Happy to believe that too, Brian. One of the people I know who complained about it has themself cultivated a predominantly authentic home-regional repertoire, but they were still conscious of the contradiction of being held to standards not always adhered to amongst those by which they were set.

As above, it's not an attack. I only raised it by analogy with the apparent divergence - highlighted in Georgina Boyd's excellent piece - between Lloyd's philosophical assertions and personal approach, and I'm happy to defend that comparison. It's about the curious exemptions that some influential figures allow themselves but don't extend to others.

RJM, I think most people would accept the general usage of the word 'close' to describe E.M. & A.L.L.'s working relationship over an extended period.