Sir Fred's new job

Allan Massie's fatuous defence of Sir Fred Goodwin's new "employment" (Opinion, 19 January) borders on the insulting.

Work might be a teacher sitting up until 1:30 in the morning writing report cards, a doctor or nurse on a ridiculous shift pattern, a worker putting in a 12-hour shift in a fish factory, a firefighter regularly risking their life … the list is endless. I cannot believe anyone would describe being flown around the world, first class obviously, at someone else's expense, and then forced to "entertain" prospective clients over a lavish, slap-up meal, for one week a month, as "work."

Allan Massie wonders, facetiously, if he should use the term "obscenely big pension". Given Sir Fred is receiving a pension of 370,000, paid mainly now from public funds, I would have thought this was an understatement.

ALASTAIR KIDD

Eildon Crescent

Melrose