SIR,

I would like to express my thanks to Ms Diana Whaley for her kind letter in last week's Beacon.

I was very moved by the reception I received at St Mary's on 24th August and was delighted to have been involved in the Monmouth Festival.

My thanks must also go to Chris Petrie (who conducted a wonderful performance on 18th August at Wyastone Concert Hall) for inviting me to participate in this 30th anniversary festival.

Also thanks go to Neil Bell and Caracticum Downs for the programmes and Emma Webster for the beautiful flowers. Gareth Llyr Simon was a wonderful accompanist and I'm so grateful to all who turned up on such an inclement night and gave us such a warm ovation.

William Mackie

(Monmouth)