I think we shoud examine the implications of this accusation of there being a "Walter Pardon Industry" and who was involved
If it is true, it's founder was the late Peter Bellamy, who, at the request of Walter's nephew, introduced Walter to the folk scene
Shortly afterwards, Walter was a booked as a guest at the Norwich Folk Festival and showered wit praise on Norfolk Radio
Bill Leader immediately recorded Walter and produced two excellent albums of his song, assisted by Dave Bland - Walter was interviewed by Karl Dallas - all presumably became founding board members
I was first made aware of Walter's arrival by our friend, Bob Thomson, a ballad song and broadside aficionado who was later poached by Gainesville University and became a senior English Lecturer there as Professor Robert Thomson
Walter was invited to represent folk music in the United States for their Bi-Centennial celebrations in 1977 - Bert Lloyd became a great admirer of him during that trip
Mike Yates produced four excellent LPs of Walter for Topic Records, the notes of the first (I think) was written by Bert Lloyd
EFDSS presented him with a Gold Badge in 1983
Mike Yates, Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson, Roy Palmer, Vic Smith Pat and I, and many many others continued to write talk, and in various other ways, express our admiration and gratitude for Walter's contribution tup to his death in 1996
In 20014 a three day festival was held tin his native Norfolk to celebrate his centenary
If Walter was "hyped to fame" by "an industry" - there are some high-up names who took part in the subterfuge

I have received several messages asking why I am involved with a forum which is now allowing scurrilous attempts to denigrate one of Britain's most important traditional singer - I have yet to come up with an answer
One of those messages linked these attacks on Walter with attempts a few years ago by a poster who styled herself as "Karen", to prove that one of Ireland's most respected field singers, Tom Lenihan had learned some of his most important and rare songs from early records of Slack blues singers (The main song in question was 'St James's Hospital')
I have no idea if it is the same person, but if it is, I must say I find it extremely disturbing

I have been suspended twice for objecting to behaviour such as this - at present I am under further threat that if I continue to object to such behaviour I will be suspended again
If this happens, I formally request that my name be removed from the membership list of this forum - I do not wish to be associated with anything that seeks to openly denigrate and demean some of the most important and generous benefactors to our folk music
Jim Carroll