More info from Pete Shaw

I'm writing to you upon behalf of Alan Wood (Woody) who has run the monthly acoustic music and song session at the Blue Bell, Helpston.

Apparently Sue, licencee of the Blue Bell, was visited by the Local Authority at the end of last year and told of works that had to be carried out to allow the acoustic sessions to continue - there being more than two people "performing" in the course of one evening. I understand that she agreed to carry out works and was given a provisional PEL to June. The folks in the session raised £200 odd to help her a little towards the works. Due to illness or whatever, the works were not completed nor a renewed PEL applied for.

When the session restarted in September after the summer break, it was visited and closed down.

The situation now is that Sue has to be interviewed by the local authority and has been warned that she may be prosecuted. Letters of protest to the local paper (Peterborough Evening Telegraph) will not result in a new item because Sue has not returned any of the paper's calls (said the paper last week). At the moment therefore, sessions cannot be held at the Blue Bell.

Woody would like to see if the session will work elsewhere, and will run a "one off" just over the local authority border in South Kesteven, at the Horseshoe pub, in Thurlby (on the A15 between Peterborough and Bourne, just south of Bourne.

He has decided to change the night to Thursday. The first of these will be held THURSDAY 24th OCTOBER 2002. Whether there will be any more, and what night depends upon the attendance, enthusiasm and wishes of those who turn up.

If you can make it, please go along.
If you can't, ring Woody on 01778 560497 before or after the day with your comments.
Future details of any continuing session will be posted by Colin Turner on the Peterborough Folk Diary http://www.pborofolk.co.uk