SIR,
Reading of the sad demise of Mr Leighton Bowen I recalled one aspect of his life which may not be generally known.
It was Leighton and Mr Mulcair (the vet, who is happily still with us) who wrote a letter to the Beacon around the middle of the 1950s, which inspired the formation of The Monmouth and District Field Club and Antiquarian Society (now the Monmouth Field and History Society).
A group of amateur naturalists and historians gathered together and soon there were lectures, field trips, publications and even an archaeological excavation.
The latter activity was conducted close to the town defences in the orchard garden of St James' House by Mr A L Sockett, classics master at Monmouth School.
That was in 1956, when several of us as small boys were encouraged to take part in the digging.
This quickly led to the formation of The Monmouth and District Junior Archaeological Society, which later dropped the 'Junior' to become Monmouth Archaeological Society.
Happily, Mr Sockett, now in his 99th year, is still with us as our president and Roman pottery specialist.
Many of us are grateful for that letter to the Beacon, for it was to have quite an effect on our future lives.
Stephen Clarke
(President of Monmouth Field and History Society)