The setting could scarcely be more fitting for our interview with one of this nation’s finest ever songsmiths. As the frontman and creative driving force behind one of the most influential rock‘n’roll acts of all time, Ray Davies’ legendary work with The Kinks in many ways defined notions of English suburbia.

Albums like The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society and classic singles such as Sunny Afternoon and Waterloo Sunset continue to evoke imagery as quintessentially English as strawberries ...