At the monthly English tunes session at the John Harvey Tavern in Lewes last night we had five young people listening. There were two chaps who clapped and thanked us when they had to leave early. There was a Japanese student who had discreetly placed a fiddle next to her and was gently persuaded to get it out and join in with some dots provided. There was another young couple who listened intently and were fascinated by the history and origins of the tunes. When they left, they said they were proud to discover this part of their heritage and culture which they hadn't encountered before.

Needless to say, they staggered off bowed down under the weight of a Sussex Folk Diary and half a pound of Lewes Saturday Folk Club workshop leaflets.

Valmai (Lewes)