My appeal for relatives of the late James Renforth has certainly sparked off something among townsfolk of Gateshead.

One after another surviving Renforths dispute each other's claims to closest decent to that former world champion oarsman.

Contrary to Mr. James Renforth Hoey's claim of last week, Mrs. Nancy Hoey, his sister-in-law, now informs me that her husband, Frank, holds the honour.

"He is the closest remaining descendant," she asserted, "because he is older than James."

What is more, she has proof to back up her affirmation - a birth certificate which indicates that Frank, who will be 61 this year, is the son of Margaret, one of the two daughters of the late James Renforth's brother, Stephen.

Margaret and her sister "Pippi" Renforth were both daughters of Stephen, but to her knowledge James had no children and was never even married.

Frank, whose brother told us last week that he was a former skiff champion, and also a former member of the Empire Rowing Club down by the Quayside, has a tailor's shop not on West Side, but infact on Bensham Road.

In spite of his disability - Frank is a cripple - he used to be an enthusiastic oarsman until-

"1939 - when I put a stop to it," Mrs. Hoey told me. "I was always terrified of the water!"

Her fear has not deterred their 19-year-old son, Michael from becoming an expert canoeist, however, and Michael, whose mother says he "takes after the Renforths for water," has two sisters, Elaine and Valerie, and two brothers, David and Ian, all of whom have inherited their father's love of the water.