To Barry Martin and all detractors of Sidmouth 2005,

Forget about the International music and dance workshops. They're not happening this year........Live with it!

Remember that the English folk music and dance you so disdain and disparage was the foundation on which the international festival was built. If you could all see beyond the end of your noses, throw your considerable energy into positive support of what we are able to supply this year, and help make it a success, the same thing WILL happen again.

If all you are prepared to do is bitch and carp about what CAN'T be achieved in 2005, then we don't need you. Go start your own thread, and we'll leave you to be miserable as you like on that one.

Meantime we'll concentrate on cultivating, rather than alienating, the people of Sidmouth, so that they will want the festivals to continue in 2006 and beyond.

Steve Heap isn't coming back any time soon, so someone else will have to produce the goods. They won't get everything right straight away, but, with support rather than carping criticism, their results will improve, and the International festival will rise again.

If we had followed your line this year, IMHO there would have been no chance of Sidmouth 2006 happening at all.

So you might have to admit, at some point, that it was worth while our running "a few tea dances and song sessions" to use your disparaging, and erroneous comment.

There will be concerts and workshops, and we will, as always be visiting them, as well as supporting sessions.

For God's sake grow up, and stop throwing your rattle out of the pram just because you don't get everything the way you want it. Things change, and tho' we don't like the changes, some of us are mature enough to accept them, and get on with it. The down side of that is the fact that what we achieve also benefits whingers who do nothing but moan and belittle our efforts.

Hoping not to hear from you again
Don T.