100315.Dundee Courier.Darwin in Edinburgh

12
LEADER
The Courier and Advertiser, Monday, March 15, 2010
THE COURIER
& Advertiser
KINGSWAY EAST, DUNDEE, DD4 8SL
A KINGMAKER
MUZZLED
Tracing Darwin’s roots
ESPOUSAL of a Liberal Democrat role in govern-
ment at Westminster does not seem to be doing
them much good. One recent opinion poll puts them
on 21%, another on 17%.
“Biographers regularly go back to
best part of a decade there—in
The decision to send young
scientist, the geologist James
He assisted Edinburgh University
Darwin’s Edinburgh years,
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana,
Charles Darwin to Scotland set him
Hutton, came up with the concept
biologist Robert Edmund Grant’s
The possibility of a “hung” parliament, with no
convinced the seeds of all his later
Namibia, Kenya and Tanzania,” he
on a path that would open an
of deep time. Until then everyone
investigations into the life cycle of
party having the 326 seats for an overall majority, has
thinking lie there—and to a large
says.
entirely new branch of science and
believed in a literal interpretation of
marine invertebrates in the Firth of
dominated the Lib Dem conference at Birmingham. In
degree they are right.”
In 2008, he published research
refute a literal interpretation of the
the Bible—that the Earth was
Forth.
theory, the Lib Dems should be riding a wave of
that led to suggestions climate
Bible.
4000-6000 years old—but Hutton
“The two of them would go for
interest, as Jeremy Thorpe’s party did in 1974.
change could spark an explosion of
“Darwin may not have been in
deduced from rock formations at
long walks along the shoreline at
In practice, though, the party has irresolvable THESE WORDS were written by
places including Arthur’s Seat and
Harvard professor Janet
new species in Africa.
Edinburgh for long but the
Prestonpans and Portobello talking
tensions between those activists who are virulently
Siccar Point that it was much older.
Browne, whose two-volume
“If you look at previous
about the natural world,” Julian
anti-Tory and those who are more pragmatic and who
biography is considered the
periods of climate change,
“At first the thinking was
continues. “Darwin also delivered
might favour a post-election deal to get Gordon
definitive work on Charles Darwin.
you might have grazing
hundreds of thousands of
his first scientific paper in
Brown out of Downing Street. There was a dry run in
years, then millions, and of
Edinburgh.”
Despite this, no one had written
animals such as wildebeest
Wales in 2007 when the Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru and
course we now reckon the
a full account of Darwin’s time in
which need to stay close to
As well as documenting the
age of the Earth in billions.
the Tories got together: the deal was sunk by Lib Dem
Scotland, of the people he met
water. If they migrate
influence of Scotland on Darwin,
activists. That outcome might be repeated.
there who influenced his thinking
between three water holes,
“Edinburgh’s medical
Julian also examines the influence
for example, and the middle
Leader Nick Clegg set out his minimum demands.
and set him on the course that led
school was second to
of Darwin on today’s scholars at
one dries out, herds of
none. The Burke and Hare
Edinburgh University, and on the
These are: extra spending on education for poor him to deliver his theory of
animals at the other two can
scandal didn’t happen for
many of today’s most eminent
children, reform of Westminster, reform of the tax
evolution.
be cut off from each other.
another 10 years or so,
thinkers—people like Dawkins,
system, and changing to a greener economy.
Edinburgh University scientist
“Over time the two groups
though people Darwin was
Chomsky and Rees.
Of the pressing need to reduce the deficit, Mr Clegg
Julian Derry—writing as J. F.
will breed among themselves
engaging with ended up
He also spoke to creationists
would say only that they had a better plan to fill the
Derry—has spent the last seven
and their gene pool changes.
caught up in it.
who refute evolution, preferring to
black hole in the nation’s accounts “at a time when it
years forensically going over every
They develop into distinctly
“So Darwin arrived in
think the world was created in six
is economically sustainable.” The belief that, when it
record of the two years Darwin
different species, so if the
spent in Edinburgh as a young man.
Scotland during an age of
days around 4000 years ago and
comes to repaying debt, governments that have over-
climate changes again and
Now his book Darwin In Scotland is
scientific inquiry, which
that man walked alongside
borrowed can always choose the when and how of
the water hole came back,
released later this month.
was coupled with a
dinosaurs.
retrenchment, is deeply ingrained and may yet lead
the two herds would no
Victorian urge to explain
One of these was Ken Ham, the
us into a sterling crisis.
