The night belonged to every one of the over 1 000 patrons at the closing ceremony as authorities get ready to demolish the ground to make way for a new 27 000-seat stadium for the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

Singer Rosie Hunte returned to the stage to give two rousing performances.

She brought back memories with Simply The Best, and then did a grand cover of the late Cheryl Hackett's Beautiful And Unspoilt.

Arturo Tappin, the versatile saxophonist, closed the night by literally "blowing away all before him" as he marched through the crowd and into the old Pickwick Club pavilion.

Before that, the Mighty Gabby gave a cameo performance of his classic Bridgetown and Emmerton. The crowd called out for his "cricket anthem" Hit It!, but time did not permit.

There was cricket talk too. Sir Everton Weekes, Wes Hall and Joel Garner thrilled the audience as they reminisced with noted journalist Tony Cozier, as they all said "good bye" to the old Oval.

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