forestry gigs are always idyllic, relaxed and the organisation is top dollar.

I've loved Spandau Ballet since being a spotty teenager; they were my second favourite band, next to The Police. Other than Sting I loved Martin Kemp and Steve Norman, I had the biggest crushes on both of them.

I've seen Spandau recently on their UK tour and they totally blew me away, it was like stepping back in time to my teen years and listening to their LPs on my mom's state of the art record player.

I was that impressed at seeing Spandau a few months earlier at the Genting Arena, that I wanted to experience them again and see what they were like in a sort of festival setting.

The band have sold over 25 million records, scored numerous multi-platinum albums and amassed 23 hit singles across the globe, which have withstood the test of time for more than three decades.

Since returning to the fore Spandau are spreading themselves around the UK and especially the globe, the forthcoming festival season sees them playing the racecourse circuits around the UK and festival after festival, they must be one of the most hard working bands around at the moment.

The settings for the forestry gigs are always idyllic, and tonight was no exception, we've been here before a few years back when we saw Texas and that was epic, so we were hoping tonight would replicate that. 

It's usually picnic hampers, camping chairs and fizz on ice, a real family affair. Unfortunately alcohol is allowed in to the gigs, our experience of the evening meant I didn't think this was a good thing. Instead of drinking in moderation we had about 8 louts standing by us, seriously trollied and this before the band had even come on, not a good experience and it slightly marred the evening.

That's not taking anythnig away from the event which was so professionally organised and thought out, I heard grumbles about there not being video screens, but in essence if people didn't stop recording the show on their mobiles people would be able to see. As they say you can only please some of the people most of the time.

The band have seen the test of time, all fifty somethings and they are all still very fanciable, ok, hot, Martin Kemp and Steve Norman are still smokingly hot, 40 something women like myself had posters of Spandau adorn their walls when they were teens back in the day, if the audience, which was mostly women, surprise, surprise, were like me they would be fighting to get on the front row tonight so they could swoon over various members of the band. And this was the case, scream after scream for Martin Kemp, I'd even read various Tweets which Westonbirt Arboretum had posted saying "I'm getting to the front right in front of Martin Kemp."

It's funny when you've loved a band since your teen years, I've photographed Spandau a few times now and I have in my head, going over and over, which one I should photograph, whilst looking through the lens and thinking oohhh he's still hot for a fifty something lol.

You should carry your phone always, I need to remember this, on Saturday night whilst waiting for the band to grace the stage they all came and stood right by me, inside I was screaming, where's my phone, oh my god I could have had so many selfies, I would've died, seriously, just one photo with Martin Kemp and I would've been a quivering jelly. I was so gutted, but never mind.

Support tonight was provided by James Walsh from Starsailor, I wasn't a big Starsailor fan to be honest. Nice guy but his set was kinda bland and didn't hit the spot for me.

Spandau came on stage at 21.00 hours and played a stonking rendition of 'Soul Boys', followed up by 'Highly Strung' and the amazing 'Only When You Leave', whilst shooting with the camera I couldn't help myself by boogying and singing, oh my god, I nearly died, Tony Hadley acknowledged me.

Spandau's set was a 1 hour and 45 min explosion, a hit-fest, let's face it how many bands have that sort of back catalogue to fall back on? 25 songs we were treated to and it was bloody brilliant.

All looking swooningly immaculate, always snazzy dressers and they were tonight too. Dressed in suits, they could've passed as models for Armani or Gucci, they looked that good.

Newer songs were showcased which they'd co-written with Trevor Horn (Ex-Bugles) such as 'Steal'.

Highlights for me tonight was the early days section where Spandau were the house band at the 'Blitz' club, which included a medley of 'Chant No1', 'Reformation', 'Mandolin' and 'The Freeze'.

The acoustic section was immense, just Gary Kemp on guitar and Hadley – 'Once More' and 'Empty Spaces', I did swoon. Some idiot shouted "Tony play something we know", my viewpoint on this is if you were a real fan you'd know these tunes, simples??!!

I didn't want this show to end, I love the Forestry Commission gigs, they're just relaxed and the organisation is top dollar.

Spandau saved the best till last with 'Communication', 'Lifeline', the epic 'True', Song of the night and spine chilling brilliant 'Through The Barricades' and anthemic 'Gold'.

What an epic night, well worth the ticket value alone, amazing surroundings, anthemic tunes, a glass of bubbly and a swing of your pants, what more could you ask for?

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