Phil and Heather on the October 1996 Link front page

Five years ago Phil and Heather Walker appeared on the front page of the Swindon Link magazine under the headline 'Marriage takes on magic quality' after Heather decided to join Phil in his developing magic and illusion business.

Phil, soon to be redundant from the RAF and looking for a civilian career, had appeared on the front page eighteen months earlier, in March 1995, dressed as a vampire appealing for a stage assistant. Jayne Candlin from Grange Park responded and bookings start to roll in, until she became pregnant and Heather stepped in.

But Phil's first contact with Swindon Link was in 1993, when we featured Nadia Foster from Freshbrook, alias Anna Kazan, the youngest member of the Magic Circle. He, Heather and their children had just arrived in Freshbrook from RAF service in Germany, where Phil had put on comedy hypnotism and table magic shows at NATO bases in partnership with his alter ego Dr Aculard Hemlock. We put them in touch and Nadia was able to provide tips and contacts within British entertainment circles.

Dr Aculard has retired, though vampires have a tendency to return for a taste, but Hemlock Productions has grown into a monster entertainment business based in West Swindon. Phil and Heather can put on cabaret, hypnosis and magic shows, as well as a disco, at large corporate events or turn up at a children's party as a couple of clowns.

Phil and Heather as children's entertainers Absolutely Amazing Magic

Hemlocks newest act featuring Knights in armour fighting with razor sharp swords and damsels in distress

And if paid enough, Phil is willing to escape from a straight jacket, dangling upside down from a burning rope sixty feet in the air. It takes him 30 seconds but involves painfully dislocating his shoulder, so he keeps this part of the business quiet.

"It's amazing how things have grown from literally an illusion," said Phil. "The information we sent out in the early days was so good that when club promoters called us we told them that we had bookings for months ahead and they needed to send us a deposit. We had twenty bookings before we could buy any equipment. Now we get two or more gigs for every one we do and use equipment costing thousands, with full lighting and the works."

Hemlock Productions now employs twelve part-time assistants and a whole range of other performers and entertainers depending on the type of booking. "Nowadays we have a team of organisers so that we can just turn up and put on the show," said Phil. "Jayne has moved away now, but who knows what would have happened without the original Link magazine article. Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would be where we are now." Hemlock also has a young protege in the making. Greendown student Daniel Walker, already experienced in TV commercials, is keen to join in when he is ready.

To book company and hotel events or a childrens party, call Hemlock Productions on (01793) 881430.