Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Forget the stereotypical view of bingo; people from 9-90, men and women, boys and girls filled the Public Hall at Budleigh Salterton on Wednesday 5 March, 2008 to try and win some prizes, enjoy a good old natter and raise some money for charity.

And Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Devon joined in the fun by broadcasting a special show from the event.

Mary once dated someone called John Govier!

John Govier's Full House came live from the east Devon seaside resort and JG and the team met some wonderfully colourful characters who had come along.

Characters like Yvonne and David who were celebrating four months of wedded bliss.

Yvonne was 61 and David 82. "He's my sugar daddy," Yvonne laughed.

"We met over a tin of corned beef," she explained.

"It was outside a local supermarket when David helped me pick up some groceries that had fallen from my bag. Our eyes met and the rest - as they say - is history!"

Eight and two, eighty two!

Characters like Mary - who coincidentally had dated someone called John Govier when she was younger.

"It's not you though," she told JG, "not unless you're lying about your age! He'd be in his 80s now!"

And characters like Tony Wilcox, the regular bingo caller and former stand-up comedian who used to tour the pubs and clubs and - as an ex-marine - started calling when he was onboard ship entertaining the crew.

JG and Kev Winser (from Judi Spiers' show) were given a masterclass in calling numbers and were allowed to 'shout' for one of the games sponsored by Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Devon.

They muddled their way through, under Tony's expert guidance, and gave away a pile of CDs, some DVDs and a brand new DAB digital radio.

Cole Stacey from Awliscombe

Local musicians Cole Stacey and Alex Hart provided extra entertainment throughout the evening.

Cole comes from Awliscombe and confessed to never having been in a bingo hall before. "It was quite an experience," he said.

"I've never played to such a diverse audience. It was strange but fun."

Alex is just 16-years-old and from Ashill (the home of Joss Stone) and sang one of her own songs as well as a Paul Simon cover.

Alex Hart from Ashill

Geoff Paver from Budleigh Salterton Lions Club organised the event and was delighted by the results.

"We've raised almost Β£600 for ELF (Exeter Leukaemia Fund)," he said. "This has been the best charity bingo we've ever put on."

The event was also the fourth in a series of listener research events, providing Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Devon's Managing Editor, Robert Wallace, with plenty of information about what our listeners want from the station.

If you would like to see more photos from the night, click on the link to JG's Rogues' Galleries and check out Gallery No 6.