Don, we are all mongrels. You yourself say that you are the only Englishman in your family for centuries.

I would be pretty careful before pontificating about the geographical or ethnic origin of Roma, and twice as careful before drawing rigid lines between Roma and other nomadic members of modern societies.

Oh, and by the way, quite a few of the locals who want us to play folk in the pub next door to me have at least some family members linked to local "travellers" - some of whom I think are part-blood Roma. Certainly a careful ear to the language would imply so.