Back in the Stone Age (ok, 1960's) when I moved to Devon, Sidmouth was known as a retirement town. In fact, Budleigh Salterton was majors and below, Sidmouth was majors and above, a reference to the rank of the retired army types who moved there. There was a considerable hostility to the festival - I remember pubs with signs in the window saying 'No Festival People'. I remember being in the market buying some sandwiches and hearing the stallholder say that he had to serve 'these festival people' but he'd rather not. Things have changed for the better, so I don't recognise the picture of a town of happy locals recently invaded by snobby Londoners. And no-one ever ever ever called it 'Siddy'. 'Sidders' maybe, but never 'Siddy'.