Martin Carthy crap? If so, I'd like to be one per cent as crap as he is, then I could die happy.

I've known him for more years than I care to admit, first alongside Dave Swarbrick, which pairing I still rate as one of the greatest ever in Folk Music, then with Steeleye and in various other combinations and solo. Anyone accusing him of lack of sense of humour has only to reflect on his appearances with Les Barker performing parodies of songs ancient and modern.

"Swarthy and Carbrick", as Redd Sullivan used to call them, introduced me to more traditional material than anyone else I can think of. Martin was always courteous and generous with his time and scholarship, as well as with encouragement for the up-and-coming (and sometimes the down-and-going, too).

He doesn't need me to defend him, his own achievements do that, but I do so anyway. He is one of the greats in any genre of music, and yet he's still modest and approachable. Don't knock him, emulate him!