I have a 'difficult' voice - I never met anyone who can sing the same range - though I know there was someone who sang exactly one octave lower.

I met three quarters of a quartet several times when their ship was in Portsmouth, Hampshire England. They went under the name of Crow's Nest.

They came and sang at one of the pubs where I used to sing with the usual suspects, and when I started to sing they got very enthusiastic. They were so pleased, having lost the man to another ship, to find someone who not only sang the same way, but knew a lot their songs.

I supose I am lucky in that once I get started I can hold a tune - I remember very well going to Cecil Sharpe House and spending the day in the library, then in the evening went to a folk club in one of the cellars.

The two hosts seemed to find it presumptious that someone asked if I could sing, before even asking me if I wanted to. I was told to be brief, so I sang 'Westering Home' - it being but 2 verses.

By the end of the first verse they were both howling out slightly different tune and words, and having to hold eachother up because they were laughing so much. It is no wonder that the EFDSS went into decline after that - the distaff side of the family have Gipsy blood and if they curse someone it is usually good - or rather bad, for about 13 years....

Singing along can be wonderful but it can also be vindictive.