He could also rub people up the wrong way with a misplaced SOH & a sharp tongue ~~ don't think he realised, but perhaps didn't care, how offensive some people could find him. Paradoxically, he had a strong sense of social courtesy: excellent host and appreciative guest.

An example: I had made a new will & mentioned to him I had left him my instruments. "Hurry up and die then," was his rejoinder; "you've got a d-major concertina haven't you!" I laughed, as I thought it funny: but Anthea tole me later that he would make such remarks, and not everyone by any means responded as tolerantly as I had done.

{To finish the story ~ I offered it to him straight away, as he was the hardworking professional and his need greater than mine; but in fact he wouldn't take it ("Didn't really mean that, couldn't possibly" &c.). Valedrie & I did persuade him to take it on long loan, and it was the one on his coffin! Jenny, to whom he was married by then, was unaware of thre history, but of course returned it to me and I have, and play, it still. It is the white-bellowed one on my Youtube channel, on "Rag Fair" e.g., with the decorative fancy-knot tassel [Pete's work & I have kept it there].

Anyhow, there's another example of why, maybe, not everyone would patronise his gigs or buy his records or sympathise with him generally ~~ just maybe, I say again...

~Michael~