Sidmouth Silence

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 19 Apr 05 - 08:07 PM

We love you too Dave!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: Dave Earl
Date: 18 Apr 05 - 09:11 AM

Lyne and Trish.

Thank you for the very kind things you said

Dave

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: GUEST,sounds of
Date: 17 Apr 05 - 11:21 AM

coming up on the inside

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: GUEST,MBSLynne
Date: 16 Apr 05 - 08:41 AM

I agree entirely Trish. Songs are written to be sung and neither the writer nor the person with whom it was associated would wish the song to die I'm sure. If when you hear a song it always reminds you of someone who has died, that's all to the good...then the person remains with you.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 09:20 PM

I'm sure you'll do it justice Dave: and everyone else present as it's a song that depends on a lot of harmony and intertwining of lines, which a solo voice cannot do on its own.
I take your point about not overdoing it, but it is also sad when people stop singing a good song because it was closely associated with someone who is unfortunately no longer with us. This has happened up here with a certain song: if any unsuspecting newcomer to the session should happen to sing it a sort of frisson goes round the room, even though the guy who used to sing it passed away around 15 years ago!
TB

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: EagleWing
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 12:10 PM

I'm sad about the festival closing too Lizzie

Which festival is that, Clotted Cream?

Not Sidmouth - that's definitely not closed or closing. It's alive and well and happening in (wait for it) Sidmouth.

Frank L

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: MBSLynne
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 08:37 AM

Sorry Dave..I missed that post. I also missed you singing it at the National. Don't fret...nothing you can do to change it now! I'm sure everyone enjoyed it...

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: GUEST,clotted cream
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 08:31 AM



I'm sad about the festival closing too Lizzie

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: Dave Earl
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 10:24 AM

Thanks Lynne.

You may have been in the room when I sang it at The National. I did not think I made a very good job of it and have been fretting about it ever since.

I have told myself that it now a song for the right moment only.

Dave

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: MBSLynne
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 10:09 AM

Yes, you have to strike a balance between doing it too much so it loses some of it's associations with Chris, and not doing it enough so it disappears. I'm sure you'll manage to tread the line wonderfully well Dave!

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: Dave Earl
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 08:48 AM

OK Trish (Tattie Bogle)

Ask me nicely at an appropriate time in the Middle Bar and if I have not had too much to drink I will sing it again.

But like I said in the other thread I don't want to overdo it for fear of detracting from what it means to Chris's friends in the Middle Bar. I would think that once on Sunday and secondly on the last night.

Also I don't want to take over Chris's place among us. Lets just sing it as best we can and raise a glass at the end to Chris's memory.

Dave

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: Cllr
Date: 11 Apr 05 - 05:57 PM

tattie thank you for that Cllr

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 11 Apr 05 - 02:32 PM

And "Blessed Quietness" too. I've just read the recent posts re Chris Gorniak, and look forward to Breton Cap leading this one again.
TB

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: Cllr
Date: 09 Apr 05 - 04:30 PM

Lol keep up the good work lizzie before Mr Tbliar starts telling us how good the new PEL laws are,Cllr PS PEL not in my name Cllr

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: GUEST,T. Bliar
Date: 09 Apr 05 - 02:30 PM

"I think Lizzie is great... I for one really enjoy reading her posts" - Cllr.

Which helps to explain why the party you're a Cllr. for is such a shambles.

Leave Lizzie alone, return to the real world and go and knock on some doors.

You might meet some real people instead of cyber-Liz.

Tony

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: Lizzie in beautiful Sidmouth
Date: 09 Apr 05 - 08:18 AM

Lizzie :0)


(Forgot to sign off in the post above! Sorry) Too busy thinking of Simon and Garfunkel!

Subject: Lyr Add: THE SOUND OF SILENCE (Paul Simon)
From: Lizzie in beautiful Sidmouth
Date: 09 Apr 05 - 08:16 AM

"The Sound of Silence"

Wonder if anyone will be singing that at Sidmouth Folk Week this year?

