It was a wonderful scene Riggy. I was only there for a week in 1972 but I stayed with Ray and Colin Ross and I was taken to Ranter's gigs and met many lovely people.
Johnny Handle is still very busy gathering Northumbrian songs and recording them.
Jane, if you can make contact with Colin and Ray, I'm sure they'd help you. They still live in Monkseaton, or you could contact them through the Northumbrian Piper's Society.
Robyn