Eric and WD40,
The friend was not Eddie Frow, but a young Jewish man whose name escapes me, but can be found on the obituary film (Ballad of Ewan MacColl).
Eddie however did tell me that he remembered MacColl's father as a fine singer - a claim which is often challenged.
Both Eddie and Ruth had/have an enormous respect and a pride in Ewan as "a Salford lad who never gave up the fight".
Jim Carroll