Maybe we could all sit up in The Arena/Knowle Park and sing it together! I rather fancy 'A Singaround In The Sun'

Mmmmmmm......

"Hello darkness my old friend,
I've come to talk with you again.
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain,
Still remains,
Within the Sound of Silence

In restless dreams I walked alone,
Narrow streets of cobblestone,
'Neath the halo of a streetlamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp,
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash
Of a neon light, that split the night,
And touched the sound of silence.

And in the naked light I saw,
Ten thousand people, maybe more,
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs that voices never share,
No-one dare,
Disturb the Sound of Silence

Fool said I you do not know,
Silence like a cancer grows,
Hear my words that I might teach you,
Take my arms that I might reach you.
But my words like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed in the wells of silence.

And the people bowed and prayed,
To the neon God they made,
And the sign flashed out its' warning,
In the words that it was forming,
And the sign said the words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenements halls
And whisper'd in the Sounds of Silence.


Altogether now! I shall expect you to be word perfect and we shall sing up to the tops of the trees in The Arena! ;0)

There will, of course, be ANYTHING BUT the sound of silence in Sidmouth this year!

Interesting fact time! Did you know that on Seth Lakeman's 'Kitty Jay' CD, Harper Simon, son of Paul, is playing guitar? Isn't that a good link!!! ;0)

See where my strange mind leads you all! Kitty Jay is SUCH a good CD btw! Would love it if Seth turned up at Sidmouth, you never know, he might...does a lot with Show of Hands. A brilliant young talent!
Benji Kirkpatrick is also on that CD helping Seth out.

Right then...I'm off!

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: Cllr
Date: 09 Apr 05 - 07:49 AM

I think lizzie is great more I for one really enjoy reading her posts
Cllr

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: GUEST,Another Guest
Date: 09 Apr 05 - 06:55 AM

Wish Lizzie would as well.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: The Barden of England
Date: 08 Apr 05 - 11:53 AM

Blimey - GUEST has just gone silent

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Apr 05 - 11:46 AM

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 07:45 PM

I think it's called a "Clap" Lynne..............Er.. On second thoughts, perhaps not.

Ta
Don T.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: GUEST,MBSLynne
Date: 06 Apr 05 - 05:22 AM

Not sure if there is a symbol of any sort for "A round of applause". If there is...you have it Don. Very well put, hear hear!!

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 08:15 PM

Thank you for that kind reference, Tatty Bogle, Glad you enjoy them, and I'll hope you can make it.

See you there, maybe
Don T.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 08:08 PM

I don't know yet whether I shall get to Sidmouth Folk week 2005, but it's mainly a question of work commitments rather than any lack of enthusiasm for a smaller festival. I have relatives in Sidmouth, so accommodation is not a problem.
One problem in the past has been the sheer hugeness of the festival, and getting bigger by the year until the current problems. I go to many smaller festivals where there is more than enough to fill my time and keep me happy. One of the things I have found in Sidmouth is the problem of not being able to get to everything on the programme that I would like to, despite having bought a season ticket for the last few years. I usually divide my time between scheduled events and sessions, so as for Don (wonderful songs, by the way!) I am not one of these "hangers-on" who never contribute financially to the festival.
Having looked at the proposed events for this year, there is more than enough to make me come 400+ miles for it,(if I can get the time off), so please don't knock the strenuous efforts of those who are trying to keep a festival going.
Keep up the good work, and let the doom merchants all be advised to come to the "Doom, Gloom and Despondency" afternoon where they would no doubt walk off with the prizes!
TB

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 07:34 PM

Terry Salmond,

I am sure I am not the only one of the Sidmouth sessions supporters who is getting a little tired of posters making unfounded assumptions about my involvement in Sidmouth as it was.

Why do all the supporters of former arena shows automatically assume that a session performer does not buy tickets to enjoy concerts, pay to take part in workshops, and generally support the festival whose loss both you and we are lamenting?

