Indeed, Derek; the Arts editor who gave the job to him had previously worked in the Manchester office of The Guardian, and so knew David who was a local correspondent for the Northern editions. I OTOH had long been their regional theatre critic for Cambridge & E Anglia, so all my dealings had been with the London office.

But I really don't think he was the same one who sang referred to in the OP, who seems to have operated in the South and been connected with Kingston University, which is in Surrey.

~M~