Tom Robinson of that period was pure genius. Quintessentially English. It was a pity the folkies didn't get him. I suppose there must have been some crossover as you used to get Greenham women at his gigs, but not much.

I was green with envy at what he was achieving artistically. Can't recall feeling like that about another artist. He was so good the record company dropped him and he went into exile. When War Baby charted in '83, he came back and I think that's when the media career started.

I suppose, he'd learned his lesson - that you can't rely on the English to recognise songwriting about their own country and predicament.