In the last decade, the EFDSS has turned itself around to be one of the most vibrant and positive forces for folk and traditional music in this country, from the dull stuffy organisation that it used to be.

If the Arts Council were to have looked at EFDSS 15 years ago, they would have concluded, rightly, that they were not worthy of support. A detailed inspection of what they are up to now would show an almost unrecognisable improvement.

The harsh critics of EFDSS - and I count myself amongst them - can only drop their jaws at the changes that have been made. Congratulations to everyone involved.

Amen to all that, and having myself regarded the EFDSS as, at best, an irrelevance throughout the 80s and 90s I joined a couple of years ago in response to the changes of focus and organisation that Vic describes. The Arts Council funding for the EFDSS is excellent news, and can only help to continue the transformation of the Society.