Jim C says - "I asked RTim if his Morris side did ballet or hip-hop - reply came there no, so I took that to be a n unsounding "no"

You are correct - a resounding No - in the same way they don't sing opera or be a String Quartet - they perform their own village tradition, but they have created and perform dances that are modern, ie. written in recent years, thereby keeping it alive and relevant - something I thought you of all people would support.

I think your attempt to suggest they obviously only do what they set up to do, is a clumsy way of suggesting Folk Clubs should do the same.
I have been to Sessions here in the USA where a group of people will happy sit in a relatively cold room and sing Child Ballads for hours - but I recognise that is not everyones cup of tea.
Similarly I am involved in a Folk Music Society that is now in its 46th year that puts on a very wide range of music, from Traditional (English & American) to Blues to Irish to Singer Songwriters - a very type of event than late night Ballad singing, but they are all - Folk Music - and I like that Diversity and is seems many other do to. I am also sure that I would enjoy events that you frequent.

Tim Radford