Having been used to watching the huge spectacle of the Proms at Osborne House in the past, I wasn't quite sure what to expect with Sunday's scaled down version, Last Wight of the Proms, in the grounds of Northwood House in Cowes.

Although I was among an audience of more than 300, it felt like a private party, with plenty of space to stretch your legs and enjoy some al fresco picnic treats, while the Wight Proms Concert Orchestra captivated and brought out the party spirit in us all.

Conducted by the Isle of Wight Symphony Orchestra’s Jonathan Butcher, a bubbly host, the concert kicked off with Jacques Offenbach's enchanting Orpheus in the Underworld Overture and Frederick Delius piece, A Walk to the Paradise Garden, from the opera, A Village Romeo and Juliet.

Classical Album Charts topper, soprano, Joanna Forest, sang a trio of pieces — the highlight being I Dreamed a Dream, from Les Miserables.

Westminster Waltz, composed by Robert Farnon, who also created the Colditz and Secret Army TV themes, together with a medley of Cole Porter's Kiss Me, Kate, closed the first half beautifully.

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Dance of the Tumblers, from the opera, Snow Maiden, Jack Strachy's Party Mood (or the Housewife's Choice radio show theme) and Forest's adaptation of Leonard Bernstein's Tonight, from West Side Story, just showed how varied and interesting the set list was.

Into the latter stages, old Prom favourite — the Sea Song medley — ranging from Barnacle Bill (the original Blue Peter theme) and the sedate Home Sweet Home to Rule Britannia, which evoked flag-waving fervour of an audience, clearly soaking up every glorious minute of it.

It was the medley which lit the blue touch paper for the grand finale, Elgar's Land of Hope and Glory, from the Pomp and Circumstance March No.1.

The inevitable encore which followed, with The Dambusters March, was rousing enough, but Forest's version of My Fair Lady favourite, I Could've Danced All Night, could well have had the audience doing just that, given half the chance!

Jim Atkins, a former commodore at Christchurch Sailing Club, Dorset, said: "I spend a lot of time sailing to the Island and I absolutely love it. It makes such a change from being on the mainland.

"I thought it was absolutely great when I went along to Last Wight of the Proms two years ago, which is why I simply had to come again this year.

"The orchestra and vocalist were terrific, as was the choice of music performed. We like it so much, we plan to return again."

Wight Proms is back for 2022, so save the dates from August 18 to 21.