As chairman of Ryburn 3 Step folk development group in West Yorkshire, I agreed to collaborate on the proposed online folk directory being planned by Nick Hallam. Nick came and met with me as part of a whistle stop fact finding tour to Yorkshire and we spent a long time talking and comparing ideas.

If the term "does not understand the organisation and what it's about." has truly been used about him then I can say that it is nonsense because he has a solid and well informed view of the folk scene, the society and the possibilities for the future. I say this as a folk activist with 40+ years of experience as a performer and organiser and ten years experience as a trustee of the EFDSS.

As well as being a pleasant and amiable man, he has a keen mind, an ability to think strategically, and a new found enthusiasm for folk music which has even got him learning the melodeon ( ok, so nobody's perfect, but it could have been the banjo!) ducks!

Another thing that came over strongly was his commitment to activity in the regions. He is the only EFDSS officer who has come out of London to talk to us and seek our viewpoint.

While the staff team team at C#H appear stronger than they have been for some time, there is still a long way to go and it was clear to me that Nick has engaged with the regional needs of the society as well as the general marketing and that he has the ability to make things happen. It is also clear to many others that I have talked to who came to the same opinions.

Whatever the reasons for not renewing his contract and taking him into full employment status, it is not his ability or his commitment or his enthusiasm. I'm guessing it is something more mundane and to do with personalities.