I THANK Ms Slinn (Chairman, Ilfracombe Victorian Celebration Committee) for her reply ('A Victorian Week plea', Journal, January 26) and I am very pleased that fund raising has started for this year's celebration.

However, as a past chairman, and therefore lifetime member of The Friends of Ilfracombe Victorian Celebration, I would point out that I certainly knew nothing of the fund raising events and would respectfully suggest that perhaps more prominent advertising of such events is needed.

I look forward to being able to attend some of these future fund raisers.

My point, which seems to have been completely missed by Ms Slinn, is that a very large amount of the community purse was being requested by her organisation, for an event that runs for such a short time during the year.

I take it public funds are not expected to be used for the ongoing 'ambassadors' roles undertaken?

She is quite correct in stating that I, as past chairman, and my committee of four people, applied for funding. She is now asking for more than twice the amount that was ever requested by my committee from the community funds, and even taking current inflation into account, that is a vast amount of money.

During the year my committee and I sought business, and individual funding of approximately £12,000, which was used to provide around 39 (mostly) free events in nine days.

We worked very hard to raise these funds, so as not to rely on the community funding, in order to leave more for other deserving causes. These accounts are in the public domain, and were fully audited at the time.

I still support Ilfracombe Victorian Celebration, and I often travel to other Victorian events around the country, even though I am no longer part of the Victorian Celebration Committee.

In fact, in December I attended the three-day spectacular Dickensian Christmas event and Ball, in Rochester Kent, and actively promoted our own celebration.

Long may Ilfracombe Victorian Celebration prosper, I fully understand how expensive it is to run this event, but it must not be at the expense of other, very worthy causes in the town.

LIN WHEELAN,

Ilfracombe.