If anything the boot must be presumed, with more telling evidence, to be on the other foot.

If concert fans were in the habit of spending a little of their time attending the odd session, there might be fewer striking Sidmouth 2005 off their itinerary.

So, while some of our funds have supported your favourite festival, we have been the main support of ours.

If we had decided to stay away this year, there might never have been a Sidmouth festival 2006, as a result of the loss of continuity. As it is, we hope that 2006 will see the return of a Sidmouth that will be more to your liking, and, if that is the case, perhaps you may remember who it was that kept the light burning for you, and drop in occasionally.

Who knows? Perhaps you might enjoy what we do, and we might not have to suffer descriptions like "The fringe", or "A few tea dances and singarounds". Many of us are semi pro, or fully pro performers, and good at what we do.

I hope that we will see you in 2006 and that it will be more to your taste. We will be there unless the Sidmouth authorities actually refuse to let us. Our aim IS to bring Sidmouth back to its former excellence, but that will take time.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 04:17 PM

BB - you forgot the Manor Pavilion, which I think probably has a licence for performances all year round, and will also be a venue for concerts, including Unsung Heroes.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: BB
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 03:49 PM

The Bedford will not be free, so there's income there, and is hosting concerts in the evenings, and other things during the day. The Ham marquee will also be hosting concerts. There's two options for those who enjoy concert-going.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: GUEST,Terry Salmond
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 12:14 PM

Hello All!

I've resisted posting until now though I've read all the other postings with interest.

I think Don that there are actually quite a large number of individuals and groups who, for one reason or another, don't support or have much faith in this year's event.

Equally there are many individuals who do support plans for the 2005 Folk Week.

One common factor seems to be that those who go to Sidmouth mainly to sing or dance are supportive of the 2005 event while those who go mainly for the concerts or the arena displays are disappointed by this year's plans.

It seems the song and dance side of things will be as good as ever but obviously there will be far fewer concerts and no arena shows at all.

Several people have commented that the arena shows were "risky" but Steve Heap has often said that it was the arena shows and the concerts that brought in the income to keep the whole festival going.

Take that income stream away, and take away the £60,000 EDDC grant, and there doesn't look to be much cash coming in.

This, of course, won't affect The Anchor, The Bedford or the free performances on the Prom.

Maybe that is the way Sidmouth is heading - lots of song sessions and free performances on the Prom but nothing much to attract concert-goers.

A much more informal but still enjoyable Folk Week but most certainly not the International Folk Festival as we have known it.

terry

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 11:41 AM

Jon, Ian and Lynne,

There is also another group who may be involved in this. When we were discussing this in the Bedford at last year's festival, there were many present who were vociferously advocating a boycott of any festival this year, "to teach the Sidmouth business community a lesson about what they would lose by non-support". A patently ridiculous idea, and we told them where to go, but they are still out there. They would definitely like it to be a disaster.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: GUEST,MBSLynne
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 07:31 AM

You're right Jon and Ian, and it's something I fail to understand too. I'm glad that, as impartial observers, you believe that it won't do much harm.... I don't think it will either, and I'm convinced that we are going to have a brilliant week, though obviously different from previous Sidmouth festivals. A lot of hard work has gone and is going into producing the festival in the comparatively short time we have. It is rather upsetting that someone seems to want to disrupt it and prevent those of us who love Sidmouth Festival from making sure it continues. However, there always was a handful of locals who disliked the festival and would be glad to get rid of it, one of whom used to be very vociferous against it in the local press. I can only assume that it's this group who are taking what they see as an opportunity of preventing the festival from continuing.

And thank you Gadaffi for that succinct clarification of the current situation

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: IanC
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 06:31 AM

Jon

Yes, I'm also pretty well impartial and I've observed the same. It's pretty unsubtle to be honest, so I don't think it's likely to do more than a minimum of harm but I can't really understand the kind of bitterness which seems to underline the mock "concerned enquiries" (I don't mean the occasional genuine ones).

