WE begin this week’s column with something of a small tribute to the organisers of Alstock, the terrific community event which has called it a day after 19 glorious years.

Its origins began with the man who gave it the name – celebrated Bodmin guitarist and music teacher Al Hodge after he passed away in 2006.

It was in the aftermath of this that the idea for Alstock was conceived, both as a tribute to one of Bodmin’s most famous sons and as a way to raise money for local causes, including an annual bursary to a talented young musician studying at Bodmin College.

It quickly evolved into one of Bodmin’s most loved events, a real centrepiece on the town’s social calendar.

With it now being 20 years since Al Hodge passed away, it’s perhaps unsurprising that this milestone is the point where the organisers have decided for the event to bow out gracefully.

As a team of music lovers who have been broadcasting together since 2011, it is safe to say that you’d never find at least one of us far away from the stage at Alstock and it was an event many of us enjoyed immensely.

So let’s begin by raising a 20 pint glass to Alstock and a chorus of cheers for the tremendous work they’ve done both entertaining the town and raising a six figure amount for local good causes.

But what of the future? Well, we can tell all five of you who read this, or all three who listen to us a little something from the grapevine. It is unlikely to be the end of a music event in Bodmin.

We are aware of discussions (partly because we’ve been having them too) of a future event that will probably take a different format to Alstock but still be a day where the town rings loud with music.

It’s far too early to say anything concrete, but we will say this much – if there is no music event in the town next summer, it would be a massive surprise.

After all, what is Bodmin without its music? We have some tremendous venues in the town, an absolute abundance of music so whether it’s our own discussions coming to fruition or something else, we’re extremely confident that something will fill the Alstock shaped hole.

It probably won’t be a direct Alstock replacement, because how can you replace the legacy of such a tremendous event, but it’ll be a different format with the same crucial ingredient of tremendous music from talented artists.

Prior to the pandemic, we used to do an annual event at the St Kew Inn called the Gig in the Garden so it’s not something we’re entirely strangers to doing, and the way we see it is there’s demand for something involving a strong music flavour.

We’re just yet to work out exactly what it might be. Watch this space – there may be more details in the near future.

But for now, let’s doff our caps to Alstock for an outstanding run.