Here's a thought provoking article from the Whitby Gazette...
WHITBY's Musicport World Music Festival which is held annually in the town and generates hundreds of thousands of pounds to Whitby's economy – could be uprooted and moved to Bridlington.
Over the past eight years, the festival, which takes place in October, has won acclaim nationally and internationally.
And although the event at Whitby Pavilion from 19 to 21 October this year is still going ahead, its future in the town looks uncertain.
Organisers have already spent the past two to three years looking at how to build on the festival's success and make it sustainable in the long-term, with less need for grant funding.
Various options for the festival have been considered including several outdoor venues but in Musicport's view by far the best alternative is Bridlington Spa, currently undergoing an £18m refurbishment under the current Bridlington Regeneration Strategy.
Anyone interested in giving their opinion on the move or could even help with sponsorship is asked to email: info@whitbymusicport.com or write to Musicport at The Port Hole, 16 Skinner St, YO21 3AJ to let them know what you think of the move, possible locations or with ideas for the new event.
Acts appearing at this year’s Musicport World Music Festival include Rachid Taha, Courtney Pine, Susheela Raman, Värttinä, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Kekele, Black Voices, Muntu Valdo , The Lal Waterson Project, Galina Durmushliyska, Nuru Kane and Bayefall Gnawa, Mary Coughlan.
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Whitby's Captain Cook monument now has a gleaming commemorative bronze plaque to replace one thieves stole earlier in the year.
The statue of the famous explorer has stood on the West Cliff overlooking the harbour and the abbey for more than 40 years and at the time of the theft in March the police and tourism chiefs condemned the pointless act as “despicable.
The plaque commemorates the men who built the Whitby ships Endeavour, Resolution, Adventure and Discovery used by Captain Cook and the men who sailed with him on the greatest voyages of all time.
The plaque was unveiled in the presence of the high commissioners of Australia and New Zealand on the bicentenary of Cook’s first voyage back in 1768.
