The eighteenth Major Country Music Festival that I  attended was this one at the BREAN SANDS,
 Somerset, site managed  by PONTIN'S.

   It ran for a week, their normal way of doing things, and this was from 10 October '87
until 17 October '87.

    There would  be many performers, at a phenomenally economic entrance fee 
(thanks to the 'vision' of the late Bob Chappell). 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:

		Lore and the Legends
		Campbells Country
		Hank Hillman and the Hole in the Wall Gang
		Perfect Strangers
		Loisianna Hellraisers		
		Linda and Arthur James
		Kevin Duffy Band
		Mart Connors and the CARROT CTUNCHERS
		IONA & ANDIE plus CLINTON FORD


		West Virginia
		Nashville Fever
		RAYMOND FROGGATT BAND (Froggie!!)
		Johnny Marks


		Tmbleweed Connection
		Memphis Short and Grand Canyon
		Elaine Morgan Country Band
		Tont Collins and Bakersfield
		Tammy Cline and Southern Comfort
		KELVIN HENDERSON & Des Richards
		WHISKEY RIVER BAND
		Candy Mountain



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

  SQUARE DANCING 





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.

 I was now into "American Squares" in a BIG way, an activity that was to be a major part of my
life for about a DECADE. I participated in all THREE levels (shown above).

  VIOLENT WEATHER 

On one particular evening, the management was having problems with the 'electrics' and a few
other problems with some high winds - and because tension was 'building up' in the halls, my lady 
friend and I decided that "a return to the chalet" was called for!! As we vacated the building that
we were in, I had the impression that the lights were just failing.

Outside, the rain was heavy and the winds VERY STRONG!! We both decided to run,
 independently,  'hell for leather' back to the chalet. We both surprised each other with our 
'turns of speed', and my old  'Quarter Mile' experience put me in 'good stead'! (Even though
I did it at 100yds pace!!) Back in the chalet, we reflected on what we had just left.

     Clearly, not watching any NEWS or weather info, we failed to appreciate that this was the 
UK's most famous HURRICANE in recent years. It, famously, devastated the UK's  SOUTH 
COAST - and we were just north of its track on route to HAMPSHIRE! In the following map, 
BREAN is just above the 2 in '21'!! The Hurricane tracked roughly from 20 down to 12!! 
That's close!