TO put R Osborne's mind at rest about the river barge Reklaw (Letters, March 1), the barge was not broken up as he thought but is still to be seen on the canals and rivers of Yorkshire and beyond.

After about ten years of taking disabled and disadvantaged children, and others, on trips and holidays she was sold to a private individual in Wakefield for his own use because it was no longer possible to maintain the barge to the standard necessary with the limited funds available.

The Reklaw charity was terminated and the money raised from the sale of the barge was distributed to the supporting charities.

John Lazenby,

Director, Reklaw Charity,

The Court,

Askham Bryan, York.

...I HAVE read your articles about the York dredger Reklaw, especially the comments from R Osborne (Letters, March 1).

The vessel was bought from Walkers and put into service, still as a dredger, taking sand from the River Ouse above York, for Sellers Sand and Gravel. In 1985/86, she was sold on to, I believe, Potters of Borougbridge, and was replaced in York with the tug Water Haigh, and a pan with a crane.

After a brief service she was then converted to a 'trip' boat by Reklaw Trust, with a wheelchair lift for disabled passengers, and other mod cons, and still with her trusty old Gardener 4LW marine engine.

I believe she is still intact and laid at Methley Bridge near Castleford. I know her well, I was her crane driver for a brief moment during her long commercial life.

T Halliwell,

Amber Street,

The Groves, York.

Updated: 11:01 Tuesday, March 09, 2004