Yesterday, the world mourned Notre Dame. Now, we must do all we can to rebuild it

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As a Franco-Scot I watched in horror as Notre Dame de Paris erupted into flames.

In my St Andrews flat I felt an overwhelming need to be on the Ile de la Cite where I first saw this fantastic example of Gothic architecture with my French grandmother in the late 1940s after it had miraculously survived Hitler’s order to burn Paris.

But last night was for mourning – today our thoughts turn to resurrecting this symbol of the City of Lights and the French nation.

President Macron has already announced a national subscription to rebuild the church, kick-started by huge personal donations from the wealthy, but as ever the “widow’s mite” will be far more symbolic.

Fire threatened to destroy everything and though much is lost, the 850-year-old twin towers remain. I doubt France has trees big enough to replace the ancient wooden beams but these will be sourced.

Fortunately, the iconic building became such an amalgam of design across the centuries, restoration needn’t mean exact replication.

Rev Dr John Cameron
St Andrews

Notre Dame and Labour Party parallels

Watching another dark, damp, patched and crumbly iconic institution burning reminded me of the Labour Party.

No one has been in charge for a very long time while its confused internal fabric rotted away. The facade remains but the core is gutted and unstable.

The leadership – like the response to the inevitable and terrible destruction of Notre Dame – is wildly reactionary and always seems like far too little far too late.

Amanda Baker
Edinburgh

The kids are putting teachers off, not the work

As a teacher I can understand that workload is putting off teachers staying in the profession, but the elephant in the room is the poor student behaviour made worse by the rising mental health issues within school.

If students are disrespectful, uncooperative and defiant teachers are blamed for failing to motivate and inspire. Nobody wants to discuss this as it makes teachers and leaders look incompetent.

Kartar Uppal
Streetly

Norway doesn’t need the EU to prosper – we do

Norway is a rich and prosperous country that doesn’t need the EU.

Standards of living are high and the country’s oil revenues mean it can afford to build and maintain an infrastructure. Public transport, for example, is widespread and punctual even in the remotest parts of the country.

Norway does not have the need for food banks. The health service is exemplary. A GP visit may cost the equivalent of £30 (there is no discrimination against any foreign nationals) but if you need many visits because of health issues it becomes free.

Wages are high so it’s affordable. They have the public money to ensure education standards are high for everyone.

Norway doesn’t need the EU to prosper; we do.

Anna Taylor
Address supplied

Give the Parthenon Marbles back

The Elgin/Parthenon Marbles question seems very simple to me. Does an occupying power have the authority to allow historical artefacts to be removed from the country it is occupying?

Let me give a hypothetical example: suppose Hitler had invaded and occupied the UK and during that occupation an Austrian archaeologist had taken a fancy to Nelson’s column. If they went on to dismantle it and erect it in the centre of Vienna, would we really allow Austria to claim that it had authority to remove it in the first place?

It is way past time to return this treasure to its rightful owners.

Tim Devas
Oakham

Extinction Rebellion is a nuisance

Extinction Rebellion is just the latest group in a long line of self-righteous and intolerant left-wing activists who think they have the right to tell others what to think and how to live. Look no further for the reason behind the rise of right-wing populism.

Andrew Brown
Allestree