GUESS the connection between a weather-beaten three-masted schooner, the remains of which are hidden in the mud at the mouth of the River Wye, and the Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs?

It's a slim one really, but one recounted with some humour by Biggs.

In his autobiography Biggs – now back in Britain and in jail – recounts with some humour his escape from borstal at Usk and the subsequent journey through Chepstow and Lydney and Gloucester en-route to London.

Near Lydney he broke into a cafe and stole some cigarettes. He later stole – and crashed – a Humber car.

Arrested in London, Biggs asked for six offences "to be taken into consideration" committed on the way from Usk.

But the police questioned him closely about other local offences – and he was asked to admit to a charge of stealing the schooner William Ashburner from her moorings in Lydney Harbour together with a 10-ton load of corned beef.

Biggs refused to admit the theft and the charge was dropped – "Screw you, pal, but I'm not going to plead guilty to things I didn't even do," he told the police.

Biggs was sentenced to three and a half years – including a month for each of the six offences he asked to be taken into account – and was sent to Wormwood Scrubs.

It was also the beginning of the end for the proud old William Ashburner. Built at Barrow in 1876 she was once one of the most graceful of schooners and traded as far away as South America and, regularly, to the Mediterranean.

Later, fitted with an auxiliary engine, she was owned in Ireland and ended her days, as did so many others, in the coastal coal trade frequently visiting Lydney.

She was eventually lost in the mouth of the Wye and her remains blown up. Can anyone remember when?