Derek, you are of course quite correct in the location of the beach store, I was trying in my clumsy way to describe the location as situated roughly beneath the current position of the flats which as you pointed out replaced the old garage, I thought the flats were built earlier than 1985, but as the beach store was still in use until '85 my memory is obviously playing tricks!!
My first visit to the festival was in 1966 and I remember many excellent sessions in the beach store over the next few years particularly hearing Dave and Toni Arthour singing there for the first time, I new Dave and Toni socially from my time as a visitor to the Pheobus Awakes folk club in Catford, I had met them through a mutual friend (the Late Jacqui Walker as she was then ) but had never heard them singing together until then.
I must admit the venues for the modern Folkweek are a lot more sophisticated and comfortable, but there was something about squatting on the floor of the Horse and groom skittle alley, or sitting in a broken deckchair or in the sand in the beach store.Or perhaps its just time lending a rose tint to the memories.
Henry.