I think this thread has demonstrated that Mr Tiffney was wrong. But we knew that anyway. The point is that he said it because it was an inconvienience to their plans To accept that there is a continuing tradition of folk music making (of some form) in pubs is a problem for them.

The Oxenham Arms alone proves he is wrong. 100 years must be long enough for most traditions, surely? Although the chap there did managed to sing somehow through his (upturned ) eyes.