I remember reading somewhere one of the more 'famous' folkies' Mum saying that she'd always felt that when her children were younger they were safe to wander round Siddy on their own, as there were people everywhere and so many wonderful things for the children to take part in. It DOES have a special atmosphere and the rest of the year round it is still a wonderful place for children to grow up.

That doesn't sound especially unusual to me and while I haven't been anywhere where there are "special childrens festivals", the forming of sort of "families" where people will keep an eye on other people's property, kids, even other adults if they've had a few to many... is familiar to me.

It strikes me that it might be something that is going though. A few years back, I had a Walkman stolen from some we thought to be "some of us", something you never used to dream of happening, I've read elsewhere that some festivals (and presumably larger more popular ones) have suffered from "tent thieves" who are buying season tickets to rob.

I'd like to think I'm wrong but I can't really imagine Sidmouth or anywhere being "special" enough to escape from this.