The indefensible

Money grabbing tactics slammed

the Ben Nevis bar in Glasgow to the peak of Scotland’s highest mountain. It helped raise awareness of a campaign I launched – “Buy the Ben for Scotland” - after its English owners put the mountain up for sale.

I’ve also got an oil painting of Ben Nevis with a plaque that reads, “Presented to Bob Shields for his mountainous and successful efforts to save Ben Nevis for the people of Scotland. With grateful thanks from the Trustees and Members of the John Muir Trust”. That walk irreparably damaged my knees – but not enough to stop me raising £ 33,000 for children’s charities when I ran the New York marathon the following November. I helped the Tartan Army and Runrig to the top of the charts – raising £ 53,000 for Children in Need. I went to Iraq to hand out 1500 Christmas boxes to Scottish troops. And I visited an orphanage in Kenya to gift over 2000 jerseys donated by football fans across Scotland. They were all projects I was involved in – from concept to conclusion. And while we’re on the subject – that “arse” you mentioned sat on a bicycle saddle from Glasgow to Edinburgh last September to raise cash for Ayr Hospice. I mentioned that 75p extra on Burns Cottage admission fees would solve the problem. Hugh suggests I put 75p on drinks in my pub and donate the cash!

I can assure him that if the Twa Dugs received the raft of tax breaks available to a registered charity – including virtually no rates – I’d meet the £ 100,000 target personally!

Hugh, I’m sure you’re a great volunteer with the best interests of Burns heritage at heart. But fundraising? Seriously? I wouldn’t see you in my road.

contemptible opportunistic, money- grubbing way the NTS tried to exploit Burns’ birthday