It's alien to me, particularly in a folk context.

Perhaps they'll just stop doing it.

:-)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 06:26 AM

I'm pretty much an impartial observer in this Lynne as I've never been to Sidmouth and won't be going this year. I have not read all of the threads here but have read through a few and it has made quite interesting reading.

While I don't doubt there are genuine concerns, it also seems to me that there is an active desire from some parties to see Sidmouth fail this year. Efforts made in that direction seem to include rather clumsy attempts at sowing the seeds of doubt in the minds of others under the guise of being concerned, etc.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: GUEST,Gadaffi
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 05:58 AM

The licensing situation as I understand it is thus:

Licenses have been applied for from East Devon Distric Council, who have been cooperative and supportive. The police and fire authorities have similarly been notified and asked for comment - no problem there. The granting of licenses is a complex procedure, and isn't actually made until a final inspection is made when the marquee is up and ready for use, i.e. Festival Week. This has always been the procedure, even when Mrs. Casey was running the Festival. Similar situations take place at other music festivals up and down the country.

There are regular meetings between EDDC and various factions of organisers on a regular basis, and individual workshop leaders are kept notified and attend meetings as and when. An effective working programme is being compiled, with a copy late later this month.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: GUEST,MBSLynne
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 05:35 AM

It doesn't seem to make any difference how often it's said.....the current organisers have all had a wealth of experience at running festivals and events...one of the members of the steering group is actually an ex-Sidmouth festival director. The people who choose to believe that Sidmouth this year will be a disaster (and I'm not sure why they do)don't seem to hear.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 05 Apr 05 - 04:01 AM

I don't understand you top cat. As far as I can make out, the previous organisers and the current organisers both consider using/relying on the arena risky.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: GUEST,Top Cat
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 09:10 PM

Maybe Jon the previous organisers knew what they were doing and the present organisers do not.

The Ham Marquee is still not licensed according to EDDC, there's still no news on tickets, the 'Folk Week' website has gone silent and details of who if anyone is underwriting the 2005 event are unknown.

Add all that to the fact that some of the artists listed on the Folk Week website insist they are not only not playing at Sidmouth this year, they haven't even been approached.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 08:28 AM

Well I must admit to being confused. I notice on your site you say:

The festival costs about £750,000 to put on. Half a million pounds comes from committed income before the week starts and that leaves almost £250,000 to be raised during the week. That has to come largely from Arena ticket sales and if it rains for only part of the week then the income is not made but the costs still have to be paid. Who pays the loss? [snip]...the two shareholders of Sidmouth International Festival Limited Steve Heap and Richard Carver. Quite rightly these two men are now saying that the personal risk is too great.

In recent years the festival has not always covered its costs and when that has happened, Mrs Casey Music has subsidised the Festival from its other activities. In spite of best efforts. it has not been able to build up a wet-weather contingency fund since the previous fund disappeared in the wet and muddy year of 1997.

It's too great a risk for the previous organisers but not a problem for the new organisers?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 08:24 AM

It's not a very deep analysis. In previous threads (and in letters from Steve Heap) we have been told that one of the reasons for the insecurity of income from the arena concerts was that a large proportion of tickets were sold on the day and therefore gate receipts were subject to the weather. This is not mentioned in the analysis. If the arena is to be used it must be underwritten by pluvius insurance (apparently highly expensive and adding to the cost of ticket) or by a local body. As no local body was willing to do this then the viability of using the arena remains in doubt. If someone is willing to underwrite the arena in the future then why aren't they willing now?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 06:29 AM

There seems to be a lack of clarity regarding analysis of the Arena. Why on earth should it not come back in future years?? The following text is from page folk54 on SeeRed

"In late December 2004 the idea of holding concerts at the arena was abandoned. The reason given was that 'the financial risks were too great' but in reality too much money might have had to be found 'up-front' by organisers who did not possess industry credibility. It would have been difficult not to make a profit from a few well attended concerts, but no-one is sure how many people will come to Sidmouth in 2005 - let alone how many will stay all week."

