WARMEST thanks and congratulations to Barbara Hudson for her sterling efforts in clearing the flowerbeds at Stonebow (The Press, September 29).

And, if it is indeed the same Barbara Hudson, even more applause for her excellent photograph, which appeared in the same edition, showing a colourful craft on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Skipton.

I say “craft” because it was incorrectly identified in the caption to the photograph as a “barge”. It is clearly a narrowboat.

I am always grateful to the Press for any opportunity to demonstrate my love of pedantry. In this case it was possibly urged on by the fact that I am at present in a nautical mood, since I was down on the Thames at Greenwich recently watching the Tall Ships and envying their agile crews.

Also, I am a temporary pirate (ARRR!) rehearsing with York Opera for its production, at the Theatre Royal in the first week in November, of Gilbert and Sullivan’s hilarious opera, The Pirates of Penzance. So I can tell a narrowboat from cratch to stern when I see one.

Clive Goodhead, Practising pedant of this parish and president of York Opera, Rowley Court, Earswick, York.

City champion WHAT a champion of our city Barbara Hudson is (Letters, September 29). What a transformation she alone has done to these gardens.

I hope this encourages others to use bins around the city. I do get annoyed you see someone throw rubbish on the floor when there is a bin less than five feet away.

But well done Barbara – hope the council take note.

Wojciech Simpson, Chestnut Grove, New Earswick, York.