Well definitions are just restrictions that we impose on the chaos of life.

I think the perspective has simply changed since 1954.

I think there has been an identifiable artistic movement we call 'folk'. And that folk music is the music connected with that movement.

The trouble with saying that its just something that happened a long time ago in small communities, is that involves turning your back on humanity and what it is up to

I understand and sympathise with your point of view - you did important work for the movement with one idea of what folk music amounted to.

Jazz and classical music went through the same ructions with the trad lads calling the modernists dirty boppers. And if you read EF Benson' Lucia novels, you will read of the short shrift Debussy received from folks brought up listening to 19th century classical music in 1920's.

That things move on does not invalidate or lessen the importance of what you set out to record and preserve.

The point is that its an unfolding story - full of charismatic people, creativity, one that takes a twist with each technological breakthrough - a story that connects us all, cos we're all living threough these days of history.
The English folk club scene might surprise you yet - don't give up on it completely.