MY stepfather Cyril Marriott worked regularly on the steamer Belle during the summer of 1965/66, in charge of refreshments.

He was allowed to start serving drinks as soon as the boat cast off from the quay. My mother and I often accompanied him, free of charge.

We often went to Tewkesbury, Upton-upon-Severn and Stourport and many shorter trips as far as Camp Lock and Bevere Island. Sometime in the 1970s the Belle was sold to work on the Thames, but the Duchess Doreen continued to cruise on the Severn, though based at Stourport.

JOHN WRIGHT,

Worcester