The English poet and songwriter Les Barker published 'Hard Cheese of Old England,' a poem that celebrates the traditional cheeses of England with humor and affection. The poem was set to music and performed by The Mrs Ackroyd Band on their 1990 album 'Oranges and Lemmings,' demonstrating the enduring popularity of cheese as a subject for comic and folk verse.

Barker's poem revitalized the tradition of cheese poetry in English folk culture, connecting the pastoral nostalgia of earlier poets with modern humor and musicality. The performance of the poem in song format reflects the close relationship between poetry and music in the folk tradition, and it has inspired other poets and musicians to explore cheese as a subject in their work. It remains a beloved example of contemporary cheese poetry.