If Alex had known when to stop drinking he'd still be with us today, and I think everyone who ever knew him wishes he was.

But no matter how much he'd had, and I can think of a fair number of times he'd had a great deal more than was wise, I can never remember him saying a bad word about anybody, including people whom he might have had reason to dislike.

Alex's eclectic approach was worlds away from Ewan MacColl's purism. ljc Hell ye!

But Alex Campbell admired Ewan MacColl. And if it wasn't reciprocated, that was Ewan MacColl's loss.

Alex wrote a little book of songs and talk called Frae Glesga Toon in 1964 (dedicated to Derroll Adams whomdied last year). Here is the ending of it:

Looking at the British folk revival, I can only say that despite the silly schisms, it has never been healthier. If our younger singers will but lay their foundations in the songs handed down to them by their own people, they will have a rock upon which to build. Knowing their own heritage they can only come to dig the folk heritage of other peoples, and in so doing help to realise the one world which is coming.

I believe moreover that the real strength and hop e of the revival lies in the singers who are making songs, people like Ewan MacColl, Leon Rosselson, Karl Dallas, Enoch Kent, Cyril Tawney, Sydney Carter, Dominic Behan, Matt McGinn and Ian Campbell, people who, whilst writing for today, are creating for the future.

As the minister said "Let us join together to sing…"

Hell ye!

(And whoever wrote it or sang it, that spiel that Jack Elliott did with the song was great, and if you could find it and post it, Ewan, it'd be good to see it. I know the very man I'd like to give it to.)