"Did the Shaw Brothers sing at Poynton?"

Do you mean the Hughes Brothers? I seem to remember they took over the residency after Ian and Ray & Co. left.

"Do you see anything of Will Willliams? - used to run the club at the Globe in Glossop; in fact the last person to book Nick Jones."

Indeed he was. Will was also the second person to book me (I still have his impressive-looking contract specifying a fee of £10) and is still to be seen at all the best parties in Glossop with his partner Stella.

I've played a gig or two for Dave Rawlinson since his move to Salisbury. Wonderful to see such a subversive, convention-defying and sartorially challenging character in such a high-flown position.

And after all this reminiscing, I've not actually mentioned how sorry I am that the subject of the thread is no longer with us. In a way his style was of its time, but I can't help thinking that many a folk club would benefit from such an enthusiastic, funny, tub-thumping frontman as Ian.