I'VE DONE IT AGAIN from The Daily Echo, 4th April 2000

When Glenys Kirby; 65, entered the same singing competition that she won 35 years ago, the last thing she expected to do was win it. But that's exactly what happened to this grandmother from Hurlingham Gardens, Bassett. Glenys still has the cutting of her victory all those years ago from the Echo to prove it. Back in 1965, when she was 30, Glenys, then a music and art teacher at Mansbridge Primary School entered the singing recital section of the Southampton Festival of Music and Drama and won. This year, after a gap of 35 years, she decided to enter again. Despite going home after her performance, as she was first on stage, a sixth sense made her return just before the results were announced. "I was overcome and so surprised when they said I had won. I went on first out of 12 competitors, gave my recital and didn't think I would win. I even left and went home for the night." For her 20-minute performance Glenys's selection included Hark the Echoing Air by Purcell and Ridente La Calma - by Mozart.