Sandman- Bob took me to the Blaxhall Ship , the Golden Key at Snape and the Swan at Wurlingworth on many occasions when he lived at Bramford, so don't tell me what it was like there at the time.
I was trying to give a rational explanation of why Bob is as he is.

You know as well as I do that 'order' is desirable but not always realistic in a pub session and some of the best sessions I have attended have been in noisy sessions in public bars.

The closed 'folk' session has always struck me as anathema to the social aspect of the music of the 'folk'. I accept that folk clubs/sessions are entitled to apply rules, especially if an entry fee is involved but if it goes as far as excluding awkward listeners, we have surely failed in our purpose.

This is the world as it is, not as we'd like it & I've always enjoyed the challenge of a noisy pub, and Bob taught me that- not sure he'd accept an honour from EFDSS anyway...