READING about punts on the River Foss (September 20) prompted me to wonder if any of your readers remember rowing boats on the Ouse as I do.

When I came to live in York in 1937 I was four years old.

My parents took us down by the River Ouse. Walking along King's Staith there was a landing stage, from where rowing boats could be hired. As we watched, a boat tipped over and the occupants were rescued by people sitting on the landing stage. What sticks most in my memory is watching someone coughing and spluttering on the pathway.

When was the landing stage removed and rowing on the Ouse stopped?

E Sotheran,

Keith Avenue,

Huntington, York.

Updated: 10:53 Tuesday, October 08, 2002