BACK in the early 70s when I was a pupil at this school, our art teacher told the class about Charles Rennie Mackintosh being the architect that designed the building; it didn’t mean much to any of us at that time (Glasgow’s hidden Mackintosh gem Martyrs’ School, December 5).

He did however appeal to us that if, in the future, anyone from the class found themselves in a position to decide upon the fate of this building that we should exercise that power to preserve it. Thanks to that teacher I now appreciate what he saw in the beauty and ingenuity of Mackintosh’s work. I am however ashamed to admit that I can no longer recall the name of the art teacher – but I am grateful for his insight and inspiration.

Tommy Hannah

Posted online

JUST watching the scenes of huge crowds of shoppers in cities and towns in England would make you weep. Will these people never learn? If the infection rate soars yet again restrictions will once again have to be introduced and the first people who will moan about their freedom being impinged are these same inconsiderate morons.

MA

Glasgow

WHEN are people such as Mel Thomas going to realise that schools are not simply a child-minding service (Letters, December 4)?

If it was not for political populism, schools would be the first places to close to prevent the spread of a contagious disease, not the last.

M Carr

Glasgow

I HAVE read Alex Saville’s letter (December 4). He claims he has had 32 threatening letters from Capita regarding not having a TV licence.

Capita is the main agent of the BBC, which has been handed a multi-million contract to pursue over-75s to now pay the £157 for a TV licence, which was free prior to Boris Johnson becoming the prime minister. The true blame for abolishing over-75s’ free TV licence lies at the feet Boris Johnson and his Government. Not having the courage to carry out this draconian act themselves, they passed the buck on to the BBC to implement, knowing full well it would create a serious backlash from the over-75s across the country.

However, the BBC is not entirely blameless. While pursuing the over-75s for the £157 licence fee, it is paying the top three of 11 earners a combined salary of approximately £3,000,000, with a football pundit seventh in the list receiving a salary of £390,000 and the lowest earner of the 11 earning £385,000.

RSD

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