An encompassing look at the
longer be able to breed with
time spent here by the father of
and investigate
Australian-born president of
The Chancellor, too, is in denial. He has now said
each other.”
evolution, it features interviews with
everything.”
Answers in Genesis USA—
his Budget next week will not be about spending cuts.
This research—along with
God Delusion author Richard
Although Darwin never
one of the largest young-earth
We have already seen the money markets slap a
that of thousands of other
Dawkins, linguist and philosopher
took much part in formal
organisations.
premium on UK debt as the polls indicate a hung
scientists across the world—
Noam Chomsky, Astronomer Royal
tuition, through interaction
“The last three chapters of the
wouldn’t be possible were it
parliament is on the cards. Investors know that an
Martin Rees and Darwin’s great-
with his peers, tutors and
book are about creationism, which
not for the work of Charles
administration with built-in conflict between its lead-
great-grandson Randal Keynes
extra-curricular groups, he
has been dressed up as intelligent
Darwin.
ing lights will not last long. Hard decisions will be put
among others.
was exposed to a type of
design in a bid to make it sound
Last year marked the
off. Even the thought of a double ration of
Inspiration for the book came
philosophy rooted in the
more scientific,” Julian says.
200th anniversary of Darwin’s
depressing electioneering is not a joy that consoles.
when Julian was enjoying a beer
Scottish Enlightenment.
birth, as well as the 150th
“Darwin never really challenged
Julian Derry.
As it is, all three main parties are shy of telling the
with George Schaller, the world’s
anniversary of the
“If he had gone to
God or religion. Rather, he
electorate what must be done. Their proposals for
foremost field biologist, while the
publication of his seminal work
Cambridge his education would
challenged the natural theology that
experience influenced his thinking
cuts in spending are paltry and go nowhere near tack-
two men were in Ulan Bator
On The Origin Of Species.
have been theologically based and
God placed everything here, fully
ever after,” Julian continues. “You
ling a structural deficit estimated at about £100 studying the Mongolian gazelle.
unlikely to have given him the
formed.”
Despite the worldwide
have to understand that Scotland’s
billion. They are paralysed by fear of the voters.
“We were talking about Darwin
perspective to challenge the
resurgence of interest in Darwin
One of the most obvious,
education was world-class when
prevailing doctrine,” Julian reckons.
In 1974, Labour had to govern without an overall
and all the people who had
these milestones sparked, Julian
yet overlooked, contributions which
Darwin came here.
majority. The first thing it did was to settle a miners’
influenced him,” he recalls. “Most of
felt not enough was made of the
“He didn’t study much though.
Edinburgh made to Darwin is in the
“I’m not quite sure what’s
strike by conceding an unaffordable pay rise. It stored
them can be traced to his time in
scientist’s Scottish connection, and
He couldn’t deal with surgery
naming of his world-changing book.
happened since then,” he adds, in a
up even greater trouble for later. Of Mr Thorpe, little
Edinburgh and it suddenly became
his work aims to redress that.
performed without anaesthesia.
“One of the courses he took
reference to recent news that
more that mattered was heard. Mr Clegg, beware!
obvious to me that Darwin had
Charles Darwin came to
There’s an account of him
under Robert Jameson at
gained so much from his time here,
13,000 children in Scotland leave
Edinburgh towards the end of
witnessing surgery on a child,
Edinburgh University was called
even though it had been so
school every year unable to read or
1825 and left in 1827. “He was sent
whose awful screams stayed with
‘Origin of the Species of Animals.’
fleeting.”
write properly.
here because he wasn’t doing well
him for the rest of his life.”
Thirty years later, when he sat down
CAMERAS IN CLASS
Julian (42) was born near London
at school in Shrewsbury,” Julian
“At that time our influence
Darwin more or less dropped out
to think of the title of his book, who
and grew up in the Midlands. After
explains.
came from France. It was the age of
of medicine, but he had become
knows what went through his
Former Dundee teacher Michael Barile, who won
studying in Bangor and York he
Enlightenment in Europe and that
“He came up with his brother
interested by his course on natural
mind.”
an appeal against his sentence after being convicted
continued his studies at Edinburgh
spawned the Scottish
Erasmus to do medicine. His father
sciences. He also learned taxidermy
■ Darwin In Scotland: Edinburgh,
of assaulting pupils, has suggested CCTV cameras
University, where he remains as
Enlightenment. David Hume was
Robert Darwin was furious with him
from a freed Guinean slave called
Evolution And Enlightenment, by
one of the most prominent figures in
should be installed so that behaviour can be recorded.
visiting scientist at the Institute of
for going off shooting and fishing
John Edmonstone, who he spent a
J. F. Derry, goes on sale at the
that.
