I suppose we always knew it would have to happen some day, but it still came as a shock and leaves a sort of empty feeling and it's hard to know what to say. I have to admit that I first heard of the Coppers through the singing of The Young Tradition.

I can remember how in the mid 60s, three of us drove down for a weekend's camping in Sussex. Our main reason was to find Bob and his cousin Ron and to ask for the words of a couple of their songs. We went into the "Queen Victoria" Saturday lunchtime and saw Ron who said "You're in Luck, Bob's due to be popping in any time now". They sang us a couple of songs, before they had to go out and Bob told us to come over to Peacehaven club that evening. We had a wonderful evening, with Ron joining Bob later and then Ron suggested that we might manage another session in the Victoria the following lunchtime. Bob had let us copy any of the songs which we wanted out of a copy of "Brasser's" songbook and we went back up to London after a wonderful weekend.

After Ron's death it was a great relief when he carried on singing with the his two children Lohn and Lynne and later on of course with his grandchildren as well.

He will be remembered.