Dunno, Dick. As I said before, cause and effect are never straight forward. Did numbers start dwindling because organisers started to introduce non-folk songs or did organisers try to boost numbers with non-folk offerings because numbers were dwindling anyway? I can only go off personal experience. As you know, at Swinton Ged did most of the bookings. Dave W, and sometimes Frank, joined him on 'stage' as the resident act. I did the door and paid people as well as organising publicity and performing a singers spot if time allowed. We did not change anything at all for years and while numbers were very high at first they did dwindle eventually. Frank no longer performs. Dave W moved to Scotland. I moved to Yorkshire. The singers nights still go on at the White Lion on Mondays but guests are now presented at the Conservative club in Westhoughton. I could be wrong but I think you may have been the last guest to be booked at the Lion.

It is far to easy to lay the blame for dwindling numbers on one aspect but, in truth, the situation is tied in to the economy, social trends and changing tastes as well as a myriad of other factors. Just like why some people think folk is a dirty four letter word :-D