Dear Mr Cornwell,

I hope I am not intruding on your privacy by asking you the following. About two years ago I acquired from a Dorset book shop  first editions of the initial three Sharpe novels. Each was signed and dedicated on behalf of Judy and yourself to “Iain Laird” thanking him for his “kindness and giving shelter” when you needed it – presumably when you could not get a work permit for Judy. Obviously, he was a good friend in your early days as an author. I am presuming these books ended up in the book shop because he had died, but can find no record of him locally to ascertain who he was. If it is not too presumptuous of me in asking, can you shed any light?

With kind regards,

Brian Basden