Evening notes

The death of Greater Manchester police chief Michael Todd remains shrouded in mystery. He was found to be over the drink drive limit, a fact corroborated by the find of a half-empty bottle of spirits by his side. A number of 'disturbing' text messages had been sent in the hours leading up to the find of his dead body. Whatever problems had contributed to Mr Todd's apparent suicide appear to have been wholly of a personal nature.

The lifeboat crew at Barra, 120 miles south of Stornoway, have been honoured with the issue of a series of stamps. The crew, consisting of 26 volunteers and 2 full-time staff, were joined for the occasion by the Stornoway-based Coastguard helicopter. Barra Lifeboat station opened in 1931 and has saved more than 400 lives since.

I have viewed the evidence given yesterday at an inquiry into financial and managerial failure at the Western Isles Health Board between 2003 and 2006. It appears that the Board has one Chief Executive out on secondment, never to return; another suspended on full pay (and has been for more than 6 months) and a third, acting CEO. Although the Board only pays the salary of one (the other two are funded by NHS Scotland) it beggars the belief that a cash-strapped health authority is costing the taxpayer the wages of three CEOs.