Desolated. Valerie [my late first wife] was features editor of the Teacher Newspaper [NUT] in the 1970s, and Roy was her folk book & record critic at the same time as I was the same for the TES, so we began with much in common. He and Pat and their 3 sons became close friends -- we would stay over in their home in Birmingham, and they would come to see us in Cambridge. When we first met, he had the magnificent title of Headmaster of The Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School, Bournville! He & I would swap songs infinitely, and review one another's work privately by mail, for many years.

I don't think we have seen one another since Valerie died -- I am a bit old to travel these sorts of distances now, and he was exactly my age -- both born 1932.

Adieu old friend.

≈Michael≈