A CHEQUE for £1,000 has been presented to Dartmoor Folk Festival by Waitrose Okehampton through the store’s Music Matters award scheme.

The John Lewis Partnership, which Waitrose is a part of, set up a Music Matters programme that supports groups which make an outstanding contribution to their local community through music.

The partnership has a long tradition of support for music — this dates back to Spedan Lewis, the founder of the John Lewis Partnership, who recognised the potential for music to enhance people’s lives.

The three-day Dartmoor Folk Festival, which will take place at South Zeal in August was established by the late Bob Cann, who was awarded the BEM for his service to folk music. He had the dream of a folk event on his doorstep that would help to revive and preserve the traditions of Dartmoor.

It was the traditional music, dance, song and crafts of the area that formed the basis for the first festival and they still remain for the association which runs the festival today.

Since it was founded it has grown so that it can invite some of the best folk artists around, whilst maintaining its reputation for being a relaxed, friendly and traditional festival.

This year’s festival will be the 39th and it will include top local and national artists. They include Blazin’ Fiddles, Miranda Sykes and Rex Preston, Bob Fox, Mawkin, Talisk, Pete Coe, Alice Jones and Tickled Pink with Fee Lock.

Other artists attending are The Dartmoor Pixie Band, Ramsley Minors, Entertainingly Different, Dave Wills, Bill Murray, Tich Scott and various morris and dance teams.

The annual family-festival includes concerts, a ramble on Dartmoor, a ceilidh, folk service, craft displays, dances, a dedicated Children’s Festival, a Dartmoor Fayre, music hall, pub sessions and music and song and dance workshops.

Hotly-contested competitions are the Dartmoor Broom Dance Championships and Dartmoor Stepdance Championships.

Waitrose Okehampton’s branch manager Laura Grant said: ‘We are delighted to be able to support the Dartmoor Folk Festival 2016 and wish them a successful weekend.’

The cheque was presented by Vickie Mills, the store’s Community Matters partner, at a recent Dartmoor folk music session held at the King’s Arms, South Zeal.

Following the presentation, Dartmoor Folk Festival secretary, Jane White, said: ‘We would like to thank Waitrose Okehampton for the generous grant and we will put the money to good use to help us ensure the future of the festival.’