Yes, of course I've been there, and it's one of the reasons why life, and music, give me so much joy.

I have always enjoyed Tom's music. He has an absolute gift for storytelling and for songwriting. I also have a great deal of respect for his outlook about life and about the folk world.

He was in Sidmouth recently, for a house concert, but I only found out about it the day before he was due to play, and sadly, already had other arrangements which I was unable to change, but I got to see him play at Sidmouth Folk Week some time back and heard him tell the story of, and sing, 'Turn and Face The Wind'...I ended up sending that story out to a myspace friend in China, who, with his wife, was in the process of trying to adopt a little Chinese baby girl over there, after she'd been found in a box at the end of their street.

Lyrics to 'Turn and Face The Wind'

Tom worked damn hard in the folk world. He wrote some of the most interesting and intelligent pieces about this world, both on here and on the BBC board. He sees very clearly how it needs to change, and what it needs to survive, and he's always been so positive in his outlook about it.

As I said, I have a great deal of respect for Tom Bliss.