I live in Australia. I dropped into the Library at Cecil Sharp House a few years ago, in the hope of finding a couple of songs that had haunted me for years since I had lost the books they were in. The library staff were just wonderful, and found both songs for me. One was 'Three Danish Galleys', about a Viking raid on Porlock, collected I think by Cecil Sharp. Because the library found it for me, I will shortly be able to sing it at the Bude festival, further along the same coastline, as I am on my way over to tour with the Shiny Bum Singers.

I am also bringing over with me to the library on behalf of Lyn and Evan Mathieson a copy of Evan's CD of Harry Robertson songs, which I helped them launch at Easter in Canberra, to lodge in the collection, because a copy should be there.

On my last trip I also visited and sang at Sharps, and was delighted to find that almost all the members were themselves folksingers. To hear thirty or so new voices in an evening was a treat indeed for me. I was asked to return and sing, and did so twice. On my first return the MC of the first evening saw me come through the door, and by the time I reached the bar, there was a pint already drawn for me.

That sort of welcome and atmosphere leaves a lasting impression, and an inclination to offer a positive opinion of the place and people concerned, and the hope that they will not themselves be discouraged by the disconcerting experience of being argued about while they go about the business of fulfilling their charter, apparently to the letter, and with respect to the beer somewhat beyond the call of duty.

Thanks also to our friend from Portugal, Balsto da Loteya, for his pertinent thread message above, from a similar distance and perhaps sentiment.

Cheers,
Chris