09/04/2014 BBC Channel Islands News

The headlines tonight. become a distraction.

The headlines tonight. Darren Neil McCormack appears in

court charged with murdering Colin Chevalier in Jersey.

The claims sport is under threat as an inter`insular athletics

competition is put on hold due to a lack of capacity on flights.

Putting a face to a name. The search for relatives of a World War I hero

from Alderney. I will be finding out by this old appetite will be the

centre of an international art project that is going to go sailing

around the world. The man accused of murdering

46`year`old Colin Chevalier has appeared in court in Jersey.

35`year`old Darren Neil McCormack has been remanded in custody

following a short hearing. Mr McCormack didn't enter a plea. Colin

Chevalier was found in a house in Saint Helier at the weekend with

extensive injuries. Jen Smith was in court.

Darren Neil McCormack appeared before the Royal Court today charged

with the murder of Colin Chevalier. The body of the 46`year`old was

found at his home in Duhamal Place on Saturday night. The Royal Court

was sitting here at the Magistrates Court. Mr McCormack appeared wearing

a white and blue Adidas t`shirt. His lawyer, Advocate Julian Gollop, told

the court he would reserve his plea. The 35`year`old was remanded in

custody until June the 16th. A 31`year`old woman and another

35`year`old man also held after Mr Chevalier's murder have been

released on bail. As Mr McCormack left court today, Jersey Police say

they're still looking for anyone with information to come forward.

There are claims that sport in the Channel Islands is under threat

again after an inter`insular competition was postponed due to

travel problems. The annual athletics meeting between Guernsey

and Jersey has been put on hold due to a lack of capacity on flights

between the islands. Mike Wilkins reports.

The race is on, but for some of these Guernsey athletes one of their

main races of the year is off. These young athletes are competing against

fellow islanders. The opportunity to compete against Jay`Z may not

happen. `` jersey. The reason? Well, according to athletics bosses, it's

due to changes to airline and ferry schedules. It will impact. It is

easier for to compete in Hampshire and it is in the islands. It is a

ridiculous state of affairs. For those who enjoy competing

against their old rivals it's a frustrating time. Being in a

sportswear we have to travel overseas for all of our competitions

it is a nightmare. When you have got to be on peak form, you want

travelling to be easy. It does get on your nerves.

Aurigny and Blue Islands now share the route between Guernsey and

Jersey. But the boss of Aurigny told me that the airlines are not the

ones to blame. A lot of the criticism has come from groups that

have historically used the ferries to move large groups between the

islands. The ferries are operating and now the ad expecting us to magic

of seats. It is unrealistic. We are looking forward to talking to the

sporting groups and seeing if we can, together, develop a plan. It

isn't unjust athletics having problems, cricket and swimming teams

have told the BBC the encountering significant problems when trying to

arrange interisland travel. But for these athletes, whether they win or

lose, they're just hoping the airline and ferry companies can help

them cross the finish line. We tried to contact Condor Ferries

today but they were unable to provide a comment.

Guernsey's Education Department's has apologised to students wrongly

told they'd secured scholarships at grant supported colleges in the

island after errors in the way eleven plus exam results were

reported. Two pupils were mistakenly told they'd won places at Ladies'

College and Elizabeth College. The department now says an investigation

is underway and swift action will be taken.

?1 million of taxpayers' money is being spent on overhauling the way

medical records are kept by GPs in Jersey. All 15 island surgeries have

signed up to the new system, which will move patient information from

individual practices to a centralised store. It means any

other GPs you may see, such as the out of hours service, have access to

your medical history if you give them permission. What we will have

is a list of your drugs and your allergies, got past medical history

and perhaps more importantly, how things revolving. If you are seeing

your own GP in the afternoon with a Temme ache and she or he has said it

could be appendix, in the evening of that information is available to the

GP coolly seeing you then. Now, we need your help with this

next story. A refurbished British cemetery is opening next month in

Poland to commemorate 39 soldiers who died in the First World War. To

mark the centenary of the Great War this year, headstones are being

built where they were originally buried in a prisoner of war camp.

One of those soldiers was a man from Alderney and those behind the new

cemetery want to find his family. Emma Chambers takes up the story.

They were taken to the Front in bus loads but few made it back home.

It's thought about 800,000 British soldiers died in the First World

War. Some were buried in prisoner of war camps, including Alderney

soldier, James Grier. He's one of the 39 men whose families are being

contacted by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as a new cemetery

is being built in Poland to commemorate them. Unfortunately the

Commission is having trouble contacting James Grier's family. Not

much is known about him, we don't even have a picture. All we know is

that he was born in Alderney on the 5th of May in 1896 He was named

after his father, and his mother's name was Eliza Allez. He was an

early recruit of the war. His medal index card shows he entered France

on the 13th May 1915 where he served as a gunner in the Royal Field

Artillery. Sadly he was captured and became a prisoner of war where he

died on the 19th of October in 1918. The prisoners of war were kept in

dire conditions. They were suffering under a food shortage. They would

come April two and a German `` after German civilians. There was a lot of

disease and malnutrition in these camps which may have contributed to

James Grier's death in October. Many of the soldiers records were

destroyed during the Second World War so we need your help to locate

James' family. It's so they can be at the opening of this new cemetery

where James, along with the rest of the Heilsberg 39, can finally rest.

