'Two fat ladies, clickety-click' – Honiton's Blue & Gold Bingo makes a comeback

A hugely popular weekly bingo night in Honiton is finally making a comeback after a break of 18 months.

The Blue & Gold Bingo sessions will start up again on Thursday evenings at Honiton Community College from September 30 – eyes down at 7.45pm.

Before the pandemic put an end to social gatherings, the sessions were attracting between 50 and 60 people every week.

Caller Marty Richards said: 'It's like a big family, mostly the same people every week, sitting in the same seats, I know them all by their first names.

"Win or lose, they go home smiling, there's a lot of banter, it's great.

"When I go up town or go anywhere really, I get people asking me 'when is the bingo starting again?'"

He said he'd asked the school in June if the sessions could be held there again, but it hasn't been possible until now.

He added that while he's looking forward to seeing all the regulars again, new players will be very welcome.

In line with Covid safety guidelines, there will be hand sanitiser available, and the room is large enough for people to 'spread out very comfortably'.

The bingo sessions originated with the Honiton British Legion social club, which was named after the British Legion colours – blue and gold. One of the founder members of the bingo group, Eve Leaman, is still going strong as an organiser in her 80s, acting as secretary and treasurer – and she'll be there on September 30 to welcome regular and new players.