I was usually in London a couple of times a year beginning in 1969. Always checked the newspaper for folk clubs and sometimes I was there on the right night for the Singers Club. I remember being in the Bull and Mouth at least twice and other pubs whose names I forget. I saw Ewan & Peggy a few times, once with A.L. Lloyd. On one occasion, Ewan and I were near each other at the bar and I offered him a drink. We spoke for perhaps 15 minutes. He was quite gracious, listened sincerely and was very encouraging. I remember that we talked about the folk scene in Britain, Europe and, particularly, America because he'd been unable to get a visa and had not been there for a few years.
About 1980, I was preparing The Bonnie Bunch of Roses for publication and I wrote Ewan asking whether he might like to donate a song for the book. It did not take very long for him to reply. Ewan sent "The Campanero" which he and Peggy had collected from Ben Bright. I had admired Ewan McColl for a long time before meeting him and he did not disappoint in any way, except that I had expected him to be a foot taller.