Absent sunshine meant no visible rainbow but, once again, we savoured the delights of a musical "crock of gold" in a programme performed by a broad spectrum of past participants aged from just seven to 23 years.

None of these was even born when the festival began in 1980, but several were former holders of the coveted title "Arun Young Musician of the Year".

Soprano Jennie Witton (2006) wowed us with Eva Cassidy's "Over the Rainbow" while William Ferris (2004) showed that, although his voice has now broken, his purity of sound continues as a tenor.

Many of the other performances emphasised the festival's family atmosphere, with appearances from three Barnetts, two Campkins and four Lucs.

Tamzin Barnett (2005) again demonstrated her talents as a singer (Memory, from Cats) and a guitarist in the foot-tappin' Rondo Rodeo by Gary Ryan. Nine-year-old sister, Zoe, accompanied by her mum on guitar, delighted us with a song and dance routine in Coconut Man.

Brothers Robert (violin) and Richard (cello) Campkin are also keen pianists and members of the Worthing Youth Orchestra.

Robert gave a spirited and musical account of the fiendishly challenging Havanaise by Saint Saëns, while Richard soothed us with the beautiful Après un Rêve by Fauré. They also performed a Vivaldi duet, clearly showing their strong fraternal bonds.

The Luc family are relatively new to the festival but all three (pianist Mum makes up the four) are potential future winners of the AYM title.

Sisters Imy (13) and Maria (12) excelled in piano and violin duets and their brother, Kenji (7) joined them on cello for a piano trio. Kenji thrilled us earlier, playing his quarter-size cello in Beethoven's Ich Liebe Dich and the entertaining A Devil Among the Tailors.

During the concert, we enjoyed songs from Fraser Moyle, accompanied on piano by Daniel Paine. Daniel sang and played a popular favourite from "Oklahoma!".

Flautist Jenny Hart, who hopes soon to qualify as a doctor of medicine, gave a highly-accomplished instrumental performance in Variations on a Theme by Rossini by Chopin.

Jennie Witton closed with a superlative rendition of Nella Fantasia, a vocal transcription of Gabriel's Oboe (Ennio Morricone).

Special thanks to Jane Seamer, who organised the programme, Rita Russell who compèred it so adeptly, and Marilyn Dennis, who so splendidly accompanied many of the soloists.

Thank you also to the members of Littlehampton Rotary Club for founding the festival, the Inner Wheel for providing such excellent refreshments, and Lady Sarah for graciously allowing the use of her magnificent barn.

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