Letters Page

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Roe deer population

SIR, – You reported (January 12) a “dramatic rise” in the population of roe deer in Scotland, based on revised official estimates of an increase to 350,000, or 10 times more than expected, and that they are responsible for around 6,500 road accidents each year.

The Deer Commission for Scotland has tended to concentrate its research and advisory efforts on the problems posed by the larger red deer, while dismissing the smaller and more elusive roe deer as not really worth bothering about.

According to the commission, the number of roe reported to them as having been culled in recent years is in excess of 30,000 annually, although these figures do not include those shot for the pot that never get reported.

Nevertheless, assuming this latest population estimate is realistic, and since conservatively at least 30% need to be culled annually to keep numbers from increasing, the annual cull of roe deer should be getting on for 100,000, or three times what the Deer Commission has been recording.

Shooting a few more roe near accident blackspots is unlikely to make any impression on either the local problem or the overall population.

Andrew Yool,

Croy,

Pluscarden, Elgin.

Tracing relatives of fallen men

SIR, – We are anxious to trace the relatives of the six men from Aberdeen who were killed during the four-year Eoka conflict in Cyprus, 1955-59. They were among the 371 British servicemen who died on active service, and who will be honoured with a memorial to be unveiled in Cyprus on Remembrance Day this year – Sunday, November 8.

Of the six men, five served with the Gordon Highlanders, and the other was with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Their names are:

David Douglas Morrison, private, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (killed September 13, 1958, aged 22).

Alexander Dunbar, private, Gordon Highlanders (June 19, 1956, aged 19).

James Henry Falconer, private, Gordon Highlanders (April 13, 1956, aged 19).

George McRuvie, private, Gordon Highlanders (June 17, 1956, aged 19).

Ian Michael Simpson, private, Gordon Highlanders (June 17, 1956, aged 22).

Allan Thomson Smith, sergeant, Gordon Highlanders (July 8, 1956, aged 28).

We would be very pleased to hear from any relatives or friends of these six men and, indeed, any other readers who are relatives of the other British servicemen who were killed in that conflict. You can read the full roll call on www.britishcyprusmemorial.org and contact the trust at the address below.

General Sir John Waters,

Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Graydon,

Lieutenant General Sir Henry Beverley,

British Cyprus Memorial Trust,

26 York Street,

London W1U 6PZ.

Trying to locate family members

SIR, – I am trying to locate my relatives in the north-east.

My grandmother Christine Smith was born in Aberdeen in 1900 and moved to Canada with her sister Nell in 1916.

In 1973, I travelled to Aberdeen and visited my dad's cousin, George (Dod) Sim. I think the address was in Cloverhill Crescent, Bridge of Don.

Mr Sim travelled to Canada in 1981 for a visit with my father and our family, but dad and Dod have now passed away and I have no records to search.

Dod did send me two wedding pictures of his children in the late-70s, but I have lost the letter with their names and addresses.

The name and address of the photographer is Martin Johnston, 14 Chapel Street, Aberdeen.

I dearly want to re-establish my Scottish ancestry so that I can pass the information down to my children and grandchildren.

If anyone can help, I can be contacted by e-mail at davidlodonnell@ hotmail.com or at the address below.

David O’Donnell,

5 Harvey Street,

Tillsonburg,

Ontario,

Canada N4G 3J4.

Postman detective sets good example

SIR, – I was delighted to read your story (January 8) regarding the postman detective who arranged the delivery of a Christmas card to Mr and Mrs Evans on Colonsay, although the card was addressed originally to Berkshire, England.

We had been discussing how our postal staff go out of their way to make sure mail is always delivered correctly, despite errors or being short on information, as I had had a letter returned from Australia which was correctly addressed, even with the zipcode, apart from the fact I had written Edward Street instead of Edwin Street.

I had written this on October 5, and posted it by airmail.

It was returned to me on January 5, obviously sent by surface mail.

I have cut out the story from the Press and Journal and am sending this to the mail sorting office for the area in Australia which returned my letter. I will be surprised if they reply.

Margaret MacIntyre,

90 Millknowe,

Campbeltown.

Climate fluctuations

SIR, – Earth’s climate fluctuated for millions of years from a mile-deep snowball to sustaining large animals, to a barren desert burned by sulphuric acid – all before Man evolved.

Fossil remains below the acid layer suggest that 95% of these animals perished when acid rain destroyed their forage. Millions of years later, some of the survivors evolved into dinosaurs, only to die out when their forage failed – all before Man evolved.

It leaves manmade global warming enthusiasts questions to answer.

Does global warming stop food crops growing?

How long can an adult live without food?

Is logic a barrier to stupidity?

Ian Walker,

209 Forest Avenue,

Aberdeen.