On Friday the 16^th January, we all rushed home to change. Some were hurtling up motorways and along railways, although we hadn’t been able to invite everyone – sorry. The 25 we were allowed gathered at the Council House, not absolutely sure how our evening was going to go.

Festival Arts had been offered a reception by the Lord Mayor in recognition of our 40^th season. We couldn’t all go, so we chose a representative sample ranging from founder members still involved to those with two or three festivals under their belts. It was important for everyone to be able to talk intelligently about it!

We were in the VIP room, and the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress were very approachable. There were photos of this year’s productions and the first festivals (with very young looking Becketts and Baines’) including Maggie Durkee, who had written to tell the Lord Mayor about us. It was surprisingly moving. Maggie made a short speech, and we sang to The Lord Mayor in a typically Festival way! Several people told him how Festival had changed their outlook on life, and it was good to see how well Pete, our truck driver and a founder member, was looking after a serious illness. Hannah took the opportunity of asking the Lord Mayor what it was like! We could sympathise when he said ‘I often don’t know what day it is’, as that happens to us in St David’s. We came out feeling supported and thanked, having written our names in the book and in Habib’s case exchanged phone numbers with the Lord Mayor! He expressed a wish to see a production. We shall certainly invite him, but he probably won’t have time to come.