We have been ticked off by readers on the Letters Page (10 August and see page 9 of the paper edition) for referring to the Falkirk Wheel as a 'rather Heath Robinson machine'.

For our part, we feel that W. Heath Robinson was an unrecognised and much maligned genius!

William Heath Robinson (1872 to 1944) was a cartoonist (and also a book illustrator) of exquisite humour.

His gadgets always have a simple aim, if not execution, such as 'resuscitating stale railway scones for redistribution at station buffets' and 'the multimovement tabby silencer' which automatically threw water at serenading cats.

To liken any technology to one of his machines is surely a term of endearment.

Labels: falkirk wheel, heath robinson