I knew Barry back in the early 1970s, when I sang at Farningham. He was a talented fiddler, a member of Skinner's Rats, intermittent member of the Crayfolk, and various other ad hoc groups as occasion demanded. He was also the reason for my member name. Nearly 20 yeras ago now I came across the Rats' web site and found that they had made some CDs. The contact was Barry, so I rang him and explained who I was. I said I played at Farningham, not really expecting him to remember. There was a brief pause and then he said."Damn your eyes, doctor, I'll skin you alive", a line from The Black Cook, which I used to sing. It caught on from there.
Sadly we are reaching the age at which friends keep leaving us. But Barry will have gone to join the heavenly Crayfolk. I'm not so sure about rats in heaven. As I now live in Leeds, and have Parkinson's, it is most unlikely that I would make it to a celebration, but I shall raise a glass.