Well-behaved pupils would have nothing to fear, he
Evolutionary Biology.
instead of working to become an
lot of time with in Edinburgh, and
end of this month, published by
says, and neither would competent teachers.
“My PhD was in African
intellectual like the rest of the
“Darwin was also only a few
that skill was brought to bear during
Whittles Publishing. ISBN
his voyage on the Beagle.
There are already over 2000 public space CCTV
evolutionary biology, and I spent the
family.”
decades after another Edinburgh
978-1904445-57-9.
cameras in Scotland; the UK is said to have more per
head than any other country. Whether they deter
rowdy behaviour, or move it from one place to
another, is still debated. In school, though, pupils are
confined, so monitoring would be simpler, but Fell through ice on Balgay pond in the Sixties
cameras recorded the Columbine High School
massacre in the US; they did not prevent it.
Paying for CCTV on this scale would be a problem,
family called Leslie lived not far from
nium and David, the younger son,
BY
and parents would have to be convinced it was IHAVE had a lot of correspondence
from Dundee readers about the
the railway line to the station and near
played trombone. My father received
necessary and right. But it is a constructive idea.
pond in the city’s Balgay Park.
Cotton of Lownie farm. I knew Mr and
his 50-year medal. My late husband Jim
Mrs Leslie and son Watt Leslie who
Greer was solo cornet with Kelty Band
Mr Barile also claims swearing in class is common
Moira Mill says, “My brothers and I
was, among other things, the pipe major
until he joined the Royal Corps of
Craigie
and often overlooked. He advocates the use of Satur-
stayed close to the pond and used to
of Forfar Pipe Band.
Signals Band as solo trumpet in 1956.
day detentions and sympathises with ex-colleagues in
skate on it when it was frozen over
“The present station house is a very
He served for 22 years.
the teaching profession.
when we were teenagers in the 1950s.
attractive modern house. The station-
“I have a copy of a newspaper cutting
Technology may help keep the lid on trouble, but
“I was a pupil at Harris Academy from
master in its working time was Alex
about my grandfather starting the Alyth
what about the casual decline in standards of behav-
1955-1960 and I can remember in win-
arrived home in a soaking wet school
Murray who had two sons and two
band.”
iour? In poorer parts of the world, like the West
ter days when we were supposed to
uniform—much to the displeasure of
have outdoor sports at Elliot Road and
daughters. Mrs Murray used to collect
Indies, discipline is usually firm and clean uniforms
my parents!”
the pitches were frozen, we were
milk and eggs most evenings from the
Celebrating 90 years
proudly worn. We need more of that here.
John Richmond also remembers seeing
allowed to go skating on Balgay pond.
Cotton of Lownie farm. The family who
people skating on the pond, which was
Perhaps my fellow pupils will remember
lived at the farm were the Findlays—
PAST AND present members of the
next to Victoria Hospital. “I think it is
this, too.”
Maggie and her two sons John and Dave
Guiding movement will be interested to
actually part of Victoria Park,” he adds.
worked the farm.
learn of an exhibition to be held in
WHAT A JOKE
Judith Hare Emailed to say, “Balgay pond
“I was young at the time, but since I was
Monifieth Library this week to mark 90
was still in existence in the early 1960s.
born in 1954 it was a long time after the
“The reason I know this is because I was
years of guiding in the town. Girl-
Conservative shadow chancellor George Osborne
I fell through the ice on the pond on my
war. When it was filled in and turned
evacuated there during the war years
with my mother. I did travel on the train
guiding UK is celebrating its centenary
thinks it is a good idea to spend £50 million offering
way home from Harris Academy and
into a rose garden I was told that it was
once or twice, but Alexander’s buses
this year and the Monifieth units have
financial advice to families. What blethers! It is
because it had been drained during the
were more convenient. Happy days!”
gathered memorabilia and photographs
governments who muck people about with their
war and the bottom had cracked.
going back to the 1920s, covering their
impenetrable tax and benefits systems and appalling
“I am a bit sceptical about that excuse for
Brass tracks
90-year history.
waste. Put that right before lecturing the rest of us.
doing away with the feature since it still
There are photographs going back many
contained water within my memory.”
