I WAS very interested in the article "But where's the Roman villa?" (Review 9/10/09) and the reference in it to the Gage family of Firle Place in Sussex.

For many years I have been making jam for sale at the village fete and amongst the various fruit offerings from friends were greengages from a garden in Tutshill.

Regrettably greengages have become somewhat of a rarity and little known by the young whose questions caused me to go into the origins of the fruit. It appears that the green plum originated at the Firle estate in Sussex in 1725 by Sir William Gage. I certainly did not know the family had connections with this area.

Regrettably the Tutshill tree has been cut down and is no more. Any offers for next year?– Max Coleman, Mathern, Chep­­­stow.