The profiile of traditional arts in these islands is weighted disproportionately towards the Celtic fringes against those which are intrinsically English. This is the fault not of the exponents who find nothing unnatural in pride in their cultural heritage, but of the English themselves who do not, on the whole, recognise that they even have a culture.

Try talking about ritual dance to a member of the 'non-folk' masses and you find that they think sword dancing is men in kilts dancing daintily across a crossed pair on the ground. The only other 'traditional' dance they know of is Riverdance.

Overheard passing an Anchor Gardens ceilidh was a mother knowledgeably informing her child that Whapweasel were playing Irish music...

There's an overwhelming need for a radio programme concentrating on English music. For the time being, there's more than enough of the rest swamping our airwaves, most noticeably from our public service broadcaster. I wish Chris every success in redressing this imbalance.