When Alec MacGuire asked for readers' help in identifying a name and address on an old envelope, it was with little hope of a response.

However, within a week of publishing Alec's story, the Beacon received a letter from a 96 year old lady who believes she has the answer!

Esme Lucas Weare, who lives in Usk, was fascinated both by Alec's inspirational lifestory and his love for Raglan.

Despite being born with a dislocated hip and into a financially poor family, Alec went on to forge a successful career as a teacher. He is now retired and living in Wallington in Surrey but is always coming across reminders of his happy childhood roots.

One of them was a letter with an Usk address, which Alec found in an Epsom dealer's shop. The appallingly difficult handwriting Alec deciphered as "Grundy and Davies."

However, Mrs Lucas Weare, who worked for an Usk firm of solicitors from the age of 15 until 1978, thinks it more likely to be "Blount and Davis." She is looking through some old papers and has promised keep Alec informed!

Now 96 and still living in Usk, Mrs Weare like Alec, shares a love of the town in which she grew up.

Luckily, she has recorded her unique memories in a delightful booklet entitled "Another World: Memories of Growing Up in Usk."

Her memories touch on the dark days of the First World War, the devastating outbreak of Spanish flu, and the General Strike but overall evoke happy images of a gentler, more innocent age - Sunday school outings travelling by train to Barry Island; nature walks, fair days and pony and trap rides.

Recalling a "rough and tumble picnic," Esme writes, "we took our knives and a fresh crusty loaf of bread, cut in slices as necessary. The butter was put in a thick, earthenware container to prevent it melting. There were hardboiled eggs, tomatoes, and a small pot of homemade jam and homemade cake.

"Mum brought Eiffel Tower lemonade crystals to which she added sugar and made syrup.

"We made shanties from the withy bushes in the river and in these little dens pretended to smoke by lighting Smoking Jack (the dried stem of Old Man's Beard)."

Colourful characters such as the town crier - Billo with his Bello, Pol the Gyp, Johnny Onions and the Hurdy Gurdy man are remembered with affection.

Best loved of all was a tramp called Harry Bearskin who looked like a bear with his long, flowing hair and beard.

"He gathered various herbs on his travels through the countryside and carried these in a sack slung over his shoulder, " Esme recalls, "he often carried a large portion of yellow broom with a long stick pushed through the centre, which he carried over his shoulder....he chewed coal and said it was beneficial to his digestion.

"We missed Bearskin and wondered what had become of him but eventually heard he had died in a workhouse at Griffthstown, near Pontypool. Poor Bearskin, everyone liked him!"

Esme began writing her memoirs three years ago after talking to a friend, Bernard Major.

"I began telling him about my memories and he said why don't you write a book!"

Anyone who would like to read Mrs Lucas Weare's wonderful story can buy her book from Mandalay Books in Usk.

Profits from the sale are shared between The Jane Hathaway Leukaemia Fund and the MS Society.