I dunno about the rest of the country, but I would hazard that in the North West there are still a fair few older, working class folkies at the clubs and singarounds - often slightly eccentric, mildly obsessive hobbyists. I do fear however - and not just in terms of folk music but also in terms of, for instance, men who create alternative universes in their sheds - that they are a dying breed...

I blame it on the demise of industry, the weakening of the trades unions and the creeping invasion of me-politics into every walk of life. The replacement of the communal by the individual in many ways leaves less room for individuals to thrive and flourish and instead encourages conformity to pre-cast norms and aspirations (that usually revolve around shopping or some other form of mass commerce).

Another thing I like about the art that was created for the C#House garden was that in a strange way it reminded me, in spirit, of my Great Uncle Albert, who was a great example of a garden shed mad inventor (and still drove a motorbike with Auntie Floss in the side car when they were in their 70s...).