Actually, that thread does nothing to answer Willie-O's question. It assumes you know what Sharp did, and does not even mention John England...

This Somerset site, while perhaps a bit effusive, gives a better explanation of the importance of the event. It reads in part:

He is quite simply one of the most important people in Britain's traditional folk culture.

You could even call him the god-father of folk. He is Cecil Sharp and his collection, conservation and preservation of our traditional and cultural musical heritage began in Somerset 100 years ago this summer.

Cecil Sharp was visiting a friend, Charles Marson, the vicar of Hambridge, when on August 22nd 1903 he heard the vicar's gardener John England sing 'The Seeds of Love'. That song began a lifelong quest to collect not just English Folk songs and dances - but also American, particularly from the Appalachian Mountains.

Travelling by train and bicycle Cecil Sharp collected more than 1500 songs from 311 Somerset singers, with a further 3500 songs from the rest of England and the USA. His musical journey also led him to found the English Folk Dance Society in 1911.

The Centenary celebrations this year run from Wednesday 20th to Sunday 24th August and take the form of an international conference at Dillington House, near Ilminster, and a Festival in the village of Hambridge itself.

John England's descendant Doug England, is travelling across from Canada to join the festivities. With a line up including local and national artists such as Waterson-Carthy, John Kirkpatrick, Dr Faustus, Eddie Upton and George Withers and a programme of music, dance and theatre, local crafts and Somerset food and drink - there truly will be something for everyone.