Martin Nail

Home Page

I only really wanted a home page so that I could create Web sites for various folk activities in which I am involved, which soon developed into the idea of creating a guide to English folk and traditional music on the Internet.

While you're here, however, here is a bit more about me. I like to travel, especially by train, and go for walks. Any of these can involve drinking real ale, or Belgian beer. I am a member of CAMRA, the Ramblers Association, and the National Trust.

I also like many different sorts of music. In addition to English folk music I enjoy traditional music from other parts of the world. I like songs with clever literate words such as those of Gilbert and Sullivan, Tom Lehrer, and Clive James and Pete Atkin. I like most periods of classical music, especially the classical period. I have a particular fondness for Haydn.

When at home I use my computer for creating databases (I'm trying to get to grips with Visual dBase, having been used to previous dBase versions, and Microsoft Access), and for creating these Web pages.

I have an interest in industrial archaeology and am a member of the Greater London Industrial Archaeology Society. Some years ago I researched the history of the London coal duty posts and in 1972 I published a booklet The coal duties of the City of London and their boundary marks. I have recently started this research again and hope to set a website devaoted to the subject.

By profession, I am a librarian and for most of my career worked for the British Library. In March 2007 I retired from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. Throughout my working life I was an active member of my trade union, Prospect (formerly the Institution of Professionals, Managers and Specialists) and was for many years a member of its National Executive Committee.

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