A rough night that was so worth it for many reasons

Mal Pope is a songwriter who co-produced the film Jack To A King, about the 10-year rise of Swansea City FC

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SOME people use barometers, others check the long-term weather forecast.

If I want to know when the weather will be absolutely atrocious some time in mid-November all I do is find out the date for the “Swans Big Sleep Out” It can be the mildest, driest autumn on record, right up until a day or two before the night but I’m telling you, next year, when they announce the date, put some money on hurricanes, floods, possibly a plague of locusts and the moon turning to blood.

This year was the biggest and most successful sleep out so far and in many ways the terrible weather only goes to emphasise why the sleep out is needed.

The Swans Big Sleep Out brings together Swansea City AFC Foundation and Matthew's House which is based on Swansea High Street. To say it’s been successful in the past is an understatement. Last year the Sleep Out raised £37,000. This year they were hoping for more.

To be fair, Matthew's House know how to sell the Big Sleep Out. On their website it says: “Imagine it: wrapped up warm, surrounded by an amazing community of supporters, sleeping under the stars (or stadium lights!) at the Swansea.com Stadium — all to make a difference.”

As I walked from my car to the stadium reception in the middle of Storm Claudia, I must admit I was wondering whether I should speak to someone at the Advertising Authority.

Even though some people had travelled through torrential rain, high winds and even flooded roads, the excitement was almost tangible. By the time I arrived Horton Hullabaloo had already set up the gear for what I think was technically their first “stadium” gig.

The Hullabaloo are a big band. In fact they have more people in their band than I have had for an audience in some of my concerts.