Ian Kirk - Was the group that you heard singing "Shanties by the Way" called "Skinner's Rats" ?   Barry Laing (of the The Rats) has sung it for many years now - originally at the now defunct "Coach House" club at the "Pied Bull" Farningham and more lately at "The Wheatsheaf" Bough Beech.

Incidently mudcatter Blossom (Pete Curry) is the other longterm member of "Skinner's Rats"