DESPITE not having quite the glitz and glamour of Hollywood’s post-Oscar parties, regulars at St Mary’s Catholic Social Club still enjoyed their Slumdog Millionaire celebrations.

Family and friends of Danny Boyle, including his father, Frank, gathered at the Radcliffe club to celebrate his film picking up eight Academy awards, including best picture and best director.

The film also won gongs for best adapted screenplay, cinematography, sound mixing, film editing, best original score and best original song for Jai Ho at the ceremony held in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Accepting the Oscar for best director, Danny jumped up and down excitedly in front of Hollywood’s finest.

He explained that it was to honour a pledge he made to his children.

“I swore to them that if this miracle would ever happen, I would receive it in the spirit of Tigger from Winnie the Pooh,” he said.

“To my dad, Frank, and to my sisters, Maria and Bernadette, and everybody in St Mary's Social Club in Radcliffe — big, big, big shout out to you.”

Danny, a former pupil of Thornleigh Salesian College in Bolton, follows in the footsteps of legendary best director winners, including Steven Spielberg, Roman Polanski and Oliver Stone.

His father, Frank, twin sister Maria, and extended family toasted his success with orange juice, tea and bacon barms at the social club.

Mr Boyle, aged 88, had watched the awards ceremony at his home in Radcliffe and grinned with pride as his son’s name was announced.

He said: “I am delighted he has done so well. Getting best film and best director is fantastic. I did expect him to win, though.

“I’m really looking forward to him bringing home the best director Oscar. It’s such a big thing for him to win it. Everyone is so proud of him.”

Club treasurer Steve Kelly said: “When Danny came in last week, we told him about the party and he was really pleased. I told him we wanted St Mary’s mentioned in his speech and he promised that he would do it. I’m absolutely delighted that he did.”

Rumours about Danny’s next visit to the club spread like wildfire during the celebration, but his family were determined to keep it a closely-guarded secret.

That was until the man himself appeared on television to announce that he would be flying home on Wednesday and would be visiting the club on Sunday.