Nephew Wilde
Sir: Nephew Wilde must have gone round Aberdeen in mink-lined blinkers (July 8). To suppose that the discovery of oil in the North Sea has caused no difference in the north east of Scotland is to confuse gossip with information.
The siting of engineering works such as Schlumberger's; the booming activity of all building activity such as Peter Cameron's; the alarming rise in land Values; the activities of the North East Development Council listing a total of nearly fifty firms which began in that area since the turn of this year, all point towards some sort of awareness that quite soon one is due to run out of Aberdonian jokes which challenge the world record in tight-fistedness.
I gleaned these facts from staying in Aberdeen myself for a couple of days, and taking a look at neighbouring towns such as Peterhead or • Fraserburgh. In Dundee the impetus of forward planning, perhaps not unconnected with the activities of George Thompson MP, are also a bit more substantial than a quick browse' through the Divers Bar might reveal.
There seems 'to be a fine collection of figures round The' Spectator's office. It leads one to conjure up an annual general meeting between the likes of Tom Puzzle and Nephew Wilde. If this were to happen, perhaps they might synchronise their views of major topics such as Scottish development where quite critical issues are coming to the boil.
• Eric Goldschmidt 704 Willoughby House, London EC2 '
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