The point Roger Hayes seems to be trying to make that Sidmouth was a lot smaller this year than in previous years does not necessarily mean that it will remain a small festival. Apart from anything else, Mrs Casey (in the guise of Steve Heap) was quite open that it took eighteen months to two years to organise something of the order that the company ran. This year's organisation had less than twelve months - and very limited budgets.

The other point Roger misses is that the festival this year was built very much around the fringe events - largely the pub sessions and so on. Again, this was due to the constraints of time in organising things, and the limited budgets available.

So stop being negative Roger - come back next year, and see what can be done. Yes, the festival will change direction (but it has done so before, and no doubt will do again in the future). No it won't be the massive International Festival that Mrs Casey built up, but will probably return to being a Folk Festival. What is certain is that it will continue to celebrate the "Folk" arts.

And when you do come back, I might even let you buy me a pint in the Dove, or the Anchor, or...

epn