Re: “I sometimes wonder if I'm the only person left, at least outside New Zealand, who sings it the way Colquhoun meant it to be sung.”

Listening to the 7 NZBC programmes from 1969 featuring Colquhoun’s singing and arrangements I would hope that you don’t sing it like him. His arrangements and singing of many of the songs are appalling, out of time, out of key, and lacking rhythm, and that damned tin whistle drowning everything. I think they do an arrangement of Blood Red Roses - but as unlike a sea chanty as I ever heard.

Whilst his collecting and arrangements might be deemed to be pioneering they are truly appalling. And there is no excuse because at that time New Zealand was well populated with musicians and singers from the U.K. and elsewhere.