THIS newspaper killed someone off last week, inadvertantly it should be stressed. Unfortunately, or rather fortunately, the individual concerned is much alive and kicking and has been summarily dismissed to a greater place by the leader writer.

Spectator refers to Brother George, the much-loved monk of the Hospitaller Order of St John of God, who in last week's leading article about the decision to close the surgical ward of Scorton hospital was referred to as the "late Brother George".

The aforesaid gentleman was swiftly on the phone to alert Spectator to a "message from heaven" to the effect that just because he is now mostly confined to barracks, aged 90-plus, there's still life in the old monk yet. Apologies to Brother George.

Breed at risk

THE shorthorn is among the breeds of cattle whose survival is thought to be at risk as a result of the foot-and-mouth epidemic. That this breed, once so familiar in our Northern fields and pioneered by the Colling brothers on the outskirts of Darlington, should feature in an "at risk" list is indeed a mark of the changes in breed preference during the latter half of the last century.

Spectator himself, many years ago, championed the breed when the Wensleydale Heifer at West Witton acquired a new sign bearing (if memory serves) an Ayrshire.

A Wensleydale heifer, he pointed out, should surely be a Northern Dairy Shorthorn. Whether as a result of his comment or not, the sign was duly changed.