I'll leave the history of skiffle to those who believe they're the more knowledgeable 'experts' here.
My first recollections are of Lonnie, the Vipers Skiffle Group, with Jean Van den Bosch, Wally Whyton & Co and hearing about the Skiffle Cellar in Greek St., Soho, which I once visited in 1958, only to find it closed at the time of day I was able to be there.
I was a once proud owner of the Vipers 10" LP.
In 1957, I helped form a skiffle group, we called ourselves the Treble O Skiffle group and played at a few venues in the Southend-on-Sea area for fun, including the Pier Pavilion.
We made one record at one of those tiny seaside voice recording studios, the 'dogbox' only just fitted through the doorway.
Our only claim to fame, was when another group called themselves the Tremeloes, whose biggest hit came in 1967, "Silence is Golden."
We lost a local cinema organised skiffle contest in 1958, to a group who played Rock & Roll, that's show business for you.
I performed regularly at a folk club in Westclif-on-Sea, but my US based style was shunned by English folk purists.
One time, myself and my buddy, Les Weston appeared at the Troubador, near Earl's Court, London, but my best memory of that, was hitchhiking to Fenchurch St station and getting a lift from Bob Monkhouse, a really nice guy.
Good memories.