It's true,I haven't been to any other really big festivals in the UK, and I am glad that Broadstairs and Whitby are as inclusive and participatory because it means we'll have somewhere else to go if Sidmouth dies. But it won't be the same, and perhaps that's age speaking. Although I love the west coast here, and have been here for 38 years, I sometimes wish that I could spend just one year in the UK (my birthplace) and take in all these marvellous festivals that you lucky people seem to have every weekend, somewhere. Is anyone interested over there in getting secured gov't funding for Sidmouth? You all know your gov't much better than I do, and god knows the Canadian government wouldn't fork out a bent nickel for a folk festival, especially if it, god forbid, had any true Canadian content, let alone Canadian traditions (Yes, we have many) Is the Blair gov't the same when it comes to the arts and English heritage?

Please, some of you, get more positive. I've seen amazing things happen when enough people write letters, go to meetings, protest, come up with viable solutions. I'm sure that's happening about Sidmouth already, and more people are probably needed.

I just want to comment about the geography of Sidmouth. I agree that it is difficult to get from one event to another, and last time we went we came home with sore feet and hips due to all the unaccustomed pavement pounding we were doing. But I loved that we were in a town and not a farmer's field or an impersonal exhibition ground somewhere. It meant I didn't have to camp, I could eat at a nice restaurant if I got fed up with the food at the arena, I could go back to my B&B and listen to the Kate Rusby concert from the open window, or I could just wander along the prom or sit on the beach or go for a walk on the cliffs. For us, of course, being "furriners", this was all gravy. Perhaps others who are used to little Devon seaside resorts don't feel the same way. I like Sidmouth, and I was grateful that the townspeople allowed the festival to disrupt their lives for a week. I am sorry to hear that some of them resented us.