English folkies owe a lot to the Alcester retained firemen and their families, for the way they have made us welcome and treated us as honoured guests.

They provided a superb concert venue at a week's notice when another Festival venue pulled out, by clearing the main engine hall and parking the appliances outside. And did so again every year for the last 5/6/7(?) years.

Many catters will have fond memories of attending concerts there with the superb acoustics, and for those lucky enough to perform there, the experience was unforgettable.

And there were always volunteers there to serve us excellent (and cheap beer) all weekend, and the wives and sweethearts manning the barbecue behind the station. Always a friendly greeting and a welcoming smile.

A couple of years ago, as a member of the Shellback chorus we were privileged at the Sunday Festival church service to sing a welcoming song for a baby's christening. Later that day at the fire station, the baby's grandfather and father (who, I believe, were both firemen)sought out every Shellback they could find to thank them personally for singing for the baby.

The English folk community owes the Alcester firemen so much, not just for putting their lives on the line as an emergency service, but also for tasking us to their hearts and welcoming us as friends. They took us in when we were "homeless" and made us feel wanted and appreciated.

I hope in the coming weeks and months that we will able to repay at least a small part of the debt we owe them.