Much as I'd love to claim our Mr. Leigh for my own dear county, he is, as Herbert has said, a native of Lancashire. That distinctive rolled 'r' is a clue...
I'm very ambivalent when it comes to the Barton/Foxx debate. While I like Justin Barton's performance of the stories, I just find that John brings a wonderful warmth to his reading of 'The Quiet Man'. *Perches on fence precariously*
Sorry, Gary - your 'intellectual collective' sounded quite fun (aren't we already in one over here on Metamatic, anyway?)