Tom Brown of Worksop, Notts, was a dear friend of mine, well loved and missed on the folk scene where he sang often with his wife Bertha, his "little Irish Rose". He grew up in East Anglia, was a neighbour of the Cox family. As a young man he went to sea where he learned many songs to add to those from home. Later in life he moved to Worksop and became a railway man. One night, when he was in his early sixties, he went to a local folk club and there heard some of the songs of his youth. He loved it, and went again the next week and asked if he could sing. The guest artist that night, one Roy Harris, heard him and immediately arranged to meet him for a chat about his songs. Next time around he took a tape recorder. Later Tom sang and talked about his life on BBC Radio Nottingham, and started going around to folk festivals. At the time of his first look inside a folk club Tom was suffering from clinical depression, but his involvement in the music cured him. He always said that being in the folk scene 'brought him back to life'. Among the time-passing skills he learned at sea was macrame. I have a large red macrame owl on my wall, a gift from Tom. In 'The Smacksman' Tom always pronounced 'coil' in 'coil away the trawl warp, boy's', as 'Kyle'. So did Sam Larner, who sings the song on Topic 12T244 "A Garland For Sam", published by Topic in 1974. Tom Brown has cassettes on Peter Kennedy's 'Folktrax'. Check 'em out. You will hear some grand songs and an honest unpretensious singer who loved giving voice. I miss him but I have his recordings, his macrame, and a smiling photograph as reminders of a warm-hearted friend, and further proof that the time I've spent in folk music has been distinguished by meeting some memorable people.