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Despite a truly awful weather forecast, 300 or so of the hardy folk of Alton made the effort to venture out into the rain to enjoy the town's very own 'Last Night of the Proms' on 11th July..

Two tents, countless umbrellas, gazebos and tarpaulines decorated the Public Gardens in a colourful show of spirit and flag-waving that surely only Britain can accomplish.

In an e-mail forwarded to the council after the event, an Italian concert-goer commented that "... in two hours he had learned a lot about the English he never knew before. Only the English would huddle under umbrellas as the rain gets heavier, and the night darker, singing as if it were a bright summer's day . . . "

The performance of the orchestra, in my opinion was finer than last year and seemed to have some added gusto to really raise the spirits of those in attendance. What's more, the performances of the two choirs, Alton Community Choir and the Alton Choral Society, were magnificent in their stature and quality. The audience were clapping and cheering madly towards the end with the traditional rendition of Elgar's 'Pomp and Circumstance',

Walking around taking the pictures of the event, it is true to say that I did not speak to one person that was not enjoying themselves despite having soggy feet and rain dripping into their glass of wine, such was the spirit of the occasion.

The brollies were bobbing up and down at the end as they would at the Royal Albert Hall, the flags were waving hard, lungs were being tested as they tried to match the Soprano's 'Rule Britannia', and most of all, the British spirit for not being beaten by the weather shone brightly through.

Well done for a great night's entertainment and to those hardy folk that came out to enjoy the show.

Martin.