Don't worry Liz,

Nobody who really cares about Sidmouth is going to jump all over one who supports Sidmouth, and does all that is within her means to keep it going.

I have said elsewhere that I fall into that bracket which is described (understatement of the year) as low paid. The cost, to me, of my yearly visit is having to spend the other two weeks of my summer holiday sitting at home, and I consider it a price worth paying.

Let's face it. You can only do what finances allow, and that applies to everything, not just Sidmouth.

Anuone who thinks that stewarding is an easy way to get a cheap deal has, IMHO, lost the plot. It is in fact the only way to be there for a lot of less well off people, and involves considerable hard work, as well as the possibility of missing some of the events you want to attend because of duty conflicts.

What the fringe haters tend to forget is that the fringe is not a separate entity outside of the festival, but part of the whole experience.

It plays its part in bringing in the people who spend money, thereby allowing the festival to continue year after year, and the music and dance on the seafront, and around the town give the whole scene an ambience quite different than other festivals.

Cut off the fringe and you have a smaller Cambridge.

There has been too much aggressive argument about this year, and it must have been counter productive to some extent. I would like very much to see an end of the demonisation of supporters by those who wish for a flop, and an end also to the angry responses from supporters (I have been part of that at times, I'm ashamed to say).

Let's just forget it and go enjoy ourselves. and put into it all that we are able. The rewards will come next year and hopefully many more years in the future.

Don T.