SCHWEIK> My last words on this thread which seems to have turned into a mini forest fire.

[1] I am not questioning Tawney's biological roots. It is fact that he was born/grew up in Hampshire and nobody is disputing this. You seem to be introducing this as some form of deflection from my original point. An attempt to introduce a red herring?

[2] My original point is that despite his Hampshire birthplace he appears to be musically identified more with folk songs from or sited in the South West, ie Cornwall & Devon. I see the SW as being the main location of his musical roots, especially in his early days. I feel his initial important musical inspiration sprang from this area and the Royal Navy.

[3] I feel you are being rather foolhardy to reject the "Independent" obituary so completely out of hand. Remember, it claims to be quoting your friend Cyril Tawney himself!

[4] I do not object to you claiming Tawney as a Hampshire man as that is what he patently was. I was referring more to his musical roots rather than his biological ones. Similarly, I think that we would all agree that Wilfred Owen's poetic roots/inspirations are mainly to be found in the trenches of WW1., rather that in Shropshire, Wales or anywhere else in the UK   Just like The Rolling Stones musical roots are to be found in the Mississippi
Delta or South Chicago, not London.

[5] I stand by my original point. However I do not feel there is anything more constructive for me to say on the matter at this time. I think we should drop it. We are after all both on the same side --- We are both admirers of Cyril Tawney and the "Sammy's Bar"song.

[6] The Rigs of Time version is actually the worst version of a good song that I have ever heard! Talk about destroying something beautiful !!!!!!!! Moreover, the altering of the wording of contemporary songs, so as to make them appear as if they are from somewhere else, makes me feel very uneasy. As an Irishman I am ashamed that some of my compatriots seem to have been involved in the butchering of this fine song and the deliberate concealment of its true origins along with the name of the outstanding man who wrote it.