I don't know if it was Johnny Collins or Eric Ilott (from whon the Boarding Party first heard it), or some one of that ilk, but someone related the story that Mervyn had found the text in an old [19th century] "chap" book in Cornwall and had set it to its present tune. Chap books, as I understand are student note books or copy books - affordable, ubiquitous and, like old whales teeth, just the thing for rummaging about for songs.

Its a grand end-of-evening, parting song from whose tag line the BP lifted its first album title - 'tis our sailing time.

I hadn't heard the Padstow name but that certainly makes sense.

KC