I FIND it incredible that the powers that be have decided to exclude the marathon from the list of events in the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The marathon is internationally recognised as an iconic endurance test with its origin dating back to ancient Greece c490 BC. It has also been part of the Commonwealth Games, previously the British Empire Games, since the first Games in 1930, when Dunky Wright won gold for Scotland. Another marathon gold medallist from Scotland was my late friend, Joe McGhee, in 1954. Dunky and Joe must be birling in their graves over the decision that Glasgow of all cities is to exclude the marathon, apparently because of the cost.

Glasgow has plenty previous experience of organising successful marathons, including mass participation people’s marathons, as well as the 2014 Commonwealth Games marathon.

Current constraints on public expenditure are self-evident but surely there are potential sponsors in the Scottish business community who could be persuaded on the wider benefits of staging such a prestigious event. The fact that the marathon is a road race would be an excellent opportunity to showcase some outstanding landmarks of the great city of Glasgow to a multi-million international TV audience, as well as attracting many thousands of live spectators who would be able to watch the only Commonwealth Games event that is free of charge.

I therefore urge the powers that be: raise your game and think again. Axing the marathon would be an unforgivable act of sporting and cultural vandalism. Glasgow with no marathon would be like Athens with no Parthenon.

Dennis Canavan, Founder of the Cross-Party Sports Group in the Scottish Parliament and sub-three-hours plodder in the 1985 Glasgow Marathon, Bannockburn.

 

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Drivers are the problem, not roads

MARK Smith ("I asked readers to email me on the dualling of the A9. It wasn’t pretty", The Herald, October 26) makes some very valid points regarding the cost/benefit analysis of dualling the A9.

I have recently driven down to Surrey and back, much of the time on four-lane motorways. I am comfortable driving in cruise-control at the maximum speed limit. However, I was astonished at the number of drivers, usually, it seemed, in a BMW or an Audi, to whom the speed limit obviously did not apply. The overtaking speeds would have been more appropriate to Silverstone in many cases.

We were badly held up on two occasions by what appeared to be serious accidents. Driving through Birmingham, again on a four-lane highway, I had a Salvation Army van on my tail, flashing and honking, despite the fact that all four lanes were jammed and there was nowhere for anyone to go.

Roads are not the problem. Drivers are.

I also could not agree more with Alexander Mackay (Letters, October 26) and Rosemary Goring ("Driving is not a right: old drivers must prove they can still do it", The Herald, October 26) regarding the need for assessment of older drivers. As someone who who is well past the biblically-ordained three-score and 10 years, I find a morning coffee and The Herald’s teaser page a very good way to reassure myself that that the little grey cells are still functioning in a reasonably competent fashion. The current self-assessment form from DVLA is useless and wide open to lying fraud.

John NE Rankin, Bridge of Allan.

Origins of New Lanark Mills

IN an otherwise informative article on the current travails of New Lanark Mills cotton spinning (“Friends no more: New Lanark supporters review ties with heritage site amid mill chaos”, The Herald, October 28), Sandra Dick starts off by saying “Built by social reformer Robert Owen….”, which is completely wrong and some simple research including New Lanark’s own website, tells a different story.

In 1786, New Lanark Mills were built by David Dale, a Glasgow banker, and Richard Arkwright, claimed to be the inventor of industrial cotton spinning. It was this short partnership which created New Lanark, ultimately employing hundreds of workers before Robert Owen became involved in 1799; probably as a result of meeting Dale’s daughter whom he married.

This is not in any way intended to reduce Robert Owen’s pioneering work in social and industrial welfare and without whom we would certainly not have this World Heritage site today. Nevertheless, accuracy is important if we are to avoid excising facts which can and does distort history.

Alan M Morris, Blanefield.

Keep changing the clocks

I COULD not disagree more with Dr Megan Crawford's view that we should keep GMT (winter time) all year long ("Into the light: it’s time to drop the clock switching for the sake of our health", The Herald, October 26). In midsummer in Scotland, for most places, it starts to get light at around 4am. How she believes that removing an hour of useful evening daylight so that dawn breaks at 3am instead is beyond me.

There are many different reasons which cause sleeping problems for some people but changing the clocks certainly isn't the main one. Dr Crawford fails to mention all the positive healthy benefits of DST (summer time), namely giving time for everyone to indulge in outdoor activities after school and work. It's also good for tourism and business. Early evening darkness acts as a curfew for the vulnerable in our society.

In Scotland, as we all know, we are not blessed with a wonderful climate. The one saving grace is that from May to mid-August, we all experience fantastic long hours of evening daylight to enjoy (and have done so since 1916). Time to go back to sleep regarding this subject, Dr Crawford. Any attempt to remove this pleasure from us will be as popular and welcoming as a hole in a parachute.

John Macnab, Troon.

Now that the clocks have changed, should we stick with GMT?Now that the clocks have changed, should we stick with GMT? (Image: Getty)

Convoluted journey

RE train announcements on the Glasgow to Ayr route (Letters, October 28): I am reminded of the days long before modern technology when a porter (remember them?) at Paisley Gilmour Street station would announce in stentorian tones that the next train at this platform would be for “Irvine, Girvan, Troon and Ayr”.

It used to amuse me greatly to think of the shuttling about involved in that journey.

Hugh Nisbet, Barrhead.

Dramatic moment lost

IT seems there will be no more TV debates between the candidates for the USA's presidency. That's a pity. I was looking forward to the Last Tangle with Harris.

Gilbert MacKay, Newton Mearns.