I'm rehearsing with Keith Kendrick and Sylvia right now and we've been reminiscing about John, who I hadn't seen for many a long year.

In addition to his mischievous character, I remember him being an excellent craftsman. He renovated a fiddle for me once and the repairs were not only seamless but he did a french polish type finish on it which made it look like much more expensive instrument than it was.

Chris Coe and I did Kiveton Park Folk Club earlier this year and hoped to see him but I gather now that he was already ill at that time. We always used to refer to the KPFF as a 'youth club' because every time we got got there, John would greet us with 'Hey Up Youth!' in true North Derbyshire South Yorkshire fashion.

Maybe St Peter has already greeted him like that at the pearly gates to make him feel at home.

Bye Youth!