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Di Present a cheque for £500 from WSFF 2007 to

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulane

WEST SOMERSET FOLK FESTIVAL 2007 Report

Carhampton played host from the evening of Friday 6th July until the afternoon of Sunday 8th July, to the fifth West Somerset Folk Festival. Folk enthusiasts from around the country gathered for the event commencing with superb singing at the Recreation Ground Hall led by Gerry and Hilary Bix, from the Bideford Folk Club.

Saturday opened with a West Gallery workshop where a number of enthusiasts gathered, and a Spoons workshop where the curious took up the challenge. Afternoon workshops on Appalatian Dulcimer and Folk Arts were well supported.  Our thanks to John Shaw from Bristol (West Gallery and Dulcimer), Pat Smith and Ned Clamp from Cardiff (Spoons),  Rose King from Newport, and Chris Simmonds from Nailsea, (Folk Arts).

On Saturday the Recreation Ground Hall was the centre for the lunchtime singaround where singers from the area and away contributed to a quality event led by Pete and Pat Slade (from Weston S Mare). This session also featured Jim Binding who gave a fascinating and humorous talk about his experiences in village cricket. Jim has recorded some of his tales on CD, which were on sale at the fesival, Jim donating any profit to the weekends charity.

 The Hall also housed an outstanding and varied evening concert that opened with guests Pat Smith and Ned Clamp with a varied programme of songs and music with a Welsh flavour, Steve Viney with a selection mainly of humerous songs and parodies, Neil West, our local Hammer Dulcimer expert, and four part accapella singing from Devonshires McGuffins. The second half of the concert comprised of Barron Brady, a young and very talented duo from Dartington singing mainly their own material about their Devonshire countryside, and Mike Nicholson, a nationally known singer of quality songs and choruses who joined us from Sussex. Following the concert the audiance stayed behind to sing out the evening until about 2.00am.

Di’s ever popular teas and cakes were available from Saturday afternoon This was augmented by impromptu Morris dancing (Herbatious Border) presented by Sue White a festival stalwart form Bideford, and a popular Acorn folk club (Minehead) open stage led by Eileen Ann Moore and Jim Parham, where many festival supporters took turns to perform in the open air.

The festival closed on Sunday with Holy Joe, a session of religious songs with Brian and Jacqui Ross, and a final singaround with Mike & Di Dibble.

The now established sales of plants and second hand books did steady trade throughout the festival, with every plant being sold.

The festival’s aim is to raise money for Charity while enjoying one another’s friendship and music. As a result £500 has been donated to our chosen charity for this year, the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

 The festival would not have been possible without the support of the Butchers Arms and the Recreation Hall Committee. Our thanks to them, and all of the guests and leaders who gave their time free. Thanks also to Stephen Clark for loaning the stage, Ken Dibble who provided and ran the PA., and Brian Ross for his stirling work on the website, Janet Binding for plants, Diane Dibble who provided most of the cakes, and Riverside who seem to have an endless supply of books. The most important contributions are made however by our supporters who came from many parts of the country to enjoy the music and hospitality at West Somerset, and without whom the festival would not happen.

This was our third year in Carhampton and the event built on the popularity gained by the previous festivals here and at Minehead. We look forward to a repeat visit to Carhampton, that has proved a popular base with easy access to the local holiday tourist spots (Dunster, Minehead, Moors, Beach etc) in 2008.

Mike & Diane Dibble

REPORT OF INCIDENTS ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHTS AT THE RECREATION GROUND.

1. Saturday night (or Sunday Morning) 7/8th July.

On the early morning a car came noisily onto the hard standing (gravelled) area and raced up and down the gravel. The occupants also ran around the field among the tents and vans shouting and causing a disturbance.  It was realised that some tent guide ropes had been tampered with and one caravan (on the gravelled area) sustained damage ( a broken window).

When campers were aware the police were alerted, and the car occupants, who had subsequently gone and returned, were disturbed by police. One person was arrested by the police (for drunk driving), and a car identified.

2. On Sunday/Monday night 8/9th July

There were 3 units on the field including ourselves. Again in the early morning a car came onto the gravelled area. It was approached by myself and a colleague and promptly spead off. A little later the car appeared again. Again we approached it and it spead off. On the first occasion my colleague was able to record the number plate and type. This incident was also reported to police by myself. The police did a subsequent check of the field, but as far as I know the car did not return.

Mike Dibble (Festival co-organiser)

10/07/07