals during the day were taken in that building shown in the photograph.

The residents of Backhills only got a postman once a week; one of the staff from the Blackford village post office, who drew the short straw, had to make the long walk via another path through the Ochil Hills every Saturday morning.

Very different times to those which now exist, but which should not be forgotten.

George M Mitchell
Dunblane

NOT so long ago we were told that Scotland was virtually self-sufficient in the supply of renewable electricity – by which was meant wind and water power. Has nature put up the price of the wind, or is it charging more for the rain which falls in abundance for most of the year? Or are we paying for the other parts of the UK which would prefer not to have wind farms built onshore and instead would rather have very expensive power from very expensive new nuclear power installations?

Ian Lawson
Milngavie