With a packed hall and two bands to entertain for the evening, excitement was right at the start of the show.

It was more of a 40s dance than a concert, and, for future productions, will probably be forever called “a dance”!

The considerable dance floor was flooded by dance enthusiasts from all over the countryside, from Huntingdon to Brandon, King’s Lynn to Saffron Walden, as the opening band - Barry Tyler’s Original Dixieland Jazz Band - played the best of trad numbers, with their celebrated vocalist

After an hour or so Opus 17 took over, and still the visitors were dancing, at one stage all of them joining in one large line-dancing group, totally impromptu.

The big band employed two vocalists for this “gig”, Kathleen McClean and the son of their lead-alto player, Tom Veasey, who was remembered for his stunning solo “New York New York” in the 2009 show, and who reprised it this time.

After the short interval Opus 17 opened the second half of the show, with the well-known trombone and baritone sax number “Hot Toddy” featured, followed then by Barry Tyler’s crew playing Kenny Ball’s famous tune “King of the Swingers”, and the whole evening was finished off with the old-fashioned ending of entertainment with the National Anthem, since the whole event was presented as a tribute to our Queen’s 90th birthday year.

Such a memorable night. The decoration of the hall for the Queen’s tribute added a flavour of the forties, and the many people who dressed in 1940s costume were a complement to the fun being enjoyed by so many.

This event is just one of the many to which Ely Rotary Club treats the residents of Ely and surrounding areas.

Aquafest and the famous Christmas Collection are always looked forward to.

Rotary presents a great opportunity for people of all ages, and for a chance to join this organisation they can be contacted through Ely’s email address:

elyrotary.co.uk, or the secretary t.see793@btinternet.com.

ERIC GRANT

Ely Rotary Club