"In the heyday [clubs] attracted regular audiences of 100 plus, with standing room only being the norm"

We always have a few sell out nights each year at KFFC (that's pushing 100) but we also have nights where we have a couple of dozen (depends who's booked and what else is going on). It works either way and being a small village hall it still feels intimate. There's a real buzz when it is pretty full though.

"but I can put you in touch with several hunderd youngsters singing and playing traditional music within five miles of here to an excellent standard - how about you?"

Jim, we don't even have a hundred youngsters living within 5 miles of the club so that would be difficult! One thing we are doing though is sponsoring kids from the local school(s) to enter the Wensleydale Tournament of song. There is a junior class for unaccompanied traditional song.

This year there is only one entry (which is a tragedy) we have an aim of getting a minmum of 10 entries next year (including my daughter!). We'll do this by the club paying the entry fee and working with 3 or 4 of the local schools (Wendy already does some singing workshops in these schools) to identify potentially interested kids and give them some coaching.

Having said that about the importance of getting trad song sung Wendy has also been working with one of the schools this year on writing a song for the choir class (as part of a wider project). The school in question is on Catterick Garrison and the theme of the song is what it feels like to be left behind when your father is away at war. This seems an equally valid "folk" expression to me.

There will be a charity CD of the kids singing the song (and a few others including some trad)) available mid-April. Funds raised go to the school and Forces family charities.

So don't lecture me about the death of folk clubs or getting kids involved in folk music.