Thanks for the many positive suggestions. I've had a look at the websites for Fylde, Moira and the Willie Clancy summer school so far, and will certainly keep looking. It may be an idea to start asking on banjo forums as well.

The suggestion that a paying punter who finds a festival's 'offer' lacking should take it upon himself to arrange an alternative programme would be laughable in any other setting. ("Not happy with the restaurant menu? Never mind, you can always barge into the kitchen and start cooking yourself" - I wonder what Gordon Ramsay would make of that?)

In any case, if I've left it too late to "get off my backside" this year, that may be because I've only had the Whitby programme for a week.

If I see Tom Napper, I'll certainly ask if he's likely to be running workshops at Whitby next year. If anyone else with an interest sees him, please ask, and post the answer on here.

For those who think I'm just an annoying twat who should stop rocking the boat, let me explain why this matters to me.

For most of the instruments I try to play, I'm largely self-taught. Not from choice, but because I haven't been able to find anyone locally to teach me.

In previous years, the Whitby banjo sessions, run by Tom Napper, have been like an oasis of light in my personal musical desert. The book of dots recommended by Tom is in almost daily use, and is now falling apart. Yes, I can blunder on, trying to improve by myself, without the boost you get from a series of informative workshops, and will do, as far as I can.

Finally, a big 'thank you' to Comrade Ossonflags for the kind and supportive words, and the many happy afternoons of musically 'sailing down the Humber'.