Now well rooted in the North, my formative years were spent upon the South Coast in good old Gosport.

I remember well the performances of Pat, Diz and Jon at the Den of Folk, that fortnightly candlelite venue where the chic of Gosport youth would gather to drink Whitbread Tankard.

Pat fun songs but serious, Diz serious music but extrememly funny links, and of course Jon who was simpy a lunatic, but an amazing daffodil eater, besides being highly talented with the nose whistles.

All great performers in their own right.

However, the evening that always stands out in my mind was a Christmas Party at the Railway Folk Club at Fratton, (very handy for the train).

This particular night had all three appearing for an evening of musical mayhem. The songs came at a relentless pace, with Pat and Jon digging deep into their reps of comedy while Diz through in his great Jazz guitar playing.

It was just one of those nights where everything gels producing an almost electric atmosphere. I remember Jon walking on tables and chairs to get to the stage to throw Pat off at one stage,(the Railway was never a large Club).

My mate and I walked back to Gosport via Portchester and Farham, on air singing away to my Old Guitar and I Didn't Care (see jonisherwood.com).

I was priviliged to see many top names of the sixties folk scene during those five late teenage and early adult years, but non stand out like the deadly trio. The chemical mix by way of their different talents, the posh Pat, the musical genius of Diz when he had a guitar in his hand, and the total madness of Jon created something few performers can acheive today.

What it taught me was to have fun with music. Never take it too seriously. A lesson I employ as a middle aged vandal on the South Yorkshire folk scene.

The Rawmarsh Mashers are proud to sing many of Jon's songs regularly in the Folk Clubs - even if the audience look on in total bewilderment when Jon is given a name check after our rendition of the Cucumber Song.   

The Scots had Imlach, Nichol and McGinn, the Midlands and North had Carrot, The Fivepenny Piece and the Spinners............. but the Southern contribution to that great sixties folk scene in the form of Pat, John and Diz was just as inspiring.

It's great to see so many great memories of the "boys" above and one or two mentions for Folk Clubs visited and lived in so many years ago.

Visit Jon's great Web site to sample the music -

Great Thread...........

Richard