Clifford Thomas Ward Born 10th February 1944 – Died 18th December 2001

He was one of my favourite singers and an excellent songwriter.

Although I guess most people would relate to him as pop, I just happen to think that he had everything that would have made him a brilliant Folk Singer.

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'He is a keen social observer of the British in love, at home, at play and at work. His songs, though appealing perhaps to a less easily defined audience, form the link between The Kinks in the 1960's and Billy Bragg in the 1980's. He is a true romantic; a poet who is not afraid to express his feelings in ways which other writers and performers would write off as just too personal. Clifford has had no British chart hit since 1974, but he has a large and fanatical cult following. He has increasingly become a cult artist as a succession of record companies have been unable to mass market him because he cannot be pigeon-holed. His melodies are strong and his lyrics strike their own unique chords but he is an individual who will always do things his way. He has sacrificed commercial success for artistic integrity. Artists as diverse as Art Garfunkel and Ringo Starr have recorded his songs.'
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Sadly diagnosed with MS in 1984, however it was pneumonia that was to be his downfall.

He stuck to his beliefs and refused to do tours etc and was a staunch family man. He must have been a folkie.