Sharpe’s Father….I was wondering if the answer to your cryptic clue is Lemuel Gulliver? I wanted to send this in before but did not because of Swift’s biographical information on his great protagonist would have him dying some fifty years (approximately) before Sharpe’s birth. Take “U” out and put “me” in gives us “Mule” (A horse appears) and a name that contains this I was thinking was either Lemuel or Samuel. If it is Lemuel Gulliver I was also thinking of the association with the Houyhnhnms, the intelligent horses with which he identifies. I’ll be honest in that I couldn’t think of too many people called Lemuel, so it may be a bit of a stretch. I could also suggest that it is the Houyhnhnms and their way of life that deeply influences Gulliver and his idea of happiness.

Alas woe etc if this is not correct (most likely) but thank-you for the great stories and an even greater puzzle.

Russell Sloan