I knew that John had passed away recently. Musician, singer, collector, writer, author, record producer and all-round good guy, John was a pleasure to know and to work with. We had joint collecting trips in Suffolk and Sussex and I remember these times as being highlights of my life.

Gwilym's death has come as a shock. I worked with him collecting in Gloucestershire and, like John Howson, he could not have been more helpful.

We are going to miss these two people and I send my deepest sympathies to their friends and families.