Don't think Paul Sartin could have got on in the folk world through Bonny Sartin - unless I'm much mistaken, they didn't even know each other, and it's only recently come to light that they are distant relations.

I have apologised for making that reference Barbara - though of course I was making the point that it WASN'T the "family connection" - which I now learn was much less than I originally thought.

MikeGM, Lizzie was not talking about cliques per se - of course they exist in all groups and societies as you rightly point out. She was talking about a CONTROLLING clique of festival organisers - though it seems when she meets one he (in this case at Otley Festival) apparently he is not part of it.

Dave, despite living in Yorkshire he supports Manure.

Lizzie, I wonder what your husband did whilst a Director of Sidmouth? Clearly you weren't married to Alan Bearman who programmed the festival for many years, or Steve Heap. Were you married to Bill Rutter? I don't remember that at all.

Here is an easy one for you. What was his role? Clearly he had access to the board as you say. As a Director he would. And who was the act YOU succeeded on getting on the Ham? Must have been a few years ago so it can't harm anyone to know now.

Steve Fairholme is "a poppett" Lizzie says, clearly a model organiser.

Well Lizzie Steve has committed the cardinal sin this year, for he too has booked Show of Hands as headliners!!

Is he still a poppet? I think we should be told.

And how are you getting on with the Torquay Festival? You have had lots of advice saying it can be done!! And you have found out who to talk to. Well done! Now what dates are you thinking of? Got anyone else on board to help yet? I'd get movcing on that one too - otherwise you will be doing all the work yourself and have no time to write on here.

And you had better hurry up, some of those non-headliners will be getting booked soon.