British folk music was great in those days - inspirational because it was eclectic - it opened new worlds to you. Carried off with superlative guitar picking, presented brilliantly and with charismatic delivery and political awareness. Hamish was a class act.   I never knew the guy, but I was in awe of him.

I think his guitar style had been influenced by ramblin Jack eliot - certainly his version of blind lemon jefferson's Matchbox Blues was. he was a neat picker though - listen to his version of the Foggy Dew. I loved his version of Where the Gowdie Rins. It wasn't always a success - I never liked the bluesy guitar to black is the Colour. Christy moore sold that song to me.

I suspect that sort devotion to the craft costs in lots of ways that you can't quantify. Still - good job some people go for it. otherwise we wouldn't know how it needs to be done. We'd only have the word of people who say - listen to folk music cos its good for you - not because it has the power to entertain.