Folklore: F. Smythe, D. Billington & V. Berry

Subject: Folklore: F. Smythe, D. Billington & V. Berry
From: GUEST,Max
Date: 21 Oct 25 - 03:56 PM

Dear Mudcat Community
While working on the biography about Royston Wood - and especially working on the part of the book that chronicles the Young Tradition - I chanced upon three names that have been associated with the folk club scene of the early 1960s. Unfortunately, hardly anything is known about the three people.

- Frank Smythe - an amateur folk singer, and later a music journalist; no more information about him since 1967.

- Diane Billington - who allegedly sang songs like 'My Johnny Was A Shoemaker' as a duo with Heather Wood before she even met Peter and Royston

- Val Berry - Royston said he sang as a trio with her and Paul Marsden long before the YT were started. At the time when Les Cousins was on, it appears that Val was Rod Stewart's busking companion.

Does anyone remember them? Are they still around?

Thanks for your help

Max