The Blazing Stump Folk Club has been in existence for over 40 years, giving people who like to play or sing acoustically a free, friendly place in which to follow their hobby, but of late it would appear that West Somerset’s interest in its folk heritage  has waned.

This is a great pity, for the West Country has a great history of folk tradition - witness the Traditional Hobby Horse on the 1st of May, morris dancing and the maypole, wassailing and other celebrations.

We have said that we would do all we can to help promote the tradition however we could, but without support from local residents our efforts will come to nothing.

We are extremely lucky to have Halsway Manor, the English centre for folk arts,where people can access all sorts of books giving information on folk music and song. We also have song collections from the likes of Cecil Sharpe taken from Watchet.

Do people know that within Somerset we have some people who are very well known in folk circles, like Ange Hardy, Kitty McFarlane, Steve Pledger, The Drystones, who have all released CDs, plus the likes of Hanna Cummings, Jemima Farey and many other up and coming singers and musicians.

It can be seen that Somerset is building the base of a great folk heritage.

All that it needs for Somerset to build a reputation along with other big folk counties (a lot of which are in the north) is to support all clubs and concerts that present the best they can in folk artists.

We at the Blazing Stump would welcome all singers and musicians, no matter what age, sex, race or ability - especially the young, they are the future of the folk tradition.

Let us not allow the stories of your ancestors to die, they tell about the way they used live and how they survived the rigours of their time.

Brian J Matthews, The Blazing Stump Folk Club.