Yes I have been interested in songs and collecting them for a long time Dick ~ started at Barnsley Civic Centenary rooms listening to the booked acts of the day! All stars of time who must have had summat to entertain people with in whatever they did likes of Tony Capstick, Tony Rose, Pete Coe, Nick Jones had done their research, and like others started to gleen the details of what they were singing from the sleeve notes ~ then Whitby ff and EFDSS buying the song books ~ still can't really read music ~ joining in with songs in the bar ~ Social History ~ of all sorts of course and leading on to eventually the instrumental side in music sessions

But without those fore runners Dick to provide inspiration and show others the way I think I and others would be in a different place!

I have been able to sift through masses of songs in order to select and sing songs which have some sort of appeal or attraction, an Art form I believe ~ which expresses all of the human emotions ~ the scene is full of people who have many different reasons for being there ~ a living, a pastime, a semi professional source of income and those who have spent many years perfecting their playing of fiddles, melodeons, whistles etc ~ not to mention the dancers!!

So awards well anything to bring to the attention the fact that all this work is going on and people are out there every day to do what they do ~ a credit to those singing and playing where ever and to those who just do it for the love!!

Ray ~ me lud