I NOTE with interest your article on a National Trust for Scotland project in Glencoe ("Glencoe creel house re-creation planned", The Herald, March 3). I would like to point out one factor of the 1692 massacre which seems to have been lost to history. It concerns the direction in which the MacDonalds took to flight that fateful night. I had always suspected that, in the aftermath of the First World War, my father had been sworn to secrecy on the family history, by his father, because of the extent of family casualties in the war and our prior military family history. From what he told me often throughout his life, he bitterly resented time and again being blamed for the massacre just because he was a Campbell.
Not long before he died some 30 years ago, he let slip the facts he had kept secret for so long. After the massa-cre, the MacDonalds realised they could not escape south, east or west, because of the risk of running into more government forces, so they went north. Skirting the end of Loch Leven, they made their way to Roy Bridge, where they were given shelter by their old friends, my Campbell forebears, renowned for our hostility to the Clan Campbell of the Duke of Argyll.
Over the next few years I discovered evidence which confirmed the story. The new young chief, MacDonald of Glencoe, moved to Roy Bridge, where he fell out of favour because of an accident resulting in the death of a lo-cal man. Then, when my family moved north onto the Lovat Estate, MacDonald followed and took on a sheep farm in Glenstrathfarrar, just a mile or so from our rented land in Strathglass.
George F Campbell, Glasgow G41.
A caring solution
I NOTE your article concerning the Young Women's Trust ("Millions are carrying out unpaid work", The Herald, March 4) and agree with them that it is not appropriate to describe
women and indeed men aged 18 to 30 as "economically inactive" if they are working at home "pro bono" looking after the family. In my view and from personal experience they are doing the most important job in the world, looking after the next generation or a family member needing care.
Yes, let's find a more appropriate terminology and recognise the important job they do in our economically driv-en society.
Ron Lavalette, Ardrossan.
Faith restored
HOW refreshing to read of Kate Forbes standing up for her faith (“Forbes in plea over facing up to haters”, The Herald, March 4). Looking around at some of her colleagues in Holyrood perhaps they could take leaf out of her book.
An honest politician, whatever next?
Michael Watson, Glasgow G73.
The McFlannels
R RUSSELL Smith's proportionate response to the ills of the world (Letters, March 4) reminded me that I first heard the saying "You've never died a winter yet" while listening to The McFlannels, the everyday story of a working-class Glasgow family first broadcast in 1939 and written by Helen W Pryde. Younger readers might that find a visit to YouTube would provide much amusement and escapism from current worldly concerns.
David Miller, Milngavie.
Not to be sniffed at
SOME people have ridiculous ideas as to how coronavirus can be spread. One of my daughter's friends was in-credulous that she had been reckless enough to have a Chinese takeaway. I'll be alright. I neither smoke cigars nor drink Mexican beer.
Brian Johnston, Torrance.
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