I would think that the majority of the better, younger British folk singers and bands - and there are plenty of them - I heard their names for the first time in fRoots. It has been Ian's passion in recent years to promote the younger generation, though he does not do this slavishly. He worries publicly about young performers who he feels are taking the music in a wrong direction and he gives his reasons for doing so - and that is not an easy editorial position to adopt when the majority of your income comes from advertisers.

I don't always agree with his enthusiasms or his dislikes, by any means, but I have never doubted his commitment and integrity and certainly not his hard work in producing over three decades a magazine of a consistently high standard.

Of course, his editorial policy is not going to please everyone and there are performers, particularly singer/songwriters who feel that they are not getting their fair crack of the whip in coverage, but the reasons for this are clearly stated in his published editorial policy. This does not detract from the considerable achievement by Ian and his small team. I am very pleased that they have been given this major award and would like to congratulate all concerned.