Ewan MacColl published one of my first attempts at songwriting in his New City Songster magazine, and he and Peggy were never anything except very sweet, encouraging and patient with me.

He would always help with advice and his vastly superior knowledge of folksong.

I'm sorry that other peoples memories of the chap are different.

I'm sure your recollection was accurate, but I just wanted to say there was another side to that particular gentleman - and gentleman is what he always seemed to me.

Also I am accutely aware of having said nasty things about traditional purist folksingers - on the whats wrong with being a purist thread, and I honestly deeply repent my temper. All I can say is that Peggy and Ewan knew what sort of songs I wrote and they never lectured me about it.

On their recordings like Dirty Old Town there are jazz musicians like Bruce Turner - rather than contrived ethnicity.

all the best

Big Al Whittle