I feel I must take my former ICOD colleague John Moody to task over his letter in the Telegraph 9.10.09 and correct him on a number of inaccuracies.

He first of all refers to a comment that I made at a recent council Health & Social Care committee meeting that was reported in the Telegraph. I must point out that the comment John refers to was only part of what I said and asked at the meeting.

SNP group leader Councillor Jim MacLeod today welcomed several council initiatives that have been announced over the last week.

Cllr MacLeod said: "Our SNP group are delighted with several council announcements made over the past week. Announcements such as an additional new G3 football pitch for Parklea in Port Glasgow, the re-opening of yet another previously closed toilet at Hunter's Place in Greenock, and the planned roll out of Neighbourhood Watch Schemes which were promoted at last weekend's Community Safety seminar in Gourock's Gamble Halls.

On reading councillor McCabe's letter in the Tele 24.6.09 contradicting the paper's account of who came second and third at the council ward 6 by-election - I could not help but think back to my childhood days when some of us had lost one game or another then scrapped over who came second, third, fourth and so on....

Without being big headed, and I genuinely mean that, I feel councillor McCabe and his Labour colleagues are going to have to get used to that losing feeling.  They lost in the Scottish Parliament elections in 2007, the Euro elections poll on the 4th June and now in the council by-election in ward 6 last week.  Early predictions show that unless there is a huge swing back towards Labour over the next 11 months then they face further big losses at next June's Westminster elections.

By John Crowther

Ken or Kenny to his friends and family, many of whom, like myself, were honoured to have as a colleague and friend, are deeply saddened at the untimely loss of such an upstanding and trusted person whose warmth and exuberance was an inspiration to us all.

I first met Kenny at Cardwell Bay in 1979 and became part of the well established small boat and yachting scene and soon got to know him not only as a yachtsman but as a friend whom I could rely upon.

Life on the water appeared idyllic but within a couple of years things changed drastically with the establishment of the Clyde Moorings Committee who acted as agents on behalf of the Crown Estate Commissioners to collect mooring fees which led to what the press dubbed “Rebellion on the Clyde”.   One thing which is certain is that Kenny was not the rebellious type but rather a person who would stand up for what is right and would inspire others to do likewise which, in turn, under Kenny’s guidance led to the founding of Inverclyde Boat Owners Association in 1981.   For a few years all was well until a dispute arose over the number of moorings allocated to the Association could not be resolved without going to court.   Kenny was a calming and reassuring influence to the members and while at the helm he steered the Association on a true course until victory was secured.