>>For your interest, and for balance, here is Belinda's announcement, which can be seen on her myspace.

" It is with a mixture of regret and relief that I have left Rachel Unthank & the Winterset. I have enjoyed much of being a part of this band, especially the warmth and humour underlying our music – I will always have fond memories of the past few years and of the music we created and performed together both with the hugely talented Jackie Oates and more recently with equally fab Niopha Keegan.

I wish Rachel, Becky & Niopha well. The decision to leave was a very difficult one, but one I am happy with. I will now be managing my own career and I am very much looking forward to a bright future in folk music – who knows what opportunities may cross my path…Maybe Bonnie Tyler will finally ask me to duet with her! Well, dreams aside, I've already started writing songs…see you soon xx"<<<


May I suggest that the Winterset's remaining members learn from the modest message that Belinda has left, which contains no bitterness, no unpleasantness and no tale-telling. It is totally lacking in self-pity or angst, making no excuses, nor pointing any fingers.

To say nothing is by the far best way. People may then speculate, true, but what does that matter. The people concerned are the ones who know what happened and it should rest with them. It is of no business to anyone else.

Might I also take this opportunity to wish Belinda, and her former colleagues well, in whatever lies ahead for them all.