I first met Sheila at the Keele Festival in 1969 and irregularly but very pleasurably since then, though not since Andrew's death. I much appreciate all she did and read her books and articles with interest. Our last exchange was in the pages of Living Tradition a few years ago(1995) when we discussed the health of the Scottish and Irish singing traditions. She was a great spirit, a great mind and, what is more important, a most assiduous searcher after truth. Her sons had a mother to be proud of. I am sorry that she is no longer with us.