Jim you wrote the following...
I know there is a club has organised a regular ballad forum - I have the highest respect for the work and track record of Peta Webb and Ken Hall and their club, I have lots of correspondence with Annie Neilsen in Scotland - impressive work on the ballads there - the work in Newcastle with students leaves me full of hope......
There are, I believe, true lovers of folk song to salvage something from the rubble created by the Masonic lodges that call themselves folk clubs - if I didn't believe that, I really wouldn't bother.

For Gods sake Jim!!!!!!! I gave up in despair trying to make the same point to you a couple of days ago. You really are bloody exasperating.
Now finally and at last PLEASE will you accept that there a lots more people of the same persuasion young and old and that you might actually be of help to them if you threw off this mind numbing cloak of negativity that is driving us all bonkers! Jesus! I'm off for a cup of coffee, only because I don't drink alcohol.