What this thread should be about is:-
a) Thanking Joan for her very considerable contribution and
b) Welcoming Alan back to a role that he fulfilled very well in the past.

I've not been to Sidmouth in the past few years, through no reason other than other things have got in the way. Joan Crump seems to have done an excellent job of keeping the festival going whilst also changing (as all decent festivals do over the years).

However until this thread I'd not personally been aware that the festival's finances had stabilised under her administration - having been a performer at the 2004 festival when Steve Heap stood down and a lot of people didn't even think there would *be* a 2005 Sidmouth, for that alone Joan deserves the respect and thanks of everyone who loves The First Week In August.

And if she is passing on the baton to Alan Bearman, whose track record at both Sidmouth and Towersey speaks for itself, then I'm very happy to welcome that as a positive development for the future.

And if that's considered arse kissing, then I'm happy to pucker up.