Frank was a member in the late 60s, of a trio with John Cornett and John Davies - The King's Shilling, which was a member of the resident panel at the Bothy Folksong Club in Southport. He was also a leading light in the vibrant 70s Liverpool Folk community, centered around the Customs House pub in the Canning Place area of the city. These 2 institutions were responsible for an involvement for me, that has become a way of life and Frank's knowledge of, and innate feeling for traditional song were a touchstone. I well remember a Whitby Festival workshop when he left the Rev. Ken Loveless in no doubt of his feelings regarding qualifications for public performance, and his ability to punctuate shanties with the occasional high-kick struck a chord with Stan Hugill! We were together, briefly, in the initial line-up of Stormalong John.
Above all he simply was a fine singer and knew so many superb songs - an hour spent in his company, and what good company, was an hour not wasted. Jean and I had that last hour 3 weeks ago in West Kirby, enjoying sunshine, a beer and a song together. Our time and our times together, are treasured.