After consulting the relevant issues of English Dance & Song, I can say that the first "Whitby Festival" was Saturday 27 August to Thursday 1 September 1966. That included the bank holiday Monday.

In 1967, the dates were Sunday 27 August to Thursday 31 August (again including bank holiday).

In 1968 - Sat 31 Aug to Wed 4 Sept - the bank holiday that year was Monday 2 September...

In 1969, Sat 30 August to Wed 3 September - the bank holiday was 1 September...

1970: a change - Monday 24- Friday 28 August. Before the bank holiday. (Guests: Tim Hart & Maddy prior, Tony Rose, Orange & Blue, Nibs Matthews, Barnsley Sword...)

1971: Monday 23 - Friday 27 August. Yetties, Tony Rose, John Kirkpatrick, Derek & Dorothy Elliott. "Last year as a light-hearted venture, a War of the Roses contest was introduced. It proved so popular that it will be included again this year". That was the first time I went, and I remember that some people stayed on over the bank holiday weekend with informal sessions. Mike Harding was also there.

Derek Schofield