A GOODWILL gesture has saved Sir William Borlase's Rowing Club from being left out in the cold in 2006.

The school left Marlow Rowing Club last month, after both parties expressed wishes to expand some time ago.

This includes Borlase's plans for their own £500,000 boathouse on a site off Riverwoods Drive, Marlow.

However, negotiations over their new home have been slow and it was feared they might not have a temporary base while arrangements are finalised.

But a sailing club has come to the school's rescue and agreed to house its 85 members for three months.

Upper Thames Sailing Club, which lies on a stretch of the River Thames in Bourne End, says it will happily help the 100-year-old rowing club.

Richard Bedingfield, 63, of Henley Road, who is a rowing coach at the school, praised the club.

He said: "It is a very generous because they have allowed us to use their premises totally and we would otherwise would have been in portable buildings somewhere. I was delighted with the arrangement.

"The decision came as a welcome gesture as Borlase's hadn't managed to arrange a temporary base elsewhere."

The two clubs have agreed to help each other and will work in partnership during the school's stay.

Although the two sports are very different, Borlase's has pledged to teach sailing members to row and the rowers will also have an opportunity to learn sailing. The planned boathouse is currently a sensitive issue and the school are trying to address some opposition.

They had been hoping to get into a temporary base at the Riverwoods Drive site before Christmas, but now say it could be nearer March. They are set to submit their proposals to Wycombe District Council in January.

Peter Brewer, rear commodore of the UTSC, said he was pleased to accommodate the school. He said: "We are very happy to offer them the opportunity of keeping their athletes in trim."