Ethel Grinsdale was one of our favourite singers with a sparkle in her eye and a large repertoire. She sang us her singular version of 'An Acre of Land' very popular in the area. We told her we recorded a completely different version from John round the corner a couple of doors away. When we went back a few weeks later she sang us the same song but with extra verses. She'd been round the corner and pinched some of John's verses.


I'd just recorded a version of Lord Bateman in Hull so naturally I asked Ethel if she had heard the song. Without pausing for breath she sang us, 'Lord Bateman was, he was, he was, Lord Bateman was, a bloody fool!'


Many of our singers had not had any audience for their songs for 30-40 years or more and were unanimously delighted to have someone take an interest, and even more delighted that their songs were going to be recorded for posterity and sung to audiences again.