This column is a wide ranging, random and incomplete namepedia of famous, notorious or influential people associated with the Forest of Dean, starting with A to M.

Ralph Anstis, novelist, playwright and biographer.

Wayne Barnes from Bream, the world’s leading rugby referee, recently retired.

Robin Belcher, a notorious sneak whose unjust slander condemned an innocent nameless man to imprisonment, as recorded by the sad and victim on his cell as he languished in a St Briavels Castle: “Robin Belcher. The Day will come that thou shalt answer for it for thou hast sworn against me, 1671″.

Stan Betterton, a star player for Lydney RFC whotook the lead in those days in the 1950s when Lydney played and beat Gloucester.

Brioc, an early French missionary whose name is supposed to be the derivation of the name of St Briavels

Dick Bryce, singer, songwriter and most famously the writer of great Forest anthem ‘Land Between Two Rivers’

Bumps Carpenter, the Cinderford rugby player who played for England in the 1930s

Ian Dench , guitarist and principal songwriter for EMF, whose veiled tribute to Cinderford was in a suggestion to the Los Angeles press that some of EMF’s perspectives and personalities were tied to the isolation of their village, saying that “People in Gloucester always say, ‘Oh, don’t go to Cinderford. Funny people there, funny people.’ But they’re really kind of warm, friendly, energetic, drunken, mad people, inbred sort of. Some small community that’s kind of gone wild in the middle of these woods. That’s the most notable thing about the people in the band, is that they have that sort of oblivious energy, do their own thing. I think that’s one of the driving forces.”

Charles Dilke, the distinguished statesman who was driven away from London after a Victorian scandal, but later resurrected his career, becoming a popular and dedicated member of parliament for the Forest of Dean.

Edna Edmonds, broadcaster and historian from Newnham, married to Labour Cabinet politician Denis Healey

John Eskell, who featured in ‘A Fortunate Man: the story of a country doctor’ by John Berger and photographer Jean Mohr, a book regarded as an important record of rural health provision.

Henry V, whose early days were in Monmouth, with visits to the Forest

Flora Klickmann, children’s book author, from Brockweir

Billy Midwinter, from St Briavels Common, a cricket mercenary, who became the only cricketer ever to play for Australia against England and England against Australia.

Miles of Gloucester, feudal baron of Gloucestershire and South Wales, who acquired St Briavels Castle and founded Llantony Secunda Priory in Gloucester in the 12th Century

With apologies to important names that have been overlooked.