Setting off in and around his native Devon and Cornwall he interviewed a range of people.

Those he met along the way became his muses – a chat with a long-serving railway worker produced track The Last Rider and a dock-working veteran of 40 years inspired him to write Another Long Night.

Added to this was a Second World War soldier, who inspired Tiger, and a travelling couple who long for the road (The Wanderer). Together these became the basis of his album Word Of Mouth – a denser and fuller example of his hauntingly melodic style.

Speaking to Love Life, he said: “I always like to write stories about other people. It’s always been a big part of what I do,

“It’s like journalism with music really. My father is a journalist so that’s one of the reasons I like to tell stories.”

Audiences at the Theatre Royal will be treated to these tales among others as he plays the album live, on Friday, as part of Windsor Festival.

Lakeman burst into the nation’s conscience with his Mercury nomination for Kitty Jay, his second solo album independently recorded for £300 in his own kitchen.

Since then he has developed and fine-tuned his style resulting in the Word Of Mouth album.

Apart from being an astonishingly talented musician, Lakeman is a wonderful story-teller who clearly understands and revels in the folk music traditions.

He said: It’s important to remember and celebrate people. I didn’t go looking for people in particular I was just aware of talking to people and taking recordings.”

To buy tickets for the 8pm performance, which start at £16, go to www.windsorfestival.com

SAM MURRAY