KINROSS READER Mrs Aileen Greer
years as well as the Monifieth contribu-
George Cockerill of Carnoustie says that
writes, “I was interested in your item
tion to the collection of banners made
about the Bowhill Brass Band, particu-
VIEWED IN LEVEN
the pond was certainly not filled in
by members of the organisation. These
during the war as he was playing ice
larly as I am interested in the history of
were last viewed in September during
the Kelty and Blairadam Brass Band,
After 40 years, the renovated Regent Cinema in
hockey on it in 1954.
the Lord Provost’s parade in Dundee.
sadly long gone.
Leven has reopened it doors. Their screenings may be
Organisers hope that many people will
“My grandfather John Burton Walker
more interesting than the usual bland multiplex fare.
Collecting eggs
come and take a look at the exhibition
started up Alyth Silver Band, but later
which covers all stages of the movement
BILL GRANT of West Ferry has been in
moved to Kelty at the behest of Colin
—from Rainbows through to the Trefoil
All I can say is my prayers.
touch about the “lost” Kingsmuir Sta-
Terris, who was the bandmaster friend
Guild. The exhibition runs during library
QUOTE:
—Harold Wilson, leading a
tion. “I drive past the station road sev-
o f m y g r a n d f a t h e r . M y g r a n d -
opening hours.
eral times a week,” he says, “and
father and son Campbell both played
minority government in 1974.
wonder what happened to the station. A
cornet, my father Burt played eupho-
Email: craigie@thecourier.co.uk
Anaesthetics as safe as those administering them
THE COURIER
80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL
Sir,—Much of your article
Jackson, apparently by a
There is currently a speed
page, that the argument, this
serve absolutely no positive
Social problems
Tel: Dundee (01382) 223131 Fax: 01382 454590
Aiming To Improve
non-anaesthetist for an
limit imposed on the A9,
time put forward by purpose. Maybe we should
Email: courier@dcthomson.co.uk
Anaesthetics (March 11) is
unrecognised indication in
and every other road in this
Mr Addison, would slow
all buy tractors.
neatly solved
Internet: http://www.thecourier.co.uk
the truth, though it falls
an unsuitable environment.
country, which was arrived
the whole of the country
short of being nothing but
Stephen Caldwell.
Almost every general
at in the days of low-
down.
Sir,—Many years ago,
ADVERTISING
the truth.
anaesthetic is induced with
performance brakes and
That would mean the
31 Bankton Park,
before all-purpose social
workers were dreamed of,
Telephone: Dundee (01382) 455666.
Fax: 01382 454599
As a retired consultant
propofol and any suggestion
engines. Today’s vehicles
transport industry would be
Kingskettle.
social problems were dealt
CONTACTING OUR BRANCH OFFICES
anaesthetist, I feel your
of tarring it with the Michael
are far more capable than
brought to its knees as it
with by specialists.
Arbroath, 26 Keptie Street
(01241) 872118
arbroath@dcthomson.co.uk
readers may be left with
Jackson brush is unjustified.
many of the drivers.
would not be able to meet
Beware ‘tsunami’
Cupar, 108 Bonnygate
(01334) 652166
cupar@dcthomson.co.uk
unjustified worries about
Of course there is scope
As for following America,
deadlines.
One such was the
from the east
Dunfermline, 28 Chalmers Street (01383) 724226 dunfermline@dcthomson.co.uk
the safety of anaesthesia.
for development of better
the limit is 65mph in much
If the speed limit was
probation officer. I knew
Forfar, 9 Osnaburg Street
(01307) 462003
forfar@dcthomson.co.uk
one who, in the course of his
Kirkcaldy, 14 Hunter Street
(01592) 260385
kirkcaldy@dcthomson.co.uk
The death rate due purely
drugs, especially for the
of America and if Mr
dropped, I don’t believe
Sir,—Some 10,000 people
work, began to suspect in an
Montrose, 20 George Street
(01674) 673649
montrose@dcthomson.co.uk
to anaesthesia in the
treatment of acute and
Addison had ever driven
drivers would slow down
will be laid off from the
there, he would realise that
interview with a distressed
Perth, 18 Hospital Street
(01738) 622273
perth@dcthomson.co.uk
developed world is currently
chronic pain.
and so the already stretched
Romanian railways. As
it is largely ignored there,
wife that the “other women”
quoted as being as low as
The appointment of
police forces up and down
Romania is in the EU, they
From The Courier files . . .
too.
were, in fact, her daughters.
