The tenth Major Country Music Festival that I  attended was this one at the BREAN SANDS,
 Somerset, site managed  by PONTIN'S. It was the first one that my, then, wife decided not to
go to. As there were always such wonderful friends, there, built up over the years, I decided
 to go on my own anyway! My wife agreed to this!!

   This one ran for a week, their normal way of doing things, and was from 12 October '85
until 19 October '85.

    There would  be many performers, at a phenomenally economic entrance fee 
(thanks to the 'vision' of the late Bob Chapple). A whole week here costs less than
 a day at Wembley!!

	Apart from the musical attractions (my main reason for going) there were many other
attractions like:-

	Country Music quizzes 
	Talent competitions 
	Country Dancing (Have been really  into this for YEARS now!)
	Fast-draw competitions
	SQUARE  DANCING (Have been really  into this for YEARS now!)
	       covering:
		Beginners sessions
		Intermediates
		Mainstream


	Performers appearing  were:

		
		Campbells Country
		Ben Rees Band
		Cliff Whelan



		West Virginia
		Rose Marie
		TONE HOWARD (Square Dance Caller and Instructor)
		Rogue Band
		George Moody & Country Squires
		CLINTON FORD (- he was fantastic!)
		Ken Harris and Station Break (not the 'Playboys' as billed!)
		Fox Mountain Express
		The GREAT Kelvin Henderson
		Fiddlin' Slim Pickins (played as part of Campbells Country)
		Colorado
		Pete Sayers
		Down County Boys (Great too!)
		Clovis Country
		Johnny Marks



		Tokyo Matsu
		Hamilton's Power
		Echo Valley
		Bob Newman and Carole Gordon
		Hurricane Ridge
		Tammy Cline & Southern Comfort
		Gordie West (Duo this time!)



		Jeannie Dee Trio (Fantastic)
		John Glenn & The Wranglers
		Linda & Arthur James
		Tony Goodacre (GREAT - as always!)
		Buckskin
		Hank Walters & Dusty Road Ramblers
		Cargo and Tammy Sioux
		

That was sure "one hell of a line-up" - and the continuation of a decade with my support..


Again, with our wonderful caller/instructor TONE HOWARD who had his own way of ensuring
that everyone had a 'partner' of the opposite sex . That didn't take very long
with Tone's bubbly personality. In my own case, sitting with Square-dance friends from
'way-back', the 'missing person' for the first few sessions was substituted by one of the
 PONTINS 'blue coats'. This delightful female was NOT just 'any bluecoat' - but the most
 STUNNING one!

I was 'envied' by other guys. Going back to join my friends after each dance, I was very 
happy! Eventually, the following day, another woman, who had been watching (and taking
part) noticed that I was 'for the taking' as a partner. She volunteered for the next dance!!
Not only did we dance ALL dances that session together, but ALL dances THAT WEEK!

Later during the week, we decided to 'book' for the NEW YEAR EVENT coming up in a 
couple of months, and in the intervening time, we attended many dance and folk-music 
venues/festivals! Not ONLY during those couple of months but for the next few YEARS. 
We were, indeed, sole-mates, very well matched and went everywhere together.



In the above 'shot', this new lady-friend is shown (in red) on the right - with myself
immediately above her. TONE HOWARD is immediately next to my friend (Laura).  The week, 
and more, had gone strictly according to my most pleasant dreams!!



 We were now into "American Squares" in a VERY BIG way, an activity that was to be
major parts of our lives  for about a DECADE. We participated in all THREE levels at Pontins.