Coales' Notes: Striking the wrong note: Gordon Coales is reunited with old friends at the Festival Committee Meeting

TUESDAY: I suppose I want to do this.

I have taken a couple of days off at home, to sound out this festival job. Today I had what I thought was an informal meeting with the Chairman of the Leisure Committee. He was very friendly - whatever may have happened in the past, he'd always understood my true worth. I said yes, I had gathered that what he was after was, essentially, a flak-catcher.

He replied: 'Now, we are committed to this festival. But we've been obliged to undertake a rethink of approach, in response to certain, to my mind, isolated though vociferous elements, who are none the less on the electoral roll.' He added that they had gone back to the drawing board completely, reformed the Festival Committee, with a view to stressing the local emphasis.

But he assured me that Isobel had everything under control (this is their new Cultural Officer), 'and we're very much leaving the festival administration in her hands. Arm's length, isn't that the word?' I asked, as in a dead rat?

He suggested we go round to the Festival Office, 'to meet Iz'. But we found she had just had to rush off to catch the London train. The only piece of festival literature in evidence was a copy of Fiona's 'Anti' petition, apparently awaiting further signatures. I asked what the idea of that was. He said: 'Now, I think Iz called that 'interactive' - you know, include everyone, even the trouble-makers.' I asked where Iz had been before. He said, with some pride: 'Oh, South Bank, I believe.'

WEDNESDAY: Festival Committee Meeting - all these faces I have hardly seen at all during the last year. Valerie, from the Library, a potential ally it struck me; but on the other hand, Dave Curley from the Herald, even Gavin Poole from the Sports Centre. Some stoical greetings.

Then Iz arrived, carrying a large bundle of paper, shook my hand, sat down, breathed out dramatically, and began: 'So, all here are we?' No one else resigning today? Jolly good.' I watched their faces.

She went on: 'Now Gordon's with us, and I know you know him, but just before he gets started, I want to tell you that you're all important. I don't want anyone to feel excluded. It's your festival, and I want you all to express your own opinions as the very direct and very straightforward people that I know you are in this area. Because, as you're aware, we're going right back to square one, and local sensitivity is now the theme.' She turned to me: 'Gordon?'

I could hardly bear to look. I told them how nice it was for me to see so many old friends assembled. I felt sure we could pull something off together.

Curley said: 'Yes, well, so far the Herald has been lending its support. However, this is now coming under review.' Jo (the Playhouse): 'I don't think we at the Playhouse have lessons to learn from anybody about sensitivity. Just to say that.'

Gemma (the Meade Gallery and Museum): 'We would be intrinsically pro, but the thing is, we're all programmed up.' Jeff Farnham (the County University, as it is now known): 'To be honest, mid-May is not brilliant.'

Then Poole said: 'Well, personally, I would like to express my confidence in Gordon's leadership, and to assure him that the resources of the sports centre will be placed fully at his disposal.'

Several heads turned in his direction.

I asked if there were any other positive suggestions. Something of a silence followed, broken by Iz: 'One thing we might want to do is decide a title for the festival, trying to strike that local note. I'd like to throw up some ideas we could think about. And one thing I see I've got written down is, um, We Are Here.'

Valerie raised her hand: 'Mr Chairman, on a point of order. I resign.' I dissolved the meeting as quickly as possible. I asked Iz afterwards, if she had any idea why the previous director had thrown in the towel. She said: 'Between you and me, there are some people in this world who are not really people people. And you've got some wonderful characters up here, haven't you?'

I have just received an abusive phone call from Fiona.