John Waltham

From the time in my teens when I first started singing the songs that I’d picked up on the farm I’ve always enjoyed the process of learning songs “from the horse’s mouth”. Whenever I’ve come across older singers, I’ve done my best to hear what they’ve carried with them
All the singers from whom I picked up the songs were pleased (and sometimes surprised) that I should want “all that old stuff” and were generous with their time – especially back in the late 60s and 70s when they had to sing something several times over so that I could get it all written down. Once I got a cassette recorder life became easier. I know I should have pumped some of the singers for more songs, but time wasn’t always on my side then, and now it’s too late. But I have many pleasant memories of visiting total strangers (often on a motorcycle, a pleasure in itself around our beautiful part of the country) who subsequently became good friends, and for that I’m eternally grateful.