My favourite D is one the early batches of Faedog that fetched up on these shores around 1983; beautiful tone, and quiet. I snap up old Clarkes Cs whenever I see them; the older the better, even those that require a bit of attention. Not keen on the new Ds, or the Megs, but I've got a green one I bought from a toy shop in Ashby de la Zouch a few years back which isn't too bad. I recently bought a vintage E (yes E!) tin whistle in the Clarkes stlye which is an absolute dream, and my favourite F is a Chinese bamboo whistle bought at Ray Mans in London back around 1989.

My test for a whistle is the old tune variously known as The Abbots Bromley Horn Dance; if I can play that comfortably, and consistently, then it's in the bag. Somewhere I've got an Indian brass whistle that blows through a side tube, and my little treasure is a tiny brass F picked up for £2 in a Morpeth antique shop which is actually too small for my fingers to play with any certainty, but as a tavelling companion it's the very dab.

On my wish list right now is a Shaw lo-F - any thoughts??

Basically, Les, keep scouring until you fall in love, but beware of broken hearts - I still mourn my old Generation Bb (bought at Rothbury Festival in 1983) which was the sweetest instrument ever; I dropped it down a toilet at Glastonbury the following year and couldn't bring myself to fish it out.