I think were diverting again into trivia - I don't mind what you think of the word youngsters - its a factual description of people who are under a certain age but older than the group collective children. There is no value judgement implied.

I was in Orkney last year and what an excelent day we had - the local fiddle group played in the Cathedral on the saturday morning. Very good it was too. It gave them a chance to perform before an audience and it gave us as tourists a chance to hear the local music and see the inside of the cathedral. I wish a few more churches could invite the local music school to do the same. I know there is a concern in some of the islands that free music tuition is being stopped.

I'm really pleased to hear about all the youngsters in Whitby. In Kent we have a thriving morris side that has a section for under 16's and some of them stay with the side despite peer pressure and home work. The kent music school also now gets involved with Broadstairs festival.

However, pleased as I am to be able to talk and hear about these exceptions I still hold concerns about the aging demographic. Look around at the events you go to and be realistic.

Question yourself
Do we mind that we are mostly collections of left over bus pass users - the last one putting out the lights?
Are there things we have done ( and do) that inhibit the youngsters?
Are there things we should be doing?

Me - I played for many years for the childrens morris side and taught them the sword dances. One of our musical yougsters went on to the Menhuin school after being with us for a year. I have one person under 40 in the barn dance band. Its not much - but little bits add up I think.
FloraG