still quite usual in the north (in the south too for all I know) and would consist of mainly cold dishes, such as a ham salad, plus tea, and serious quantities of baked goods. To consume a typical northern high tea takes stamina, and often a slackening of the belt. Well you all beat me to't - I've been off-PC for two days - so I'll just endorse above comments. The celebrated Funeral Song is one of Keith's most inspired creations, a superb vignette if ever there was one. Great to sing too (it's become one of me most requested), but watch not to let the chorus become a dirge (after all, it is a comic song)! I cannot remember the name of the sitcom, but I do remember in the early seventies there was a televised sitcom (based in Yorkshire)in which one of the characters was an elderly granny whose catchphrase was " I'm not having HIM, I'm having the Co-op. They do a nice ham tea at the Co-op". Fogie - very sadly your question should be "Who was Keith Marsden ?". Keith was a wonderful singer, songwriter and founder of the group "Cockersdale" - he died in 1991. Find more information here . I met him and heard him perform on several accasions - a wonderful man. He made a point of making people think that, especially with 'Bring Us a Barrel'.   He used to say that he'd collected them from Charlie Watts (or someone) - who