Young Sidmouth residents “devastated” they won’t be getting their annual fix of reggae revelry

YOUNG Sidmouth residents are “devastated” they will not be getting their annual fix of reggae revelry after this year’s FolkWeek.

News that Ben Harding has postponed this year’s Caribbean Night, has disappointed its fans.

Ben revived the event last year, but suffered heavy losses after less people than hoped for turned up.

His concerns over the financial risk, combined with a heavy workload, have prompted his decision to postpone the event until 2012.

There was disappointment among young people out in Sidmouth on Friday.

15 year old Amelie Lee from Sidford was “gutted” to hear there would be no Caribbean Night this year: “It is always such a good party when it happens, I remember some really amazing nights when I was younger.”

Similarly, 22 year old Sophie Merkin, from Amyatt Terrace, was disappointed: “I can’t believe it, I’ve always attended in previous years and it’s always been so much fun. It’s what the young people in Sidmouth look forward to about Folk Week.”

Libby Champain, 16, from Salcombe Hill Road, agreed: “Folk Week is a really fun week, but if you’re not that into folk music, it’s so good to have a party at the end of the week where there’s some different live music.”

Nick Wright, 26, from Manstone, remembers: “I always used to work in the pubs in Folk Week and Caribbean Night was a brilliant way for people who’d worked long, hard hours to celebrate the end of a busy week.”

Tim Lister, 17, of Temple Street, pointed out: “It’s really good for the younger community to have traditions like Caribbean Night.” He really hopes the event will be back next year: “It would be such a shame for Sidmouth if Caribbean Night became a thing of the past.”

32 year old Samantha Coyle, from Ottery St Mary , attested to the benefits of Caribbean Night for Sidmouth, saying: “People from all over East Devon used to come to Sidmouth for the night, we always used to make sure we made the effort to come over and it was definitely always worth it.”

Ben Harding wants to maintain the high standards and good reputation that Caribbean Night enjoys, he can certainly be sure of the support of Sidmouth’s young people when he comes to stage the event in 2012.