My belief is that the word Singaround was first used by singer Fred Baxter in the mid 1970s to describe an informal folk session he started in the East Sussex town of Lewes (Southern England). This singaround was held in the side bar of the Black Horse pub.

I was told of Fred's session by a friend who had just got a job in a neighbouring town (a few months before I came South), and was enthusing about how friendly it was - a welcome change from some of the clubs he'd invetigated in his newly adopted home area.

I started a Singaround in 1980 and we used the word in advertising - I'm not sure if that had been done before - though I admit I've not had chance to check the local Sussex Folk Directory archives for those years yet.

So... can anyone identify the word in use - in print - before 1980?

Does anyone believe the word was in use elsewhere before 1975?

Ian Fyvie