Chris is also a caroller with Padstow Carols.

Great bloke.............and of course,,,,,,,,,,the Padstow Traditions Carols,and also Mayday, are under threat........here is what Dominic Tambling (No 2 civil servant dealing with this) wrote to me last week(I was asking about the "Sheffield Carols").

7. There is no definition of spontaneous within the Bill or elsewhere for the purposes of the Bill. The point is that what most people understand to be spontaneous singing or dancing would not count as the provision of regulated entertainment under the Bill (because it would not satisfy the conditions in Schedule 1) and would not, therefore, require a licence.

In reference to your more specific point - it is hard to see how a regular event could be regarded as spontaneous. Those performing/attending must presumably have known that it would happen and turned up accordingly. That is certainly not what I understand to be spontaneity.

The first clause is of course to get rid of the idea that "Happy Birthday" is licensable.

The second clause catches virtually all traditional folk events. And most others too!!

Anyone involved in tradtional folk events should write to Dominic (dominic.tambling@culture.gsi.gov.uk) and ask him how their particular event is affected. Copy the letter to Tessa Jowell (tessa.jowell@culture.gsi.gov.uk).

Regards,


Dave