Ah! Swanage - my childhood holiday playground (although we were not permitted on the actual beach during WWII). My Grandparents lived at Holton Heath and I had step-aunts/uncles/cousins in Wareham, Sandford and Stoborough. My parents were married, and I was christened, in Lytchett Minster. We would take the steam train (pre-Dr. Beeching!) from Wareham, through Corfe Castle to Swanage for family days by the sea since, in those days, none of us had cars! We would climb up out of the town to picnic near The Great Globe (is it still there, I wonder?)

Alas, I have no relatives living in the area now, but my good friend, actor Edward Fox and his family, has a retreat at Steeple with whom I am able to stay.

I was unaware of a Swanage Folk Festival - have attended the fabulous Sidmouth one many times, but not in recent years alas. I must look out for info. on Swanage in 2008 and try to get there.

Thank you, Pleater, for sparking off some wonderfully sunny memories.