The definitive position is this, believe me. The festival would not exist if it was not primarily undertaken as a tourism promotion, bringing substantial economomic benefit to the North Lancashire economy. Lancaster City Council does/will not allocate the significant funds needed to run such a major festival, just for the sake of promoting the arts or providing a platform for local 'folk' musicians. However, the main vision in establishing the festival was to develop and celebrate the area's inherent maritime resources, particularly the cultural heritage.

Thus it was possible, quite legitimately, for sea song and shanty performances to be made a prime attraction in the procedings.Lancaster's maritime festival was created by the Council's then Tourism Development Officer, now Senior Festivals & Events Officer, who still directs all aspects of the festival with the help of a highly motivated, hard working production team, which has come together to keep the festival afloat, through stormy weather, rough seas and periods of being becalmed. The great body of festival supporters, especially the Shipmates and local voluntary helpers from Glasson, have provided inspiration that has kept the team motivated through very difficult times in recent years.

It needs to be made clear that all the uncertainty and rumours of problems, which have accompanied the festival over the last four or five years are nothing at all to do with any shortcomings or failings.In fact the opposite is the case. They result from it being an acclaimed award-winning success, which combines the nation's premier showcase of traditonal maritime music, with a programme of entertaining and more thoughtful, maritime themed events and activities - and almost free of charge. It has been a guiding principle that no one should be left out, because they could not afford to attend and many 'non folkie' visitors have been introduced, not just to sea songs and shanties, but to traditional and other 'folk' music. Most of these people are now confirmed addicts and regular attenders, not having the hang-ups of a few local folk- scene people, who don't seem to support the festival,or criticise it, mainly it seems, because it doesn't provide them with a stage and spotlight to perform their own ( non maritime )music - though of course, everyone is welcome to attend the singarounds and join in choruses.

No, the problem is not with any failure, but with the envy and jealousy of a few key individuals who have managed to disrupt preparations and create an ongoing situation of underfunding, negativity and uncertainty. Sadly, it is essentially a local political matter.

All those who love this festival, who feel a part of it and who cannot bear to see it dissapear for the wrong reasons, must stand up and be counted. Otherwise, without doubt, the 2008 Glasson Maritime Weekend will be the last.

Festival Supporters might wish to circulate this information beyond the readership of Mudcat. By the way, I thought everyone knew that Charmain was one of the many alias's of Fathom, the boring ship's surgeon in the festival's Press Gang.