FROM the legendary co-creator of the Bagpuss songs, to the voice on the stunning soundtrack of Guy Ritchie’s forthcoming Hollywood blockbuster, last weekend’s Baring-Gould Folk Weekend in Okehampton promised to be a rare treat for lovers of traditional music in all its forms.

The 18th annual festival in the town, which started on October 21 and ran until Sunday, October 23 was arguably the most varied yet, with a deliberate switch by its organisers to showcase more Devon-based singers and musicians as well as established names from across the UK.

The event, organised by Okehampton-based Wren Music, took place at various venues in the town and included performances of two concerts created and performed in 2016 by members of some of Wren’s 16 community choirs and orchestras.

The varied nature of the programme was nowhere better illustrated than in the appearance of Sandra Kerr on one hand and Sam Lee on the other.

Sandra, who performed with Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger in Ewan MacColl’s Critics Group in the 1960s, is best known for co-writing the music and singing some of the songs in children’s TV show, Bagpuss. Sandra rounded off an afternoon of family events at the Charter Hall on Sunday by leading a family concert.

North London-based singer and song collector Sam is one of the biggest names in traditional music in the UK right now and will be heard in cinemas around the world next year. Sam was asked by film director Guy Ritchie to sing on the soundtrack of his Hollywood movie King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. Due for release in 2017, it stars Charlie Hunnam, Jude Law, Charles Dance — and David Beckham.

Pictures by Paul Hamlyn.