Those of you who knew him will be sad to hear that Ray (my father-in-law) died last night (Saturday, about 9).

He had been suffering from lymphoma for a few years, and after temporary recovery, deteriorated rapidly in the last few weeks. His wife, Mu, and daughter, Judith were with him. I'm not sure whether Jonny, his son, was there.

Ray was like a father to me (more so than my own) and a fund of songs and stories. He was a (founder?) member of Jockey Men's Morris in Birmingham, dancing, playing the fiddle and lately playing the Fool (completely in character!) He also taught Southport Swords to dance Longsword and has a letter from the late lamented Fred Jordan thanking him for the words of a couple of his songs.

A sad loss to us, and to the folk world generally. I shall miss him.

Steve