An earlier analysis of the arena's potential as a moneyspinner is given on folk44 here - Anyone wish to fault this analysis??

Not for the first time, please read it before commenting.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: GUEST,Sidmouth fan
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 05:43 AM

Thank you for replying to my earlier posting Lynne.

I'm grateful for the information you supplied and I can understand that those like yourself who seldom visited the arena won't miss it.

The sessions you enjoy will no doubt be as good as ever.

For me and many others though the arena was the centre of the festival attracting huge crowds of people who never participated in the sessions or the dances.

Those crowds now have nothing to attract them to Sidmouth.

That is why I won't be at Sidmouth this year but I will still be thinking of those who are there and I hope you enjoy Sidmouth 2005 Lynne as much as I enjoyed many festivals in the past.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: MBSLynne
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 05:15 AM

As I understand it, one of the reasons Steve Heap quit was that the Arena was massively expensive to run and in the event of bad weather was the place which would also lose the most money. Stuart Hughes, who used to run the Carribean night, tried to take on the arena for this year but also found that it was not a viable proposition, so gave up the idea. This isn't a situation that's likely to change as far as I can see.

>>The arena was the central attraction at Sidmouth>>

For some people. There are a lot of us for which it wasn't. I never went to the dance shows there in 23 years, and only three times to concerts. I'm sad at the loss of the arena showground, which I loved, but it's actually the only loss as far as I'm concerned.

>>No arena means Sidmouth will never be as good again>>

Again, only for some people. Sidmouth will be DIFFERENT from what it was, but that doesn't mean it won't be as good. I'd certainly rather have Sidmouth Festival with no arena, than no Festival at all, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how it develops now. Festivals, folk music, everything to do with people, never stay the same, they evolve. Sidmouth has changed massively in 51 years. It's changed a lot in the 23 years I've been going. This is just another change. I'm looking forward to it, and I know a lot of people who are being attracted by the fact that it will be smaller and, perhaps in some ways, back more to what it used to be.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: GUEST,Sidmouth fan
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 04:36 AM

"It's very unlikely that the arena will ever be back as part of the festival" - MBS Lynne

Why not Lynne?

The arena was the central attraction at Sidmouth.

No arena means Sidmouth will never be as good again.

Sidmouth fan (not attending this year)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: MBSLynne
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 03:12 AM

Tabby, it won't BE just half a festival. Just because there won't be the things you enjoy, doesn't mean it won't be a perfectly good festival for the majority of us. I rarely go to concerts and have never been to the International dance things at the arena. MY festival will still be there, and possibly even better than in recent years.

Those of us who will be going are very happy there IS a festival this year, so just because you won't like it is no reason to wish it not there at all.

Love Lynne
PS It's very unlikely that the arena will ever be back as part of the festival.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: steve_harris
Date: 03 Apr 05 - 09:41 PM

It has been made clear for some time that detailed event details and tickets would not be available until May.

This is only a *little* different from previous years where season tickets were available this early but full information on events wasn't available until well after May.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: GUEST,Tabitha
Date: 03 Apr 05 - 07:40 PM

I'm giving Sidmouth a miss this year as it doesn't sound as good as in previous years.

I don't sing, I don't dance but I do love the concerts and international events in the arena.

There's no arena events this year and far fewer concerts so I'm afraid there's not much to interest me or my family.

I hope Lynne is right in saying there will be a proper festival again in 2006.

Personally I wish there had been no festival this year instead of just half a festival. What is most important though is that we get the full festival restored in 2006.

