Good thread to revive.

Don't think the late John Wright was mentioned in any of the comments. He didn't record many tunes on the fiddle but I LOVE his playing on that handful. Check out the album 'Unaccompanied' on Topic. Genius Jew's Harp playing and some fine singing on there too.

The most useful and inspiring English fiddle playing for me derives from the Northumbrian/Borders players: Adam Gray, Ned Pearson and the other fiddlers featured on compilation albums from Topic and Smithsonian Folkways.