Roy Bailey and John Kirkpatrick at Bridgewater

Roy Bailey is not doing bad, seeing as he's the same age as my Dad and is enjoying his 50th year on the folk music scene. As Patrick said, it's a shame you can't put preservation orders on people! His compassion and practical socialism always sweeps me away when I hear his songs and stories - even his children's songs are touching in the way that he can relate to children as another marginalised section of the community. And he makes everyone sing along - even the large tatooed man in the same row as us was singing 'You Need Skin' - in a very macho way :D
Was pleased when Roy sang a song about a coal barge - which sprang a leak to the crew's consternation and finally dropped it's cargo out of it's rotten hull. Not an uncommon occurrence, apparently! He also sang some of my old favourites like I Ain't Afraid and The Poison Train, also liked some of the older songs that I hadn't heard before, like The Road to Dundee.
John Kirkpatrick , the Sultan of Squeeze himself, stunned the audience with his musicianship yet complemented Roy's work well. John sang a few songs on his own such as The Green Willow (traditional) and a song about a rather fierce St George written by John himself.
I had a great time remembering the radical days of my youth (as per David Ferrard's song) - long may John and Roy continue!