My name Is Alan Gilham and I am a writer and poet, now exiled in Middle England.

On my desk is a small cup won by my grandmother, May. It is inscribed GCBWA EISTEDDFOD 1970 LITERARY, and I have been trying in vain to find out how she won it.

May Gilham was born in South London in 1875 and survived two World Wars.

Her husband, however, was not so lucky and died of a heart attack aged only 26, leaving May to bring up her young son alone.

In the mid '50s her son and his family moved to Cardiff, so May followed him, settling happily in Penarth, first in Westbourne Road and later in a flat in Royal Buildings.

Although crippled with arthritis, quite deaf and with failing sight she led an active role in the local Methodist Church and regularly travelled to Italy and Switzerland, staying with friends in Geneva.

Unable to hear the radio she was an avid reader, never without a small pile of books from Penarth Library, and her Daily Telegraph, which kept her in touch with current affairs.

Well into her 60s May took up writing poetry, having some of her work published in The Lady magazine.

Following this limited success, when aged 75 she won this cup in what must have been a local competition: having no Welsh she would have been ineligible for the National Eisteddfod.

I have made extensive enquiries yet still so far I have been unable to to discover exactly what this competition was and would be delighted to receive any information that might help solve the riddle.

If anyone does know anything at all about this cup or the competition May entered please contact the Penarth Times.

Email penarthtimes@penarthtimes.co.uk or write to the Penarth Times, (South Wales Argus), Cardiff Road, Maesglas, Newport NP20 3DN and we will pass all information to the family.