On Tuesday at Wealdstone Library we held open auditions for Harrow’s Got Talent. To be honest, I didn’t know if Jo Payne (from Carillion) and I would be sitting there looking at each other and drinking copious amounts of coffee for five hours or whether we’d have people wanting to take centre stage on the 15th August at Harrow Arts Centre.

Well what can I say? You did us and, more importantly, yourselves proud. At the stroke of 2.00 Adam came through the door. He’s a poet and singer (who will be singing Sway) and before he could begin his audition, he was followed by Saptaparna who sings in Hindi and Bengali. Vicky, a top class jazz singer, arrived next and in time to take part in this first flux of performers were Mia aged 7 and her sister Layla, all of 4. Their mummy had dressed them in the costumes from Frozen and they enchanted us with their version of Let it Go.

Angela then arrived and on the spot she wrote a short poem about the talent show which you’ll be hearing on the 15th. Annie heard of us through Street Life and why she’s not a professional singer is a mystery.

Jo and I finally grabbed a quick coffee and then Sweety arrived. Well, what can I say, Sweety is one of life’s characters. She’s a DJ, presenter and a fabulous singer. One of her daughters had bought her a handbag which included speakers and her other daughter had given her a hairbrush in the shape of a mic. She will be singing Kiss Me Honey Honey and Make You Feel My Love.

Ray then arrived and we had a jive as he sang Oh Boy followed by Any Dream Will Do. He’s a member of the same choir as Adam and we may well be hearing the full choir too.

In March I held a competition, also in The Studio at Harrow Arts Centre, for World Poetry Day and one of our contestants Vidarshana will be taking part in the talent show, along with her sister Balavarshini. They’ll be singing and reading a poem.

We’ve several other acts too. Chela will be opening the show with her Indian dancing - I’ve seen her before and she’s superb.

At the audition, someone asked me whether Harrow’s Got Talent was my idea. Truth is that at the World Poetry Day competition, one of the entrants, Lara, said at the end that it was so enjoyable could we do something else and she suggested HGT. So you’ll no doubt be hearing Lara (age 9) on the day.

It’s possible we’re having it videoed and if so, I’ll be giving you the link. There’s no charge for tickets and we’ve plenty of room, so whether or not you want to be on stage or a future star spotter, come along and join in the fun.

One warning though, for the life of me, I can’t get Any Dream Will Do out of my head!