Just a bit of advanced notice of changes in arrangements at the York and Faulkner Hotel for this year's Sidmouth.

For a few years now myself, Julia and Taff Brissenden have run and evening singaround in the York and Faulkner lounge. This was started and carried on for a good many years by Rosie Daisley.

The hotel has now decided to become a full festival venue.

The evening singarounds were a part of the "fringe" and the hotel has decided that it is in their best interests not to continue holding the evening sessions. Also Taff is now well into his eighties and now says he wants to be a free agent and not to be tied down in the evenings. Running the sessions in the evening can be a bit stressful at times and Taff has come to a sensible decision here.

I'm not sure what future arrangements are for the evenings - they may well be putting on concerts there. All will hopefull be revealed a bit nearer the time.

Also to stress that the morning singarounds hosted by Tim and Kitty are unaffected and also, I would presume, the "Doom, Gloom and Despondency" contest on Thursday.

This is because they are held under slightly different terms, being official festival events rather than "fringe".

Also to stress that there has, in spite of one or two niggles last year, no major falling out with us and the Y and F: they have just taken what they consider to be the best way forward for the hotel.

We said that we would be OK whatever decision they came to.

Dave and Julia