"well Jim what did you really think of the Yorkshire/Nottinghamshire story?"
Winger.
I joined the Critics group in 1969. Pat and I were members of the audience committee of the Singers Club for around a dozen years.
We were residents of the club for a time.
I can state categorically that during that period there was no policy that said that Lancashire singers only sang songs from Lancashire......
We were singing songs from everywhere, and Ewan and Peggy threw open their tape library in order that we could build our repertoires. It was Ewan who encouraged Londoner, John Faulkner to learn 'The Forger's Farewell'(IMO one of John's best songs); the source was Robert Cinnamond from Belfast.
Regarding the period pre-1969.
In 1978 Pat and I interviewed Ewan over a period of 6 months. One of the points we covered was this one. He explained it as I have stated on this thread and as Peggy explained it in her letter to The Living Tradition. I know Peggy and I knew Ewan; I don't know Leveller - I really don't know what more to say.
I believe (and given the above limitations) I know for certain that it was never part of the Singers Club Policy.
It is not my habit ever to call people liars. If I have misunderstood Leveller I apologise unreservedly.
There is no attempt on my part (or anybody's on this thread as far as I can see) to canonise MacColl, though, throughout my association with the revival there has been a persistant and open attempt to demonise him. PLEASE TELL ME THAT THIS IS NOT THE CASE.
My comment originally on this thread was not to stifle discussion on his war record, but to (hopefully) open a discussion on his work on singing. Once again, as with so so so many attempts in the past, this has not happened.
I don't give a toss what people think of MacColl as and individual; my own opinions are based on my personal memories of him and nothing is going to change those memories.
I do believe that the work we did in The Critics Group was important and could play a part in the future of the singing of traditional songs. I could be wrong, but until we try it we'll never know - will we.
All I can say is 'the earth moved for me'.
Jim Carroll