I echo the praise for Gordon Newton who has put his money where his mouth is to try and keep a folk music event alive in Sidmouth.

Sad to say though that many of the posters on mudcat seem happy to have a smaller event where they just go to sessions and dance displays instead of putting their own hands in their pockets to support Gordon and the concerts programme at the Ham.

If many of those concerts lose money in 2005 and Gordon himself loses a substantial sum who in their right sense of mind will invest time, energy and hard cash to resurrect a proper folk festival in 2006?