Justice is done as David takes three Ivor awards.

Pete Townshend straddled three chapters of British songwriting at this year's Ivor Novello Awards as he honoured The Clash, then received an award himself from Bruce Welch.

The Who's main writer saluted Welch as his first key musical influence as he picked up the lifetime achievement award at last Thursday's event. "I was absolutely convinced that this was proper guitar playing," he told the ceremony at London's Grosvenor House Hotel. "I loved Hank Marvin, but there was something very cool about this guy and this was what I wanted to do."

Earlier Townshend had handed over the outstanding contribution to British music award to The Clash, describing himself as "such a fan" of the group. The band's Joe Strummer, determined to reflect what he believed was one of punk's best characteristics -- brevity -- limited his acceptance speech to three words: "Rock the Casbah".

However, the event arguably belonged to Windswept Music's Craig David -- who just three months earlier had failed to turn any of his six Brits nominations into awards -- and his Warner/Chappell writing partner Mark Hill, who received three Ivors including songwriters of the year. "Words cannot fully express what an honour it is to pick up the writer of the year award," said David, who also won the best contemporary song award for Seven Days with Warner/Chappell's Mark and Darren Hill and the Nors dance award for Woman Trouble with Mark Hill, Sherlock Holmes Music's Robbie Craig and Warner/Chappell's Peter Devereux.

Windswept Music managing director Bob Grace, whose ...