logo 2008 English Country
Music Weekend

Whimple, East Devon, 20th - 22nd June 2008

This year the ECMW will take place in the East Devon village of Whimple, and will be organised by Jason Rice, Jim Causley and Ali Standring.

Whimple is just off the A30, about 10 miles east of Exeter.  The South West Trains line between Honiton and Exeter runs through the village and there is a station there.  Exeter International Airport is only about 5 miles away!

Camping for caravans and motorhomes still under discussion with local farm across the road from the sports pavillion, and this farmer's wife has volunteered to cook breakfasts, which will give us three locations for that service.  Tent camping is confirmed on the edge of the playing fields.

There are two pubs in the village the New Fountain Inn and the Thirsty Farmer both of which serve Real Ale and good food.  The two pubs will also provide further venues for session space.

Whimple has a large village store, a post office, a vets, a hair dressers and a museum dedicated to the history of Whiteways Cyder which was based in Whimple.  It has a good choice of B&B's and hotels in and around the village centre.  A few may not be within walking distance of the village centre and it would be advisable for people to check this when booking if they do not intend to drive over the weekend.  A list is available here.

Proposed guests include:

We plan to hold the usual mixture of music sessions interspersed with talks held by the Whimple History Society on Whimple, Wassailing and Whiteways Cyder Company!  The Wren Trust on local traditional musicians such as Fred Pigeon and William Rew and a bit of Baring-Gould too.  Doc Rowe will be doing his usual thing plus screening exclusive footage of the Whimple Wassail in 2007.  We are also planning a Grand Devonshire Music Hall Concert on the Saturday afternoon and may even squeeze in a song session in the side bar of the New Fountain Inn.

As at Chagford, we will not be holding a ceilidh as we feel most of the ECMW punters would rather play than dance to someone else!  You are then purely trying to get enough people to go to the dance in order to pay the band, which seems a pointless exercise.

Bookings:

A printable booking form is available here.  Please print it, fill it in clearly, and send it to: Ali Standring, The Old Barn, Hills Court, Cotleigh, Honiton EX14 9HE


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