"HIS effort is not for a Spitfire fund or the Red Cross, it is something nearer at home,”

said Syd Walker when he opened one of two fundraising events on behalf of the Victoria Hospital this week.

Swindon Town Hall was transformed for the October Market where Syd, a star of radio’s popular Bandwaggon programme, quickly put the large audience at ease with his cheery greeting.

“In these days, when our hands are almost always in our pockets, I am either appealing to you to look after the bones or the rags,”

said Syd, He played the part of an old Cockney junkman in the radio show asking the audience ‘what would you do chums?’ Among the stalls was a china, glass, toys and perfumery stand attended by Swindon’s Carnival Queen and her Maids of Honour.

And the Swindon Press Alliance reported a record response to their fundraising event when Joe Loss and his band played at the Empire Theatre.

The concert proved a sell-out with hundreds of disappointed fans turned away on the day.

In the Mood, Upstairs and Downstairs Blues and The Woodchoppers Ball were among the requests played by Joe and his band during a two-hour concert packed full of dance music.

Meanwhile, Gorse Hill residents and traders were congratulated on their fundraising efforts when they donated £76 to the Mayor of Swindon’s Spitfire Fund, which stood at £3,690 this week in 1940.