Letters: Sailors have been saluted, now let’s remember airmen

The nation should salute these veterans and their comrades who died in the Second World War.

Another group whom the Government and British people should salute for one last time is the surviving and now dwindling RAF Bomber Command veterans who as pilots, navigators, bomb aimers and air gunners helped pulverise the Nazi war machine into eventual defeat.

Bomber Command losses involved 55,000 young men of barely more than 20 years in age. Edinburgh and Scotland contributed their share of these young and overlooked heroes who flew dangerous missions nightly in the teeth of German night fighter fire.

The surviving Bomber Command heroes should be recognised in some way now by Edinburgh City Council and the Scottish and British Governments, not just in recognition of the survivors and their long-dead mates, but as a last salute from us all. Gus Logan, Coates Gardens, Edinburgh

Great reformer to thank for schools

In her diatribe against Christian school assemblies, Veronica Wikman urges people to sign a petition to have them abolished, and she concludes that those who do so can walk past the statue of David Hume in the Royal Mile with their heads held high. Had she done so herself, she would have noticed that David Hume is shown, not with head held high, but with a downward look, as if he had matters of concern on his mind.

By contrast, had she gone to the New College entrance, a short distance away, she would have seen a statue of the great 16th century reformer John Knox, standing erect, with a Bible in one hand, and the other hand lifted high and pointing to Heaven. It seems to me worth reminding Veronica Wikman, and others like-minded, that it was the same John Knox who was mainly responsible for the introduction of schools in Scotland.

“A school in every parish” was his aim, and all Scotland should be thankful that this was accomplished. I trust that people will not be hoodwinked into signing the petition to abolish school assemblies.

Donald Jack, Summerside Place, Leith

Love and care at Western General

On February 10 I was taken into the Western General Hospital for emergency surgery.

From the moment I arrived until the moment I left on the 13th the staff from the domestic to the surgeon and everybody in between could not do enough to make my stay as comfortable and pleasant as possible.

I am in the autumn of my life and had never had a general anaesthetic before.

My recovery was beyond all expectations for one of my years and so soon after surgery.

I can only thank God for the love and care shown to me by the staff at the Western and trust that others will experience the same.

Eric McGibbon, Broxburn