Thanks, again, to Malcolm Douglas for more interesting leads to follow up.
To 'Les in Chorlton', I don't know about singarounds in Chorlton itself but Dave Bishop (who the current Mary mentions above)tells me that there is a traditional singaround, at the Volunteer Pub., on Washway Rd. Sale, every Wednesday night; apparently it starts around 8:30 - 9:00ish - must give it a try sometime.