Hire fairly and end ‘jobs for the boys’ mentality

THE resignation of Robert Gordon University boss Ferdinand von Prondzynski (Mail) was inevitable to save the reputation of RGU. Our Universities must be seen to be operating to the highest professional standards.

The decision by the university board to appoint depute principal John Harper as principal was an ill-advised, knee-jerk reaction and failed to follow a proper shortlist procedure. No wonder it has attracted calls by the unions of ‘jobs for the boys’.

Our universities should be seen to be promoting diversity and operating a fair and open recruitment process to get the very best candidates available. DeNNIS FOrBeS GrATTAN,

Aberdeen.

Cruel questions

LIKE Dr Pam Spurr (Femail), I have long maintained it is insensitive to ask a single person when they are getting married, or a married person when they will start a family.

I would have loved to have married and had children, but it was not to be. My worst moment was at my sister’s wedding. I lost count of how many guests archly asked when it would be my turn.

Luckily, my father’s unmarried cousin saw I was upset and made me laugh by saying: ‘Well, I’m not travelling for another family wedding this year!’

Miss K. HIll, Polruan, Cornwall.

Minister’s hypocrisy

I NOTICED with some interest Dr Liam Fox, the pro-Brexit UK International Trade Secretary, take credit for Taiwan opening its market to British pork for the first time, an agreement expected to be worth more than £50million to British farmers over the next five years. I found this news intriguing, as at no point did Dr Fox mention the European Union, which in fact brokered the agreement – a deal which could be at risk when the UK leaves the EU.

So we have the hypocrisy of a minister taking credit for an agreement that was negotiated by the EU, a body the UK is set to leave.

Alex Orr, edinburgh.

Yes, you can cook

HOW refreshing of Sue Whitford to point out that a major cause of childhood obesity is bone-idle parents (Letters).

Like Sue, I was a working-class mother and had no problems feeding my two children with fresh vegetables and cheap cuts of meat.

I brought them up on my own and worked full time on a dismal salary. I didn’t have any support from the Government and, yes, it was tough. Today, I see obese young mothers give their overweight toddlers sweets, crisps and sausage rolls to keep them quiet.

Come on, mums and dads, it is the school holidays, so why not take the time to cook nutritious meals with your children? CATHerINe SHerWIN,

Barnstaple, Devon.

BBC strikes right note

The BBC is getting it from all sides. They have upset Jeremy Corbyn supporters, Ukip and those even farther to the Right and Left. The Corporation has also angered the SNP. From across the political spectrum, the BBC is being pilloried.

On reflection, this would suggest to me that perhaps it is striking the right note.

AlexANDer MCKAy, edinburgh.

Lost countryside

HAS it not occurred to planners that many of these greenfield sites where they want to build new houses are working farms?

Living in the countryside, it is depressing to see more homes springing up on what used to be productive land. Most are not affordable for local families and the roads, schools and GP surgeries can’t cope with the overbearing increase in the population.

We are not all Nimbys – some of us realise that with an everincreasing population, we need to increase food production or become more reliant on imports.

J. HOWArTH, Barnstaple, Devon.