Once more the festival was a really great opportunity to play,  meet other players and makers,  and to listen.  I came away from the festival, inspired to practice more sensibly and to increase my repertoire.  Dick Bagwell's excursion into American tunes  has got me thinking about playing more than morris tunes and early music.

It was an opportunity to meet some old friends and make some new ones,   there were several notable absences which was a little sad.  The festival only once a year and a unique opportunity ........ make a note for next year,   provisionally Fri 26th - Sun 28th September 2003.

The symposium this year had to be cancelled, which I feel was a great loss,  there is little opportunity elsewhere to exchange information.  I am pleased to see the intention of restoring it for next year.

The Concert by the Staffordshire Recorder and Renaissance Ensemble was a joy,  it was wonderful to see young musicians being encouraged, a great tribute to the director and his administration,  a cheer for the lottery funding as well !   I have seen  very few young taborers how can we encourage more ? 

The concert in Christchurch was a delight,  some lovely playing from Juanma Sanchez,  Dick Bagwell,  Andy Richards and Dennis Sherman,  in a beautiful setting with a good acoustic ..... all this and tea at the interval !

The workshops were fun but a little rushed ,  I didn't attend the Richard Sermon bone pipe session,  but everyone I spoke to who did found it enjoyable.

The class by Dick Bagwell was interesting,  not only in what Dick had to say but in seeing the variety of tabors in use,  from the traditional narrow English tabor to Basque and Catalan instruments.  Andy Richard's class was a superb insight in to what dancers need form their musician.

Well done to Steve Rowley,  Richard Sermon and the rest of the organisational team, and Thanks to GlosFolk, the Gloucestershire Morris Men and the Gloucester City Council  for help and support.