Dear Supporters

You are such lovely people, we have had so many mails of support, generosity and appreciation over the last couple of weeks that it annihilates the one very problematic one.

We have now completed processing the first round of responses, from 148 ‘attendees’, and have recorded 67 ticket rollovers and made 81 ticket refunds (with 3 more awaiting bank info). That leaves 93 of you from whom we haven’t actually heard; if you have not done so, please do confirm if you would like a refund or to roll your money over to next year – and in either case whether you would be happy to donate 5% to help defray this year’s expenses. If electing for a refund please let me have (by phone if you wish) your bank sort code, account number and the precise name on the account. Further responses will be processed batch-wise after a bit of a break from the laptop!

During the course of this some of you spotted that you had been unsubscribed from the 2020 attendees email list. Be assured this was an error on my part whilst trying to develop an initial attendee list for 2021 (during a slack moment?); all have now been restored through use of a back-up (thanks to Alain Williams). The list will remain whilst we may have need specifically to contact attendees, and will then be deleted and the draft 2021 list (of roll-overs) used instead. You will all, however, stay on the list of our ongoing supporters unless you unsubscribe yourselves or ask to be taken off (or, I do something silly again!).

Keep safe.

Monty – Ticketing 01308 423 442

Monty and I are now planning some time off May Heydays. Believe it or not, we can actually find other things to do during ‘lockdown’ ;-).

As to the next programme, my plan was to keep the 2021 programme I already had lined up and ask 2020 performers back for 2022. Other festivals, however, have decided to move their 2020 programme forward a year, which will cause clashes in programming. Therefore, I will talk with all my 2021/ 2022 performers and we’ll probably end up with a programme that combines the 2 years, avoiding those acts that would clash or have other commitments. For example, Geoff Cubitt and Colin Hume will be calling at Chippenham next year, so we have agreed they’ll come to Evesham in 2022. However, Carol Ormand is due over again next year, so her 2020 programme can be pushed forward to 2021. As the second main caller I have now booked Andrew Swaine. More will be added in due course. Watch the website and Facebook page for further updates on our 2021 line-up.

We are still receiving entries for our dance writing competition and we have extended the deadline for now. We’ll let you know as soon as we know when and how these dances will be judged. Opinions in the committee are split whether it should be done away from the festival or whether we should wait until next year. We’ll see.

Stay well. Mecki - Director