Kenny was for years the organiser, promoter, sound engineer, MC and guiding light of the Star and New Dawn Folk Clubs in Glasgow.

He passed away on Wednesday 11th July 2012.

Legions of visiting artists have stayed with, and dined with the Caird family. He knew and could remember more jokes, mostly terrible, than any ten other people you could name.

He was a stirrer-upper. He upset the apple cart. He took pride in turning up to traditional music sessions with an amplifier, electric guitar (with synthesiser attached) and using it to play the digital oompah), but he also played traditional tunes on the concertina with sensitivity and skill. He loved the blues, hated injustice and hypocrisy, was a passionate advocate of rational thought and debunking of mysticism.

A few short weeks ago, with characteristic directness, Kenny told us that he was losing his battle with cancer. The melanoma that took his eye (and led him to create a Youtube persona called "WanEyedFolky") had returned agressively and viciously, causing him to lose the use of his legs. An optimistic prognosis was six to twelve months. That was wildly inaccurate, as it turns out.

A group of Kenny's friends have combined to put on a testimonial music event that will raise a support fund for Kenny's family through this most difficult period and beyond. The title of the day is "Undefeated". That name came from a powerful song by Robb Johnson, one of Kenny's favourites. They organisers have been humbled by, and are extremely grateful for, generous commitments of support from large numbers of people in the Scottish folk music community. So many immediately said: "just tell me what you need", and that in itself is a massive tribute to the regard in which he is held.

Kenny was once described to me as being like Ronseal - "does exactly what it says on the tin".

That pretty much sums him up, for me. He was a man with strong convictions and strong principles and was fiercely loyal to his loved ones and his friends.

What marked him apart from many of us is that he'd hold to his convictions and principles even when it was not convenient, when it caused him or other people problems, even when life could have been much simpler and gentler if he just looked the other way.

In short, he had integrity. And that integrity is in part, I imagine, what had led him to explain just what he was facing.

No window dressing.

No soft soap.

Just the truth.

And sometimes, the truth with unanticipated oompahs.

Ken's funeral will be held at Craigton Crematorium, Berryknowes Road, Glasgow, at 2:30 on Wednesday (18th July).

Ken would want me to say: your prayers are not required.