Our overseas visitors may not realise it but they are playing an important part in a real Festival atmosphere. Lots of people have commented on the 'buzz' they are sensing on the streets.

The weather and the sheer numbers of people in the city have helped, of course, but a major factor has been the programme of music and entertainment every day in High Town.

We've had soloists, small ensembles, choirs and snatches of Greek drama and Shakespeare not to mention dancers from Vierzon, our twin town in France. Even our Conservative prospective parliamentary candidiate has been involved as a member of Bandemonium, the Herefordshire people's band. The various performances, all part of the Three Choirs Plus programme, have added to the sense of the Festival being for everyone whether they've flown in from some far away place or just got off the bus from Ross! It would be good to know whether people have enjoyed what they've seen and heard.

One group of people who do get some frontline feedback on the Festival are the team of stewards on duty at each event. The overwhelming majority of comments from people after the concerts are very positive but the volunteers all have their stories about quirky moments and ruffled feathers that need to be smoothed. I still remember the man in 2006 who, having been directed to the Elgar statue in the Close, returned to complain that he was sure the composer was taller!