Previously we listed some dates to do with the history of Buxton and its various entertainments. In the interests of providing new information - rather than recycling stuff from the public domain - here we have our first exclusive. (The story of Van Gogh painting in Buxton doesn't really count).
We may remain sceptical about the value of Blogs, and no doubt the worldwideweb has done some harm, but the possibilities it offers for the provision of, and access to, ideas and information makes it a genuinely revolutionary tool. Most of us sit at our keyboards typing away, pressing buttons here and there (checking spellings, changing fonts, saving data when we remember to) without the foggiest notion of how this miracle can possibly happen. Well it isn't a miracle, obviously, but it is quite hard to explain.
Here, in Buxton Festival Fringe world we have two people who will try to explain these apparent miracles should you offer them any encouragement. One manages the website (www.buxtonfringe.org.uk lest you have forgotten). The other designed the software that stores and organises all the data for the hundreds of entries and performances - I thinkhand-crafted captures the essence better though I suppose software design is hardly ever going to be in a catalogue alongside William Morris fabrics. Anyway the programme that does all of this is called Surrey - and for no geographical reasons. Our designer's heart is very much in south Yorkshire. The notion of the software being a rather quaint vehicle - and a hummable tune - is an interesting metaphor though, and one which we may well explore another time.
by Keith Savage - Published 09/04/2007
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