Another "highlight" (?) was John Thompson's rendition of Climb Every Mountain in the Sound of Music massacre - beautiful falsetto, hit the high notes with ease and volume and a very fetching habit as well. It got him the highly commended award too - the winners being Shortis and Simpson's conversion of the oh-so-wholesome plotline into the basest and funniest debauchery. No more need be said on that...

I heard that John had refused to participate unless a full nun's habit could be found for him (on Easter Sunday, no less), but they somehow located one by magic by 1pm (it even seemed to fit) and on he went...

I also heard a rumour that it was vengeance for being cast as Maria in his all-boys school production, presumably when the high notes came somewhat more easily.

I can vouch for the fabulous singing sessions - though I never managed to stay up for the stairwell - excellent facilitation helped I think. Hrothgar's hymns surpassed all understanding.

Yarri (in the Trocadero) was worth the standing ovation - I've seen a few performances of it now, and it was certainly one to take away.

Festival programmes always contain regrettable clashes, but I couldn't make sense of the scheduling of the three main song events so that they overlapped. Very annoying, especially as other parts of the festival seemed to have been scheduled for socialising not listening. That's not to take away from the difficulty of the job of filling 15 or more venues continuously for 4+ days.