Letham Pensioner’s One-Woman Pothole-Naming Society Celebrates 1,000th Christening
Agnes Brodie-Fairlie, 79, has given every pothole in Letham a name, a birthday and, in some cases, a stern talking-to.
A Perth street, home to several of Agnes's named potholes (pictured: Gordon, Senga and Wee Malky). Photo: Kenneth Allen, “Pothole, Hillfoot Road - geograph.org.uk - 6729811”, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
LETHAM — For eighteen years, Agnes Brodie-Fairlie has quietly gone about the vital work of naming every pothole in Letham, and this week she christened her 1,000th: a broad, philosophical dip on a side road that she has called “Derek”.
“They all have personalities,” she explained, from a folding chair beside Derek. “Senga is shallow but she gets you when you’re not looking. Wee Malky’s been there since 2009. I knitted him a wee cosy one winter. The council filled him in and I cried.”
Agnes keeps detailed records in twelve ring binders, including dates of birth, depth, and “how they make you feel”. She sends the council a birthday card for each one.
“I don’t want them all fixed,” she admitted. “I just want them noticed. Maybe filled in. Gently. With respect.”
The council said it valued community engagement and had finally filled in a pothole she had reported in 2014. Agnes has named the patch “Lazarus”.
Letters to the Editor
The views expressed are those of the reader, and frankly that's on them.
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Can confirm Derek is a menace. He took my wheel trim in August.
— Agnes's neighbour, Letham, 21 October 2026 -
We’ve got one on our street that needs a name. Would Agnes do house calls?
— Margaret P., Craigie, 21 October 2026 -
Ours is called ‘The Crater’ but that’s just what my dad shouts at it.
— Stuart G., Luncarty, 22 October 2026 -
Can confirm Derek is a menace. He took my wheel trim in August.
— Agnes's neighbour, Letham, 27 October 2026 -
We've got one on our street that needs a name. Would Agnes do house calls?
— Margaret P., Craigie, 27 October 2026 -
Ours is called 'The Crater' but that's just what my dad shouts at it.
— Stuart G., Luncarty, 27 October 2026
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