Let's all congratulate Mick on coming back from the dead and getting at least this far. Mick is a collector and ethnomusicologist of hundreds of South Wales songs, a journalist, a fine singer, a pretty dapper melodeon player, a scriptwriter and songsmith as well. For six years he led Calennig, the twmpath/ceilidh band, which included his ex Pattie Smith as caller, bassist Mike Kennedy, Peter Davies and virtuoso fiddler Iolo Jones. The duo Calennig, inspired by Mick on melodeon and Pat on concertina, toured the world. I can justly say that they opened the doors to South Wales music and song.

Then Mick got flattened by one hell of a stroke. He was out for the count for six weeks, and friends feared he would not recover. He spent nine months in hospital, and when he came out he was in a wheelchair and could not speak, and the stroke had ended his melodeon playing. But look at him now; I do believe that he's on the committee of the Tredegar House Festival and he's determined to publish his song collection. In fact, the folk singer Richard Grainger had so much faith in him that Mick was booked for the Whitby Shanty Festival, and he drove at least 600 miles where he did a concert, took a "Trade Winds" workshop and contributed to the Festival CD.

I, for one, am really looking forward to Great Pubs Of Wales. You can see Mick and his delightful partner Olly on ITV Wales, Thursday, June 14 at 7.30pm. Welcome back, buddy; the Grim Reaper hasn't got you yet!