Stars in their eyes

Kerry said: "I had just about finished a world trip when I met Pierce Brosnan in a cafe in New York.

"I was having a coffee with my ex-boyfriend and he just walked in. He went straight to the toilet so I waited until he came out and asked if I could have my picture taken with him.

"He was really nice and asked us all about our trip. When we told him we were from Swindon he said he was due to come here soon to film part of his new James Bond film.

"He told us he was in the middle of filming the Thomas Crown Affair when we met him. It seemed to me that he had been to the cafe in Wall Street before because when he walked in the cleaners didn't even look twice.

"He sounded a bit like James Bond and had a really nice accent. He was also a lot taller than he looks on the TV, and thinner. My boyfriend and I were ready to leave the cafe so we walked out with him and he got in his posh car and drove off.

"Just weeks before I met singer Tony Bennett walking through Central Park. I recognised him because I sing myself and I think he was pleased to have been spotted by a younger person. He was lovely and happy to have his picture taken."

Leigh Debbage, 18, is a student at New College. He lives with his parents in Old Town and met Michael Palin at a book launch in London two months ago.

Leigh said: "Even though the room was packed my mum spotted him as soon as we walked through the door.

"Someone took me over to meet him and it was weird because I felt like I already knew him from seeing him in Monty Python.

"I was quite drunk because the wine was free so I plucked up the courage to say 'Nih' to him as he left a reference to the film Monty Python And The Holy Grail.

"He was really nice to talk to and asked me about a story I had written.

"I told him I was going to turn it into a screenplay and asked if he would do the same with his novel. He said no, but that he would let someone else do it, so that was interesting.

"When I was talking to him my mum tapped him on the shoulder and took a photograph of him which was pretty embarrassing."

Sarah Hennessey, 20, stole a kiss with Neighbours heartthrob Daniel Macpherson, who plays Joel in the Australian soap, during a trip Down under in August. She lives in Nythe.

Sarah said: "I went to the Neighbours set in Melbourne and was disappointed when he wasn't there so when I found out he was appearing at a nightclub in Adelaide I went straight to the VIP lounge and hung around until I got in.

"When I met him I told him I had travelled 12,000 miles for a kiss so he gave me a snog and I couldn't believe it.

"We got to know him well that night and he was lovely."

Zoe Miller, 22, meets famous people on a weekly basis at the Brunel Rooms, where she words as a PA. She lives in Gorse Hill and recalls meeting pop stars Dane Bowers and Brian from Westlife.

Zoe said: "Meeting the odd celebrity is a perk of the job really.

"Though we quite often get famous people in the club, I still get excited and a little bit nervous about meeting them.

"Dane Bowers and Brian are my favourites.

"Dane is such a nice, down to earth bloke, quite quiet really, not at all how I expected.

When he finished playing his set he joined us for a drink, which was really nice.

"He was also really chatty, asking me what kind of music I liked and about clubbing in general. He even said he would come back to Brunel socially because he loves clubbing, but because he is famous finds it quite difficult to go out.

"He looked slimmer in real life too, some of the papers say he is fat but I didn't think so.

"It was a complete surprise when Brian arrived at the club because nobody knew he was coming.

"His girlfriend is one of the Atomic Kittens and he came along to support her. He was a bit worried about taking the limelight away from the kittens but I managed to grab a pic anyway."

While the pages of glossy magazines would have us believe celebrities never venture further than the capital's best night-spots and dine only in the finest restaurants, the Evening Advertiser knows better.

The new millennium brought a flurry of the UK's brightest young stars keen to sample what Swindon has to offer.

Those who frequent Old Town's pubs and bars are used to rubbing shoulders with the likes of Melinda Messenger and her husband Wayne.

The pair are often spotted enjoying a dance at the Brunel Rooms nightclub, as have TV's Richard Bacon and Danielle Brown, the actress sister of Spice Girl Mel B.

And just weeks ago, Billie Piper was seen enjoying a quiet meal in Bath Road's Pizza Express.

What is even better to know is that between their luxury holidays, parties and shopping trips, celebrities still find time for the people that made them famous.

Kelly Strange asked Swindon residents what it was like coming face to face with their idols with the photographs to prove it.

If you would like us to print your picture with a star send it to Kelly Strange at the Evening Advertiser, 100 Victoria Road, Swindon SN1 3BE.

Lynsey Rowland is 23-years-old. Last month she told the Evening Advertiser how she bumped into Liverpool footballer Robbie Fowler at Swindon nightclub The Mission. Lynsey lives in Coleview.

Lynsey said: "I was going to Mission with my friend Carol Newman and took a camera along. I didn't have any idea who Robbie Fowler was until someone pointed him out to me.

I have heard of him but I didn't know what he looked like. Everyone was crowded round him and I remembered I had my camera so I asked if we could get a picture with him.

He was in town to see the England masseur and just decided to go to Mission while he was here."

Bob Downing, 28, is manager of the Brunel Rooms. He lives in the town centre and met pop stars Atomic Kitten two weeks ago when the band sang at Brunel Rooms.

Bob said: "I was actually working when I met the girls. They came in and the first thing that struck me was how warm and friendly the three of them are.

"They were full of energy and one of them was a scouse to which I thought bingo because I am too.

"They were happy to chat to me and a really good laugh even asking me how I was and I think that sums them up really.

"They were just genuine girls you would meet on the street, out to have a good laugh and very real.

"At the end of the day famous people are real and meeting Atomic Kitten really brought that home to me."