Last Saturday, the Senior Citizens’ Centre was “packed to the rafters” in anticipation of an evening of great entertainment, and no-one in the audience was left disappointed! This year’s performers included some from previous “Big Night Ins” but it was exciting to also have some new performers visit the stage for their very first time.

Saskia Rosenblatt did a fine job of being MC for the evening and Alex Garner kept the show rolling along by being Chief Sound Engineer, so thank you both. Thanks also to Sam Leighton for designing our poster this year and to our judges who were Chris Stanton, Phil Bowden, Gina McCure and Maureen Hjorth.

Two particular contestants, Jemma Wilkinson and Alex Leighton, both received a bonus surprise when they were asked to perform as support acts for “Scarlett Affection” (a professional sister-singing duo who are in concert in Gloucester on Thursday, November 27).

Congratulations to all of the people who entered Big Night In, you were all fantastic!

Results of the evening were as follows:

Junior section: Solo vocal, Kate Radford; solo instrumental, Alex Bratfield; solo vocal/instrumental, 1st Jemma Wilkinson, second Blake Weismantel; group vocal, Alarnah Punchard and Linda Beesley; group instrumental, “Rewind”; group vocal/instrumental, first Jonah and Tyler Standen, second 2 Chicks in the Shed.

Senior section: solo vocal, 1st Emma Guthrie, second James O’Brien; solo instrumental, 1st Emma Guthrie, second Maggie Falla; solo vocal/instrumental, Priya Garbyal; licorice allsorts, Alex Leighton.

Overall encouragement award: Two Chicks in the Shed.