It was me (so nice to be called a gentleman), but it was most likely at The Volunteer, as The Swan was always the Irish musicians session. It could have been Mike Sadler - I did see him at Sidmouth around 1978-82 near the old station where I assume he was staying, but not sure what his haunts were there.

Yes, the song writer was Mike 'Guttapercha' Sadler who was a languages teacher at Farnborough Grammar School in Hampshire where I was in the 1960/70s. (This is spooky. I was only thinking about Mike and downloaded stuff from Mudcat a fortnight ago. Today, he lives at Frimley, only 10 minutes walk from the hospital where my mother is currently residing, and I did think of paying him a visit en route!)

Mike was also visited Fleet Folk Club (Fox & Hounds at Crookham) when Maggie Holland and Pete Edwards ran it. He also made a beeline there when the late Roy 'Cobblers' Harrison sped up from Romsey on his moped. Paul Marsh has recorded a CD, but it seems to be trapped on a failed hard drive (although he told me two years ago he's found it and will send me a bespoke copy). I emailed Paul only a fortnight ago but am yet to hear back, so I hope this shames him into action!!!

There are a number of Mike's songs on the late Dave Williams' double-CD 'Your Turn, Nipper' on Forest Tracks (so to their website). I know of no-one else who sings them, and Mike knows I do a few of his.

I wrote down what words I could recall from over 25 years ago (which is just as well: if it was purely from memory, it'd be slightly different). I also wrote down the words of Mike's 'Frimley Green Council Bog' song, and his 'Estate Agent's song' which aren't on Dave Williams' CDs. Interestingly, Dave's widow is Mike's sister. Even more spooky, the woman who runs the Oxfam shop in Sidmouth is Joe Thomas's sister Thelma who was also a languages teacher at Farnborough GS. (Well, interesting to me, anyway).

So, here goes:

DOWN THE SOLENT
(Mike Sadler)

Come all you land lubbers, you've nothing to fear
    Down the Solent
On a Red Funnel steamer bound from Royal Pier
    And we're bound for the Isle of Wight

Ch: And away boys away
    Down the Solent
    We're leaving the Pier and we're all on the beer
    And we're bound for the Isle of Wight.

Away with the gangplank! the Captain, he roared
And hoist up the anchors, jacks, safely on board

We passed by Esso tankers on a fast-moving tide
Polluting the beaches upon either side.

On the banks of the Solent was a hell of a crowd
A-watching Ted Heath sinking Morning Cloud.

Arriving at Cowes I espied a trim craft
She was well-loaded for'ard and nicely trimmed aft.

Ch.
And away, boys, away, Down the Solent
We passed Calshot Spit where the seagulls all flit (or s**t)
And we're bound for the Isle of Wight

I turned this craft round to a well-shelted spot
For she had the powder and I had the shot.

Oh, look what you've done to my rigging, she cried,
Too late, I wsa firing a second broadside.

Now I'm in dry dock it's now I can discern
I'm covered in barnacles from stem to stern.

And now I know why they call this Cowes Week
My foremast's all broken and my mainsa'ls all week.

If you heard it from me, I changed the second chorus so it's only used right at the end - mainly because the humour palls upon repetition. Also because, the audience sand 's**t' when Mike said 'flit' during his original version. I also sing '.. and so my French sheet' instead of '.. and my mainsa'ls all week'.

(Memo: my, oh my, we DO have a history!!)

I hope you''re satisfied. I'm now going to have to play @Your Turn, Nipper' for the first time in years!