Jeremy Blackmore

Major Tim Peake made history by becoming the irst British astronaut to visit the International Space Station and conduct a spacewalk during his six-month mission.

But less well known is, in a real sliding doors moment, he
almost swapped the chance to fly to space for a life in
the Somerset countryside working as a senior test pilot
at AgustaWestland (now Leonardo Helicopters) in Yeovil.

Tim, who brings his latest tour Astronauts: The Quest to
Explore Space to Bath Forum on September 6, secured
the coveted position at AgustaWestland in 2009 but had to let his new employers know he was waiting to hear if he had been accepted onto the European Space Agency astronaut programme. It was one of the most unlikely conversations ever at a job interview.

Jeremy Blackmore reports on the rescue and revival of a famous Bristol double-decker once used by Paul McCartney’s band Wings and now destined for a new lease of life as a travelling performance space

The brightly painted psychedelic 1972 tour bus which launched Paul McCartney as a major solo artist in the wake of the Beatles’ split has been reborn as a travelling performance space inspired by the Beatles’ final concert on the roof of the Apple building in 1969. The 1953 Bristol KSW 5G ECW open-top double-decker first entered service in 1953 with the Eastern National Omnibus Company in Chelmsford, and later ran with Eastern Counties in Great Yarmouth, before finding rock and roll stardom during Paul McCartney’s first major tour with new band Wings.

Jeremy Blackmore reports on the rescue and revival of a famous Bristol double-decker once used by Paul McCartney’s band Wings and now destined for a new lease of life as a travelling performance space.

The brightly painted psychedelic 1972 tour bus which launched Paul McCartney as a major solo artist in the wake of the Beatles’ split has been reborn as a travelling performance space inspired by the Beatles’ final concert on the roof of the Apple building in 1969. The 1953 Bristol KSW 5G ECW open-top double-decker first entered service in 1953 with the Eastern National Omnibus Company in Chelmsford, and later ran with Eastern Counties in Great Yarmouth, before finding rock and roll stardom during Paul McCartney’s first major tour with new band Wings.

The cut and thrust of car racing may seem at odds with life as a rural vicar in northeast Hampshire, but for the Reverend Simon Butler it's a match made in heaven.

Basingstoke's Aaron Morgan is rewriting the rules for what can be achieved in motorsport.

Flying remote control planes over the beautiful Somerset countryside has inspired Taunton schoolboy Luke Bannister
to travel the world and become a five-time world champion drone racer.

What started as a hobby has provided Luke with a full-time job in the drone industry alongside competing regularly in tournaments in spectacular locations around the world. Now aged 20, he films drone footage for top global brands and works with the NHS to make crucial medical deliveries.

Harrogate's gardens: it's all in the planning - and the pride

Harrogate's gardens: it's all in the planning - and the pride (page 1)

The first recorded visitors to what we now call Fountains was a 13-strong group of 12th century monks looking to live as hermits and seek their souls' salvation.

The first recorded visitors to what we now call Fountains was a 13-strong group of 12th century monks looking to live as hermits and seek their souls' salvation.