Steps security stop shots being taken

This year's Wiltshire Festival at Swindon's Lydiard Park was once again an excellently organised event with two concerts wowing 30,000 people right across the age spectrum and musical interest.

Yet there was a sour note right at the end, when a minder from the Steps security entourage, took their no-photos directive too literally and snatched a camera from Swindon Evening Advertiser photographer Susan Morgan-Jones and removed the film. Consequently the picture here of Steps at this year's Wiltshire Festival is the only one published.

The Steps performance to close the Party in the Park on Sunday 27 August was extremely good with 20,000 people joining in with all their well known numbers like 5,6,7,8, Tragedy and Deeper Shade of Blue, and moving in time to their dance routines.

Earlier soul legend Edwin Starr showed why he's still on top after 35 years. He kicked off the afternoon with a rousing, funky run through all his Motown hits. It was a musical education for the young performers to follow him and the huge number of children in the audience.

He was followed by pop band Scooch who mimed their way through a few numbers, then clubbers went mad for garage duo Oxide and Neutrino. R n' B trio Fierce gave it all they had and Swindon's own girl group Esensual, though showing their stage inexperience, still demonstrated they had voices, singing 'I Swear' acapella as well as some of their own self-penned songs.

Spandau Ballet heart throb Tony Hadley gave another strong performance, though not as good as last year when his band were really hot. However it was a different audience, lots more kids looking for their TV stars and not so many parents reliving the good times of the 70s and 80s.

Aussie duo Madison Avenue went through a few numbers with dance accompaniment. The men in the audience must have taken interest as the performers did not appear to be wearing anything.

The Vengaboys were second from last up, with some energetic, compelling songs which had the crowd jumping before Steps took to the stage.

On Friday 25 August, the Classical Extravaganza again delivered great value for money. In fact there were perhaps too many acts to be able to appreciate the quality on display. Nearly 10,000 people encamped in Lydiard Park with their tables and chairs, picnic baskets and bottles of bubbly. Union Jacks and flags from Holland and New Zealand fluttered above the crowd as rain threatened.

But the organisers were once again extremely lucky. The festival had been moved a week back to accommodate Steps, who six months before had threatened to pull out of the event if it had taken place on the originally planned weekend of 16/17 August, which this year was very wet. Moving the festival to the bank holiday weekend was fortuitous, with only a few short bursts of rain which did nothing to dampen enthusiasm.

The London Community Gospel Choir started the evening off with Amazing Grace and also sang a couple of numbers at the beginning of the second half. It would have been good to give them more time. But there were more great performers to fit it.

Conductor Jae Alexander was once again in Swindon, leading the English Symphony Orchestra with his usual ebullience, wit and a bit of clowning around. A swift canter through Bach, Tchaikovsky and Rossini, with a touch of John Williams and the Star Wars theme, led to the first soloist, the sensational teenage soprano Charlotte Church. More mature and reserved than the funny 13 year old who set the crowd alight in 1999, she showed how her range is developing and her desire to please an audience is greater than ever.

World renowned bass baritone Willard White followed with an extraordinary rendition of Old Man River and other Porgy and Bess favourites. Later in the evening he and Charlotte came together to sing the football favourite You'll never walk alone, a historic moment.

To round off the evening, brilliant soprano Maria Kesselman took the crowd to fever pitch for the ever popular proms finale. Everyone was on their feet joining in with Rule Britannia, Jerusalem, and Pomp and Circumstance, as a spectacular firework display closed the day.

The festival has become a central feature of Swindon's entertainment year. Well done to Andy Cotton and Eddie Sharpe for bringing class performers to the town.

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