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Respect to Billie for putting in the hours at book signing Leader talks
A back issue of The Link brought back memories of home town life for Billie Piper as she signed copies of a vision
of her autobiography, Growing Pains at Asda Walmart at the end of October, Says Barbara Prothero.
Council leader Rod Bluh be-
In her book, she describes her signing event. "Wow,
firstbreak, an audition at the Sylvia that's really old," she said. lieves Swindon, to survive in the
Young Theatre School in London. "Is that me? That's really future, not only has to maintain
its economic success, but has
Our May 1995 front page reported weird. Thanks for bring , to become a leader in environ-
her excitement on winning a half- ing it." mental sciences and a place
scholarship. Billie said at the time, The girl who couldn't which attracts visitors.
"it's fantastic. I've always wanted wait to leave the town and . Speaking at the Swindon Civic
to be an actress; it's like a dream found the idea of living tj ( l . Trust meeting on 13 November, he
come true." and dying in Swindon suf- ^^ acknowledged the town still has a
She was intrigued to see herself focating, looked happy to
aged 12 and her family in their be back. She says in her poor external image and needs a
Nine Elms home. Billie remem- book that she was wor- wow factor for the benefit of outsid-
bered the picture being taken and ried about being trapped e rs.
looked closely to see her brother here and that she didn't He believes that redevelopment
and sister who were with her at the want to do what every- of the Mechanics Institute as a
body else was doing. hotel is the only sustainable op-
As her autobiography Catherine, Henry and l:zy Prothero tion. Despite complaints that the
shows, she has certainly packed a had met in 2001 when she viewed council does not understand the
lot into the 11 years since she left. the house. She chatted with Billie value of Lower Shaw Farm, he
She tells of her pop career, includ- about her childhood home and re- said it is not a priority project for his
ing three number one hits, mar- introduced her boys Isaac and council and should be sold to max-
riage at 18 to Chris Evans and, of Caleb to Billie's brother and sister, imise return on a capital asset.
course, her role as Rose Tyler in Dr Charlie and Ellie, who were with He believes Swindon's strength
Who. her. is the strong community spirit of its
Billie was relaxed and approach- "Considering Billie had been people, and thinks that new Gov-
able as she signed books and posed signing for nearly two hours by ernment measures to encourage
for photographs, and in return, was the time we got to her she was still greater engagement and partici-
presented with pictures and letters being really jolly and friendly. I pation will benefit the democratic
by young fans. She was expected to was very impressed," said Fran. process at a local level.
be at the North Swindon Centre for Isaac, 7, was delighted to meet "Local government should step
an hour but stayed for three. her again. "Billie was really nice back from doing too much," he
Fran Williams has a special con- and kind." Caleb, 5, agreed, "She said. "Councils should be giving
nection as she lives in Billie's old was lovely to talk to, and she signed leadership, direction and focus; we
family home at Nine Elms and they my picture." shouldn't be telling people what to
do."

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