Tavvystock Goozey Vair, published by JH Larway, 14 Wells Street, Oxford Street, W. in 1912 - words and music by C John Trythall - who was he? I have spent 40 years trying to find out. The best answer that I have been given was from Marilyn Tucker who when I posed the question came up with ''The man who wrote Down pon Ole Dartymoor ''! That is as far as I know, the only other song that he wrote and as Martin Graebe has written above (thanks) is the title of my recent CD of songs and music from the northern slopes of Dartmoor. My own feeling is that C John Trythall was the pseudonym of Mr.Charles Hey Laycock (1879 - 1943)the folklorist, collector of folk songs, pianist at the pub on Sunday lunchtimes, motor cyclist, and all round good chap who purchased a house in Moretonhampstead in 1909. Now Moreton just happens to be almost exactly thirteen miles in the right direction from Merrival Bridge where the terrible accident happened and as the song goes ...''So us 'ad to trudge 'ome thurteen mile fr'm Tavvystock Goozey Vair.''
One of the songs that Charles Laycock collected in Moreton was called ''Little John Bottle John'' it is about a little feller who is enticed to the bottom of the sea by a pretty mermaids singing - are there any other records of this quaint song?