Stewards, organisers and other folk music festival helpers at Wessex Folk Festival, Weymouth, Dorset

Hidden away behind the scenes of most folk festivals, there are people who receive little recognition from the public but who are essential to its smooth running.

Whilst at the Wessex Folk Festival 2008, I came across a few such dedicated people.

In today's post, I would like to give some of these people, whom I may not have mentioned elsewhere, a small part of the recognition they deserve.

Somebody had to be up early to distribute the posters that guided festival goers to all the various Wessex Folk Festival destinations and, as with so many behind the scenes activities, it was Pat Green (below) who was with others 'getting the job done'. I was out of bed too late in the morning to catch her hard at work but here she is later.


Dedicated behind the scenes organiser, Pauline Clenshaw doing her bit to promote Health and Safety (and build a few muscles perhaps).



The electronics behind the free main stage performances (above) to me looked very scary indeed. Bill (below) seemed to take it all in his stride.


Ben, who is also a talented performer with local band Jigsaw, is also a sound system whiz and was part of the sound system team affectionately known as Bill and Ben.


Although, not technically part of the committee organising the Wessex Folk Festival 2008, Roger Quigley (below) with his wife Jo never seemed far away from the action.


The public face of the festival is always very important and here we see hard working Pat Green again manning an information point with Dave Milner, veteran of the Weymouth Folk festival (as the festival was previously known). Dave was also a key organiser of the Wessex Folk Festival this year and is a talented Morris dancer and musician.


Mike McDaid, below shown here trying his talents as a photographer, is more often seen performing with virtuosity on his squeeze box but also was hugely important behind the scenes making things happen.

Fundraising is not the most popular of jobs but these two kept up a merry smile.


Everywhere I seemed to go, I bumped into this hard working behind the scenes helper called Carol - a great dancer too :-)


Mentioned elsewhere but who deserves a special mention here is Paul Openshaw (below) who took so much of the responsibility of the Wessex Folk Festival 2008 on his shoulders. Here we see him taking a few minutes out at the end of the main stage performances to chill out with the other front of stage dancers.


There were so many people involved in making the Wessex Folk Festival a rip roaring success and enjoyed by everybody. Without any doubt, there are many people I haven't mentioned (some because they preferred to stay anonymous and not have their photo shown).

If you know of someone I haven't mentioned and you would like to give them recognition, please feel free to add your words of appreciation below in the comments section.

Of course, there will be some more photos up tomorrow recording more great people I met at the Wessex Folk Festival 2008.

Bye for now

Rob
(Rob Hopcott - online author and folk festival groupy)