Sir, – May I use your pages to thank everyone responsible for the success of the 2014 Swaledale Festival.

Our sponsors - large and small firms and generous individuals.

The churches, village halls and other venues which made us welcome.

The B&Bs, cafes and inns which housed and fed so many visitors.

Our hundred-plus volunteers. Our staff led by the festival’s artistic director Malcolm Creese. Our artists, who ask to return.

The schools which partner us in master classes and arts projects.

Your paper, for its support and reviews, and the national papers, which rate Swaledale among the best music festivals in the country.

And of course our audiences, local and incoming.

We were particularly pleased to learn late last week that the festival has received the 121st Big Society Award from the Prime Minister, for the Percussion Project involving 100 children from five Richmondshire schools.

PETER DENISON-EDSON Chairman, Swaledale Festival.