He was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1998 Queen's Honours List for his services to Folk Music. His wife, Norma Waterson was awarded an MBE too.
Father of two daughters, Eliza Carthy and Lucy Carthy. Since 1994 he has been in Waterson Carthy with Norma and Eliza, plus Lucy's husband Saul Rose.