Tabby

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 03 Apr 05 - 10:29 AM

All the time that Folk week 2005 is being organised, at the same time, Sidmouth Festival 2006 is also being planned and organised, so have no fear, though this year may seem a little less smooth and professional that usual

Shame, but of course good luck and I hope you all do get back to the Sidmouth Festival you love. Bieng somone who would spend most of his time in sessions and maybe go to listen to 1 or 2 artists, I have to say I do prefer the sound of this years Sidmouth - I think it would be more up my street. Can't make it though.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: GUEST,MBSLynne
Date: 03 Apr 05 - 10:15 AM

While the events are separate and being run by separate individuals, there is an overall 'steering group' seeing to things like promotion, ticket sales etc. All the separate individuals are included in the steering group, so it's not quite so fragmented as my original post may have made it sound. Also, it must be remembered that this set-up will only apply THIS year. From 2006 Sidmouth will be back to being a proper festival again, with season tickets etc. The reason for this, is that we did not have either the time or finance to organise it as has been done in the past. All the time that Folk week 2005 is being organised, at the same time, Sidmouth Festival 2006 is also being planned and organised, so have no fear, though this year may seem a little less smooth and professional that usual, subsequent years will not be like this.

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: Lizzie in beautiful Sidmouth
Date: 03 Apr 05 - 09:48 AM

Yawwww.......nnnnn! Stre.....tch!.......! Blin.....k!........Yaawnnnn!
>0) >0) .-0 .-0 ;-0 ;-0 :-0 :-0 ;0) :0) :0) :0) :0) :0)

OOH! Hi Guys! How are you all?....I was having a little snoozles there... down on the seafront!

Gosh it was SUCH a beautiful day yesterday in Sidmouth. Even without The Folk Festival or Folk Week I am extremely lucky to live in a SUCH a beautiufl place! It was packed out yesterday....EVERYONE was on the beach, some were in the water...Brrrrrrr! Ice-creams dripping off the children's faces, red-shoulders,surf boards, sea air, children on their bikes, little dogs still able to run about on the beach...lovely atmosphere!

We took the dogs for a walk up on Salcombe Hill as well, from where you can look right down on the whole town and see a living map...it really is the most glorious view imaginable!

The only thing that was missing was all of you....dancing on The Esplanade, drinking in the pubs, with the music spilling out on to the pavements. That wonderful sound of the concerts rising up on the wind and carrying the sound right up to Salcombe Hill. Jim McAdams singing his heart out....me swooning to his music ;0) (Hello Jim! ermmmm...Hi there Annie! ;0)..).....the accordion/melodeon players sitting on the sea wall. the fiddlers everywhere, the singers. Down on The Ham.....the crowds thronging into The Marquee....the sweet smell of Beer.....Show of Hands, The Battlefield Band, Bellowhead, Whapweasel, Kathryn Tickell, The Duncan McFarlane Band, Little Johnny England and so very, very many others.

And throughout it all....a sense of wonderment that it all is finally going to happen. And that it is happening because so many of us have chosen to turn our backs upon The Doubters, The Stirrers, and The Mean-Spirited! We have chosen to go forward...with faith in our hearts and support for the 2005 Organisers, who all know EXACTLY what they are doing! And all of you who have so very many happy memories of what Sidmouth has always been and will continue to be! AND I'm so looking foward to seeing what will actually happen in The Arena this year, with all of us being free to make it our own place. We were in there this morning again, with the dogs....it's so beautiful to see it as it naturally is.

Anyway, a warm glow comes over me when I think of you all....especially when I remember that it is now only 117 days to go to Sidmouth 2005!

And there is absolutely NO WAY I'm missing the Torch Procession this year, because this year, more than EVER before, it will be the signal of many more Sidmouths to come....and my family will be there to watch it all, along with many of you I hope.

We shall be first in line to get tickets this year! We have SO many things that we want to take part in! Just can't wait!


Lizzie xxx :0)



PS: Hello Stevie Scarlett...At it again I see! You Bad Little Elf! ;0)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth Silence
From: GUEST,Observer
Date: 03 Apr 05 - 08:01 AM

Joan - you made the wide sweeping statement that TICs don't have professional box office systems. I can't speak for the Sidmouth one, but that certainly isn't the case in my town. They have a computerised box office system, and sell tickets for a wide number of venues and events throughout the town.