LETTERS

Russian wrongs

I CAN never understand why dictators such as Russian President Vladimir Putin choose to do the wrong things for the wrong reasons.

Surely gaining more than 75 per cent of votes, irrespective of how he got them, gives him the perfect opportunity to make his country a better place, rather than indulging in all the things that will never be liked, such as constantly interfering, threatening and even invading other countries.

JOHN EVANS, Wokingham, Berks. the Government is right to take a stand against Vladimir Putin. this man is on record as saying enemies of the state will be dealt with, wherever they are.

If he is not responsible for the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, as he declares, maybe it will concentrate his mind into weeding out those who are doing it to blacken his country’s name.

One thing that doesn’t make sense is why would he sanction such a despicable crime on foreign soil just before staging the World Cup?

JOHN CLAPP, Pershore, Worcs. DONALD TRUMP tried to improve U.S. relationship with Russia, but is howled down on all sides.

the West has consistently been hostile to Russia. however, as they say, ‘ you shouldn’t provoke the sleeping tiger’.

I never thought I would agree with Jeremy Corbyn, but he was right to take a stand against the invasion of Iraq and to want to await more proof of Russia’s culpability in the Salisbury poisoning.

PATRICIA MORGAN, Deal, Kent.

On the rails

the BBC’s Great Continental Railway Journeys, presented by Michael Portillo, looked at the history and geography of the railway between Batumi in Georgia and Baku in Azerbaijan. But it failed to mention the brief British involvement.

In his history of World War I, Winston Churchill wrote: ‘the British landed at Batumi and occupied the Caucasian railway from the Black Sea to the Caspian at Baku . . . our forces, about 20,000 strong, were, by the end of January 1919, in possession of one of the greatest strategic lines in the world.’

Given that the centenary of this remote theatre of war is almost on us, and that yet again tensions between the UK and Russia are in the news, the programme makers missed an opportunity to shed some light on this intriguing period.

My father served in the Royal engineers as a plate layer on that ‘great strategic line’. he returned to the UK in 1919 to spend 40 years as a plate layer on the line between Bolton and lostock Junction.

JOHN HOLDEN, address supplied.

Measured response

I DO hope reader Barrie taylor’s comments about the UK returning to the old imperial system was said tongue in cheek (letters).

Nearly the whole world uses the metric system. this country needs to export, and anywhere to which we sell our manufactured goods will require that they are made to metric measurements.

to make things to imperial sizes for just this country would not be cost-effective.

A weight or length can be called anything you like, but the measurements need to relate to each other in an easy fashion, which is something the imperial system simply does not do. Oh, and by the way, the metric system is a British invention.

BRIAN STARKEY, Huntingdon, Cambs. A RETURN to pounds, shillings and pence and many other measurements, including Fahrenheit? Just so that I can keep updated, where does Mr taylor’s home appear on the flat earth map?

B. HEATON, Doncaster, S. Yorks. BRITAIN joined the european economic Community in 1973, two years after decimalisation. tell anyone under 40 how it was with pounds, shillings and pence and they’ll fall about laughing.

I produce floor plans, and if I had to measure in feet and inches I would give up.

STEVE GRAJEWSKI, London N15.

Road rage

I WAS incensed to learn about Motability’s cache of money from the Disability living Allowance (Mail).

I have leased a car from Motability for 14 years. two years ago, I asked for help in financing a scooter hoist for the car. Motability refused. Upon the renewal of my lease and a change of vehicle, it offered to review the decision.

I now learn that Motability is spending a fortune of benefit money on revamping its offices.

J. TAYLOR, address supplied.

Ryanair fair on fares

I AM fed up with all the moaning about Ryanair’s seating policy. Its pricing structure is clear — you pay a basic charge and can then pay extra for what you want.

One lady quoted paying £10 return to Switzerland. My return bus journey to a city 13 miles away costs more.

As for couples on a romantic break not willing to pay £12 — the price of two small glasses of wine at the airport — to sit together, where’s the romance in that?

I use Ryanair six times per year and am happy to pay for extra legroom seats, which still cost less than a restaurant meal. S. o’REILLY, Derby.

Tonic for the sick

LAST week, I was admitted urgently to the Grantham and District hospital. throughout my stay I had first-class treatment.

You can teach medical practices and procedures, but you can’t teach caring. People either have it or they don’t. the hospital staff had it in abundance and I am most grateful. S. A. POPPLEWELL, Cottesmore, Rutland.

NHS plastic overload

DURING my wife’s two-day stay at a local hospital for an operation last week, a member of staff came round many times with a trolley loaded with plastic bottles of water.

All the patients were encouraged to drink as much water as possible, so it appears the hospital is adding to the plastics problem.

Knowing the prices the NHS pays for its supplies, this hospital alone could cut its costs considerably. ARTHUR BEDFORD, King’s Lynn, Norfolk.

Time to man up

WHY are some people trying to delete ‘man’ from our language?

the ‘man’ in ‘mankind’ and ‘human’ comes from the ancient Sanskrit word manas meaning ‘ mind’, indicating a thinking being, and