SIR,

One of the key speakers at the Monmouth Women's Festival was to have been Baroness Park of Monmouth, distinguished diplomatic, academic and former MI6 spy. To our great regret, and to hers also, Lady Park is unexpectedly indisposed, and cannot be with us on 14th March.

When she received her baronetcy, Baroness Park wanted to use Llantilio Crossenny for her title, since her mother's family had been yeoman farmers there for generations. She was not allowed to do this, and had to use Monmouth instead. Thus, since 1992, the town has had its own baroness.

In the spirit of the festival, which marks International Women's Day by celebrating the lives and achievements of women, Mady Gerrard will be the replacement speaker at Monmouth Priory on Sunday 14th March at 2.30pm.

Her life, though lived in a different sphere from that of Lady Park, has also been one of challenge and survival.

Anyone who bought tickets for Lady Park's talk and wishes to have a refund can obtain one from the Nelson Museum, but the tickets will be valid for Mady Gerard's talk. We hope that the promise of hearing an intriguing life story, followed by afternoon tea, will ensure a good audience.

Tickets for all the other interesting festival events are available from the Nelson Museum, or from http://www.monmouthwomens">www.monmouthwomens

festival.org.

Barbara Vowles

(Co-chair, Monmouth Women's Festival)