Oh, no! What a lovely man Cyril was! And he was such a talented, yet modest, composer. At least there are so many fine songs with which we can remember him!
The last time I saw him we had a friendly chat while he was unwinding after he had performed at Lancaster Maritime Festival. He was sitting on the stairs (there was no green room and all the chairs in the bar were occupied!) I said that I really enjoyed singing The Grey Funnel Line and he said that he had originally hoped to be able to accompany himself with an English concertina when singing it but he gave up learning the instrument. It is such a moving song anyway, so singing it now will bring extra tears to my eyes ...
Well at least he is now at rest ...
"... like a floating spar on the open sea!"
Alan