THE treasured jottings of a Victorian housewife are helping raise money for breast cancer research.

Alice Woodgate was a young Chepstow wife and mother who collected recipes, newspaper clippings, pictures and memorabilia of her life in the Victorian and Edwardian eras.

She died aged 40 from breast cancer. But her collection has been published by her great-granddaughter - and profits from Alice's Book will go towards finding a cure for the cancer that claimed her life.

Daughter of William and Mary Woodgate, from Bridge Street, Alice worked for her father at his grocery shop in Lower Church Street until her marriage.

Great-granddaughter, Sally Anne Burge, (pictured) from Machen, was inspired to write a book of her relative's life, including recipes and cures Alice herself wrote in her journal.

Sally Anne said: "The book has always been in the family - my father gave it to me five years ago. It was her housekeeping book - a small tatty brown book tied up with string, with newspaper cuttings, little pictures and details of courses she attended, as well medical remedies and recipes."

It was usually at Christmas time that Alice's book would be brought off the shelf so Sally Anne could make Victorian delicacies.

But she only thought to publishing Alice's book after Sally Anne visited Chepstow Museum and realised the possibilities of sharing her ancestor's information.

Sally Anne received help from the museum staff: "Annie at the Chepstow Museum looked up the Woodgate family to see if she had more information."

Sally Anne added: "I originally intended to write a recipe book, but my father remembered he had Alice's husband's account book, and as we had so much information, we decided to put it all in one book.

"I have split it into seasons, and talk about what happened to Alice, and what was happening in Chepstow at the time.

"It is a cross between a history book and house keeping book, with lots of interesting facts."

Sally Anne received her first copy last week. She said: "When the first copy arrived I just burst into tears when I saw it. I think Alice would have approved the book."

Proceeds will be donated to Breast Cancer Relief. Alice's book costs £6 and is available from various outlets including Chepstow Museum and the library.