Quite right, Rahere: 'The Strong Men and Women Before Agamemnon', as Harker refers to them. Sharp was already a member of FSS, in receipt of the Journal, and had been using songs in his teaching career, so he knew all about folk song by the time he arrived in the vicarage garden. Marson had heard England sing 'Seeds of Love' before, so it was probably more of a set-up than a chance encounter.

Most of that info comes from a very interesting article by Derek Schofield on Sharp and Marson (FMJ, 2004). The lecture, FYI Derek, is part of a seven-week course on English Folk Song for Glossop Guild - I await the invitation from CSH with eager anticipation!