Two things learned at Rochester's Castle Concerts last night: - the tide is a long way from going out on the Ocean and Bucks Fizz still do that thing with Velcro.

It was 80s party night and while there were more bald heads and expanding waistlines on view, the music had an uncanny ability to spread its appeal across several generations.

Were the sounds of the 80s really that cool? Probably not, but these were mostly, the good bits.

It was a balmy summer's evening and the Ocean, Billy Ocean that is, was as smooth as a millpond Although these day she is adorning a silver mop and beard, the voice remains golden.

It may slip your mind the contribution he made to that decade which was not known for its musical legacy. Yet song like "Love Really Hurts Without You" and "Caribbean Queen" remain stored in the back of your memory - just when you thought you had forgotten them.

Still a wonderful showman and backed by a magnificent band, he worked his way through an illustrious back catalogue and several other 80s favourites besides. "When the Going Gets Tough" had virtually everyone on their feet.

He left the stage to a rapturous ovation - a truly class act still.

So too, in her own way was DJ Sara Cox, of BBC Radio 2 and formerly Radio 1.

The host for the evening, she set the tone and never let the party atmosphere subside.

It was largely down to the whacky northern radio presenter that made it an easy entrance for the opening act, Bucks Fizz, about whom, all were wondering - do they still do it?

Anyone of a certain age will never forget that Eurovision Song Contest night back in 1981 when Velcro made its international debut. Midway through their winning hit, "Making Your Mind Up", on the cue of "if you want to see some more" the boys in the band ripped of the girls' dresses to reveal the miniest of skirts.

Never mind the song, some would say it was this routine that won the night for the UK.

Three of the original line-up Cheryl Baker, now a Kent county councillor, Mike Nolan and Jay Ashton, were on stage.

Would probably the most famous clothes removal coup in European television history still be worth repeating 34 years later? Well, sort of.

On the usual cue, off came the Velcro, skirts were unpeeled to reveal - shorts.

Perhaps things have moved on sexism-wise in the intervening decades.