I do think about this quite often. Swarb adored Richard, but Richard definitely seemed to hold Swarb at arm's length. I think Swarb was just too much for him. So often he'd work with Peggy, DM, and Simon, but noticeably no Swarb. Using another fiddler with those guys would have looked to much like an obvious snub, and I think that may have been a big reason for him not doing so very often. Turning to John Kirkpatrick's box was a canny way of sidestepping the issue.

Jules

Some additions, after perusing the collection-

Chris Leslie on Time To Ring Some Changes from Hard Cash, also a few cuts on Sweet Talker

Aly Bain also on Rumor And Sigh, Hokey Pokey

Tom McConville on Mirror Blue,

Sid Page on You? Me? Us?

Peter Knight on Industry

Sam Watkins on Sweet Warrior

Stuart Duncan on Electric

David Mansfield on Ship To Shore

Nic Jones & Aly on Pour Down Like Silver

Chuck Fleming on Daring Adventures

A couple of reflections - one, working with Swarb might have put him off forever… Notably, Aly Bain was his go-to guy for at least a couple of albums.
Otherwise, a fiddle player does one thing of two things - either also sings, or demands a solo in every song. If you’re in a band where there are flourishes and counterpoints around every corner then clearly there’s room. If that’s what your vibe as a singer and guitarist is, then why bother?

I think Electric is one of the gaps in my RT collection.  I was thinking more of times when he has consistently used a fiddler on a tour or an album, rather than odd appearances.  He seems to have done that more with squeezeboxes - John Kirkpatrick in particular.

On Shirley Collins' No Roses album, Richard plays alongside Barry Dransfield on Murder of Maria Marten.

Jules

Oh that is fun!  I do remember seeing Aly Bain's name on Hand of Kindness, now you mention it, though I wouldn't have said his contribution is very noticeable - I shall have to listen again.

Aly Bain on Amnesia and Hand of Kindness.

And then, just for fun, there's this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNIJ0fcCRCY

On Electric he had Stuart Duncan on fiddle and on Sweet Warrior Sara Watkins played on a couple of tracks with two violins and a viola on She Sang Angels to Rest.

Seem to remember Aly Bain played on the Jimmy Shand song on Rumor & Sigh.

I'll let someone else check all his other albums.

Henry The Human Fly and Morris On for starters.

As I'm listening to Dream Attic for the first time in years, I'm reminded that on the recordings for that album his band included a violinist (Joel Zifkin). I can't think of many other albums or tours where he has included a fiddler in his line-up.  I remember when the BBC left the TV Centre they recorded a concert of him with Swarb (though I don't think that has ever been released), but can anyone else remember him working with a fiddler?