Short on courage

Two aspects of your report on alleged financial problems at the Royal Institution dismayed me ("Lottery cash fears put pressure on Greenfield", October 1). First was the use of anonymous informants. If council members have issues they wish to raise, they ought to raise them openly. One admirable characteristic of Baroness Greenfield, whose effort they are attempting to undermine, is her willingness to be open and public.

Second, the claim by the timorous source that Lady Greenfield would have to leave if she failed to pull off the project seems to be a nonsense. Why should someone resign simply because they have shown vision on behalf of the organisation they lead and some of their ambitions fail to be realised?

The Royal Institution is lucky to be directed by someone who is prepared to be more than a mere administrator. All council members should be pulling together to raise the funds needed instead of carping from the sidelines.

Ian Finlay
Cumbernauld