Yesterday I got this shocking news from John's brother Michael (below)

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Very sorry to tell you that John died this lunchtime. We were exchanging emails this morning as he is helping with the book I am writing, so this is very sudden.I can't get my head around it.
Can you please let those in the folk world who knew him the sad news using your contact list.
Michael
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John was one of the world's greatest experts on the Jews Harp...he had done an enormous amount of research and written extensively on the subject - as well as being a brilliant player. Also a fine fiddle player and singer with a wonderful repertoire of traditional material. He had also done a considerable amount of collecting in France

He had lived in France for a very long time - moving from Paris to Angers a few years ago, back to the area his wife Catherine Perrier came from.
We had been friends for almost 50 years,starting as residents at the renowned Giffard Folk Club in Wolverhampton in 1963. We sang together, played together and had lots of fun and enjoyment together....we met on rare occasions over the last few years, but it was always a pleasure and as if we had never been apart...My wife Maggie and I will be in France in October and are hoping to get to Angers to see Catherine. A sad loss to us all.