1 in 200,000.
Professor Hales and his
the country would be under
will be allowed to come to
If you want to reduce
more pressure as there
It was not difficult for the
100
This excellent record is
team is obviously a prize for
the UK.
aggressive driving and
would be more people
officer to convince her the
YEARS AGO
due not only to modern
Dundee, particularly at a
accidents then increase the
speeding.
Two Romanians are time had come for
drugs but to the knowledge
time of difficulty with the
A DISTRESSING mishap occurred at the residence of Mr D.
number of police on the
said to have masterminded
If this was a reasonable
action. He contacted a
and skills of anaesthetists
funding of academic
Smith, East Newport. A maidservant was lighting the kitchen
roads and do not solely
a scam which allowed
vote winner as Mr Addison
police inspector who,
range when her apron ignited. The girl panicked and ran down
and to the equipment in
medicine. It could also be
focus on speed.
172 of their countrymen
seems to think, why have we
having every confidence
to the river without calling for help and waded into the water
routine use for the last pointed out that excellence
not had some major political
to fraudulently claim in the probation officer’s
to put out the flames, then returned to the house. A doctor
25 years or so to monitor
in academic anaesthesia is
Duncan Beveridge.
£2.6 million in UK benefits.
judgment, responded
not new to this centre
party’s backing it?
was called and the girl was quickly removed to the infirmary.
patients’ vital functions.
Warwick Close,
immediately
For every person who
Romanians only get a
An anaesthetic, sedative
Arthur G. Davis.
Leuchars.
50
wants the speed limit
National Insurance number
The tyrant was in custody
YEARS AGO
or pain-killing drug is, and
Kinnaird Steading,
dropped there are probably
—necessary to get benefits
that very evening and was
always will be, only as safe
Pitlochry.
Life in the
two that do not. Not a big
—if they can prove they
subsequently convicted.
THE BUTLIN’S race to Land’s End has been won by Jim
as the person administering
vote winner.
have paid work lined up.
No front-page headlines,
Musgrave, Dunscroft, near Doncaster, who arrived at Land’s
it. This is well illustrated in
Speed limit cuts
slow lane
End Hotel at 7.32am after covering the 891 miles from John
There has to be an
The pair are accused of
no investigating committees,
the case of the propofol
Sir,—In reply to Robert
o’ Groats in 15 days, 14 hours and 32 minutes. He takes the
answer. Better education for
giving jobless Romanians
just caring and competent
administered to Michael
not the answer
£1000 first prize. A 19-year-old Liverpool hair stylist, Wendy
Addison’s letter about speed
new drivers, emphasising
false documents so they can
professionals doing their
Lewis, was the first woman to finish. She, too, receives £1000.
Sir,—Robert Addison
limits, this debate comes up
road safety and road
get an NI number and then
clearly-defined jobs.
(March 11) calls for speed
time and again and it is the
awareness, restricted
claim child benefit.
David Lowson.
25
THE COURIER
limit cuts on dual
same cry all the time— cars for drivers under 25
A Romanian tsunami
87 High Street,
YEARS AGO
AND ADVERTISER
carriageways and motor-
less speed equals fewer
years old, and compulsory
is about to crash onto our
Carnoustie.
AN ANGRY Mrs Thatcher is demanding tough action from
ways. This will not reduce
accidents.
driving tests for drivers aged
shores.
football chiefs to deal with violence at matches—and among
accidents or aggressive
Mr Addison does not
over 65.
her list of options is a season’s ban on clubs whose fans riot.
driving.
seem to have thought his
Letters should be accompanied
All reasonable arguments
Clark Cross.
Aides say she was outraged when she learned the extent of
by an address and a daytime
Anyone who thinks it will
argument through.
but dropping the speed limit
138 Springfield Road,
the violence at Luton this week and wants to hear from the
telephone number.
is seriously deluded.
I have said before on this
is madness and would
Linlithgow.
English FA on the best way of preventing similar outrages.
Email: letters@thecourier.co.uk

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