IT was a weekend of the five Ps - Proms, Pimms, picnics, pyrotechnics and patriotism.

It took not one, but two concerts - both sponsored by the Evening Press - to celebrate the best of British in the grounds of one of England's most stately of homes.

On both occasions thousands of people went home thrilled by the spectacle presented to them.

Saturday saw a Last Night Of The Proms-style event while last night was a magnificent tribute to The Beatles, four working class lads from Liverpool who conquered the world with their music.

Saturday night reached new heights thanks to a wonderful aerobatic display by a Spitfire - that potent symbol of British defiance against the evil Nazi regime.

Piloted by Charlie Brown and powered by a mighty Rolls Royce Merlin engine, the Spitfire Mark V wove intricate patterns in the blue sky as the evening sun gave its distinctive wings an orange glow.

Below, about 17,000 people waved Union flags on the front lawn of Castle Howard as the English National Orchestra played Walton's Spitfire Prelude, Goodwin's Battle Of Britain March and the Dambusters theme by Coates.

It was stirring stuff as Charlie Brown put the historic fighter through its paces - doing loop-the-loops and victory rolls.

There was no Snoopy and the Red Baron to complete the picture, though there was a conductor sporting a scarlet jacket. He was the Welsh wizard of the baton Jae Alexander. What a showman. Bridging the gap between orchestra and audience, he soon had his public eating out of his hand - rather than their extravagant picnic hampers. He even made quips about the National Anthem. Camp classics for the masses.

His countryman, the tenor Wynne Evans, also made an impact, particularly on two members of the audience. He dedicated You're My Heart's Delight to a Mr and Mrs Woodhouse after he reversed into their stationary Toyota in his hotel car park on his way to the concert. Built like a rugby union prop, Evans had a big voice to match his physique and his attitude to classical music was more attune to the rugby clubhouse bar rather than Covent Garden. He introduced the operatic warhorse Nessun Dorma as "Mess On Doormat - a song for incontinent cats".

Soprano Sarah Ryan caught the mood of the occasion by singing We'll Meet Again as a tribute to the Forces' Sweetheart, Dame Vera Lynn, and the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

The climax of the concert - all pomp and circumstance plus fireworks - was impressive.

The Bootleg Beatles also did Castle Howard proud with their homage to the Fab Four by playing songs that John, Paul, George and Ringo never actually performed live on stage.

The Beatles quit touring in 1966 to concentrate on making epic studio tracks like Strawberry Fields Forever, Penny Lane and A Day In The Life.

Last night, aided by their own little orchestra, the Bootleg Beatles performed such songs with aplomb.

They were simply brilliant, rising to the occasion as the crowd revelled in their musicianship.

Updated: 10:41 Monday, August 22, 2005