No-one here has responded to my contention that the amatuer song circle, should in no way be loaded with carrying the heavy weight of responsibility for the public reputation that English trad. arts have amongst the general populace of the UK.

I appreciate that I know next to nothing about this subject...
And yet, I do listen to what those hoo nose have to say, and I also care enough to consider it important to get to the bottom of the issue.

Again, my suspicion, warranted or not, is that the amatuer song circle itself actually represents a valuable continuity of the historic 'spirit' of community folk singing?

While the roots run strong and deep, the health of the tree might be suspect. But, I would be disinclined to condemn the flourishing branch for rot in the trunk...