By Entertainment Editor,

The first ever "Ladies Night" at the Hawkinge Community Centre has been voted a success despite a few hiccups with the sound system.

Drag Queen compere, Large Marge also had the misfortune to get stuck in a traffic jam on the way to the venue.

Fortunately centre manager Colin Tearle, resplendent in DJ and bow tie, was there to keep the complementary nuts and nibbles topped up and the beer and wine flowing until word came that "Marge" had freed herself from the blockage and was even now hurtling down the road towards Hawkinge.

Not that anyone was complaining as the music was pumping and the younger ladies among the audience were getting into the mood, throwing themselves around the dance floor with wild abandon and even persuading the normally recalcitrant Mr Tearle to take a few steps in a bid to really get the party started.

When "Marge" eventually emerged from her dressing room to belt out her first number it was all she could do to control the crowd of young, and not so young, women gathered together to appreciate the very special talents of the featured artistes - so she didn't even try.

"Move the tables forward ladies" she cried "or you ain't gonna' see any c**k!"

Never have I seen a crowd of people so quick to obey an instruction.

After that, all that remained was for the main attractions to get their well oiled bods out from under a variety of enticing costumes and strut their stuff, which they did extraordinarily well with great charm and professionalism, and the vagaries of the centre's sound system were soon a distant memory.

Speaking the day after the event a triumphant Mr Tearle said: "The figures speak for themselves really and that's what it's all about - bringing money into the Community Centre."

He was a little coy about precisely how much money the evening had raised, but it was certainly enough for him to be thinking ahead to another similar event very soon.

He said: "At the end of the day it's about putting on events that people enjoy and want to attend and using the centre to its full potential for the benefit of all."

© Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2010