As a writer of comic songs and occasional parodies he was a very early influence on my own writing.

I remember seeing him at the old Preston Circus club in Brighton and laughing my socks off.

One of the pioneers of folk comedy if not the originator. I bought one of his CDs when his songs were transferred from vinyl to CD and we had a bit of a chat on the phone.

Some of his songs are still done in clubs, though often, unfortunately not credited to him.

I don't know if there is any possibility of him pulling through this but the outlook doesn't seem that good from the post.