After Tito and Jermaine, guess who's invited to Swindon (From Swindon Advertiser)

After Tito and Jermaine, guess who's invited to Swindon

8:55am Friday 2nd February 2007 in News By Kevin Burchall

SUPERSTAR Michael Jackson could be making a surprise visit to Swindon.

The sensational news was revealed by Jackson's close friend Matt Fiddes, who confirmed to the Adver that he has invited the King of Pop to his home town.

The martial arts guru was the man behind Tito Jackson's recent visit to Swindon and will be on hand as Jermaine Jackson launches his anti-bullying campaign in the town on Monday.

The 27-year-old former St Joseph's Catholic College and Greendown student is confident the most famous member of the Jackson Five will follow in his older brothers' footsteps.

"Michael is not going to give me an answer straight away as he has to check his schedule, but I'm pretty confident we can make it happen," said Matt.

"I know he wants to come over and support his brother's anti-bullying campaign. Michael has been to Exeter before to do a charity event with Uri Geller back in 2002.

He went down and met some sick kids and went to the football stadium, so if he went there, I can't see why he wouldn't come to Swindon.

"He is going to Japan for a fans' event, so we may not find out for a few weeks what's happening, but I'm in close contact with Mark Lester, who is with Michael as we speak.

"Mark played Oliver in Oliver Twist and he is my eldest child's godfather. I met Mark through Michael and we have remained close ever since."

Matt became friends with the pop star after being introduced to him by psychic spoon bender Uri Geller.

He then became the singer's unofficial bodyguard whenever he visited Europe.

Matt's celebrity connections and success are all the more remarkable considering he was bullied at school and told he would never make it in business because of a lack of qualifications.

But after leaving the town at the age of 16 he has set up a network of more than 400 martial arts schools throughout the UK and Europe.

He has just signed a multi-million dollar deal to take his brand of martial arts into Australia and New Zealand and has recently been voted Instructor of the Year by Martial Arts Illustrated magazine. And his strong ties with the Jacksons will be further emphasised when Jermaine pays a visit to his martial arts school in Station Road. The Big Brother runner-up will launch a national anti-bullying campaign with Matt and Pat O'Driscoll, the manager of Centre Fitness in Station Road Industrial Estate, where Matt's martial arts school is based.

It follows the allegations of racism and bullying on the Channel 4 show.

NOBUL will be rolled out across UK schools and, as well as promoting a anti-bullying message, the campaign will also seek to promote anti-racism, respect for others and help to improve the motivation and education of those failing in school.

Matt said: "Jermaine will be talking to the children about adopting the right values throughout their lives, why bullying is bad and how by being nice to people gets you places.

"I really believe that every child can achieve success if they really want to. I like to think that I am an example of that. We shall also be talking to children about the dangers of drugs and how to say no to peer pressure, and we can teach some basic self defence moves as well."

Jermaine will visit the Matt Fiddes Martial Arts School at 4.30pm on Monday.