I do not know about years, but Reg certainly cut his teeth playing with the likes of Long John Baldry, etc.
Speaking as an ex-pat Brit living in Canada;
I personally do not get the Unthanks, I heard them Live as RU and winterset at Bromyard and really wondered why these girls who could mostly not sing in tune, with difficult to understand diction were there at all. I listened to them via You tube on the Bellowhead(GREAT group) Christmas Thingy and was grateful for the fast forward.
Having listened to the first link I do not think that they have improved much, though their pitching is a little better. Living in another Country, I certainly do not understand all the hype and nominations for different awards they recieve. To me at the expense of far better performers who have been mentioned above, who I would really like to hear more of.
My 2$ that's inflation for you, JohnB.