97-year-old Walton great-gran is Bongo’s oldest fan

She’s boogied on the benches, sung along to the karaoke classics and giggled at the antics of Slutty Susie and Horny Heidi and, while she might be just a few years off a century, Anne Gandy loves Bongo’s Bingo.

The 97-year-old supergran from Walton is Bongo’s oldest fan…

And there’s nothing Anne likes better than getting her eyes down and her dancing shoes on for a visit to the UK’s wildest Bingo game.

“I just think that it’s great,” says Anne. “I love the atmosphere at Bongo’s and I like to dance and sing along with everyone else.

“No-one looks at me as though I’m an old woman. When I’m there I’m just part of the crowd.

“I feel like I’m part of the furniture now.”

Anne’s enjoyed your average game of Bingo since she was in her 70s and has regularly played with friends at social sessions close to home: “My friend and I went twice a week.”

But it was hearing about her granddaughter Sarah’s trips that got her intrigued about the madness and mayhem at Bongo’s, which this weekend celebrates its 10th birthday with the biggest ever party nights at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool.

“Sarah was talking about it and saying what they did, singing and dancing, and it sounded like fun and I said I wanted to go,” smiles Anne.  “She ummed and ahh-d about it for a while, but eventually she gave in.”

Anne was treated to her first Bongo’s experience as a present for her 90^th birthday, and she went with Sarah, 29, and her friends, and daughters Donna, 59, and Norma, 71.

“There was quite a crowd of us.

“Sarah didn’t warn me at first that it might be a bit naughty – and I don’t like swearing,” adds Anne. “But it’s not done in a crude way but in a comedic way.  And so while I do tut when they swear, I just ignore it!

“Jonny Bongo is brilliant, and a really lovely man.”

But she says: “If you are easily offended – stay away!”

In fact, the only time Anne was offended was when she called a full house and got up on stage for a dance-off to claim her prize – and it wasn’t the thought of getting up in front of hundreds that bothered her but that fact that her prize was a mobility scooter.

“We all had a go on it, up and down the road, but other than that it’s been stuck under the stairs,” says daughter Donna.

Being Bongo’s Bingo’s oldest fan, though, is not Anne’s only accolade.

The incredible woman, who’s got four children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, is the proud – and very modest – recipient of an MBE.

Known as ‘Aunty Anne’ she was awarded the honour in 2007 after more than five decades of support for her local community.  Anne ran playgroups at Walton Youth Centre for around 35 years and at The Cornerstone in Liston Street, as well as helping out at St Mary’s Church Sunday School and its playgroup.

“I often meet some of the kids I looked after at playgroups at Bongo’s, and they’re now mums themselves, so it’s lovely to catch up and have a chat.”

For around 20 years from 1990, Anne acted as a host mother to countless foreign students who studied at the Liverpool School of English in Mount Pleasant.

Now – finally – taking life a little easier, Anne looks forward to going to Bongo’s Bingo around three times a year – at Christmas, on her birthday and in summer.

And she couldn’t miss joining in the celebrations this weekend.

“I’m really looking forward to it, I can’t wait. I’m going on Saturday with Sarah, Donna and Norma, and my great-grandson Bobby (Norma’s grandson) so there’ll be four generations of us.

“That’s what I love about it too, that it’s something we can all do together as a family and everyone joins in.”

Donna adds: “Mum was really ill at Christmas with heart failure and ended up in hospital, and I swear it was the thought of going to Bongo’s this weekend that made her determined to get better.”

Anne says: “Going to Bongo’s keeps me young.

“I’ll get my wine and soda – one lasts me all night – and I’ll have a bop and a sing.

“I know I’m going to have a great time and, if I win, that’s just a bonus!” 

Find out more about Bongo’s Bingo here.

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