The project to rebuild the cemetery in Poland for soldiers like James

Grier is being lead by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Paul Francis from the Commission joined me from our Central London

newsroom a short time ago to tell us more. Most people wouldn't realise

that our Commonwealth War Graves in northern Poland. These individuals

died as prisoners of war during the First World War. After a period of

absence where we were then able to maintain their graves, the

commission is about to complete a project. How is work progressing

their and when will it" Mac the Commission sense one of its teams

from our offices in Belgium to carry out the work. They have done a

remarkable job in the space of just over a week. They have been able to

install 30 new headstones, re`turfed the ADA and we're looking forward to

opening the cemetery at the 16th of May. Hopefully members of the family

may be able to attend. Why is it so important that you track down the

relatives of these fallen soldiers and indeed, why isn't so important

they have got to go to reflect? The commission's workers about

remembering the fallen. Giving the family is somewhat physical to be

able to visit, to read the name and a headstone, to be able to touch

that is a human part of remembering those who died for as in the First

World War Second World War. Please get in touch with us if you can

help. You're watching the BBC in the

Channel Islands. Later in Spotlight with Justin and Rebecca: We go

behind the scenes, as one of the most exclusive gardens prepares to

open its gates to the public. Guernsey's old slaughter house could

soon be the headquarters for an international art project which will

see a 30 metre long Chinese junk constructed at the harbour. The

States have agreed to rent the building for the next two years to

the Art and Islands Foundation for the ambitious project. Penny

Elderfield reports. The man who filled the skies with

fireworks at the Beijing Olympics will soon be filling this rather

different space. After 150 years of being an abattoir, the Chinese

artist Cai Guo`Qiang could soon make this the centre of his latest

project. It'll be a headquarters for us to bring in, for instance, lots

of students as part of the education side of the initiative. It'll be a

focal point for people to meet and learn about the project. The cars

they will be able to walk across the footbridge we're going to great and

go and have a look at the shipbuilding in progress. One of the

more interesting elements of this project is perhaps what will be

happening on this land behind me. A Chinese junk boat will be built from

scratch. Measuring 30 metres long and three stories high, it'll

eventually be launched and sail around the world as a floating

gallery. Of course these pictures are just of a model of what it'll

look like. And just like the boat, the hope is the project will be much

bigger than just a local art installation. While the vessel is

being built it becomes quite, hopefully, both a tourist attraction

and also an educational initiative. But when the vessel was built he is

looking to have one of his signature explosion projects on the vessel as

it goes out of the harbour. So if the Beijing Olympics are

anything to go by, as well as a lot more going on here, we should get

quite a show as the ship heads off out there.

It's been an overcast day for many across the islands, luckily not too

warm for a group of running rabbits pacing along the Jersey's roads

though. Dressed up as bunnies, teams of runners delivered chocolate eggs

to schools and nurseries to raise money for the Grace Crocker Family

Support Foundation. The charity helps families who have to go off

island for their ill children to be treated. Well done to them all. Not

long until Easter. What is the weather looking like.

I just thought, just to remind you, you need to have hit years ready for

Easter. It looks as if the weather will be kind to us. Some change

effort by the middle of next week but that is a long way off at the

moment. The fine weather continues. Tomorrow is a dry day, some

sunshine, light winds. There is a small chance of passing shower that

towards Guernsey and Alderney. Apart from that, there is a lot of dry

weather. More clout than we have seen today. That is the setup at the

moment. The high pressure in charge. It is still effectively

there. This weather system coming in from the North is just a spy change

for us because it arrives late tomorrow night. Hardly any thing at

all. It's all flesh in the wind up a bit and bring fresh air which means

lower temperatures. Friday nights could be a cold night. Tempers are

tonight will be done to single figures of around 6`7 degrees. ``

temperatures tonight. Tomorrow, the cloudy skies will be with this on

and off all day. For most of us, dryer. The best of the sunshine

across Jersey. There is our coastal waters forecast. Times of high

water. The outlook as we head into the hell

`` weekend is promising. After some low cloud cover it will brighten up.

That today and Sunday are dry. A cold start to the day on Saturday

morning but from the most part it is dry, and fine. Have a good evening.

Now, before we go, how do you fancy the opportunity of gaining

experience in local radio right here in the Channel Islands? The BBC is

on the lookout for an apprentice at BBC Radio Jersey and BBC Radio

Guernsey as part of its biggest ever apprenticeship scheme. Would`be

local apprentices will be non`graduates who can show

creativity and passion about news and the islands.

surrounding their deaths next week. The case of the Plymouth based Royal

Marine sentenced to life for murdering an injured Afghan fighter

will go before the Appeal Court tomorrow. And tonight a BBC

documentary will look into Sergeant Blackman's case. Our reporter Anna

Varle has more. As I watched those men depart, I

could never imagine the fate that awaited them. Of these Marines,

three were to die and 20 were to be seriously injured and one,

eventually to be known to everybody as Marina a, was to create `` commit

a battle feed `` battlefield crime so serious that it created shock

waves around the world. Was the killing a tactical decision, a mercy

killing or a battlefield execution prompted by revenge and hatred? The

act of a man traumatised by war. Was the killing a tactical decision, a

mercy killing or a battlefield execution prompted by revenge and

hatred? The act of a man traumatised by war. It is not just wanting to

know what happened, I need to know. I need to know why Sergeant Blackman

did what he did, which makes no sense on the face of it. It is not

just wanting to know what happened, I need to know. I need to know why

Sergeant Blackman did what he did, which makes no sense on the face of

it. He was a very reputable Royal Marines with an incredible record

and something cracked so, something went he was a very reputable Royal

Marines with an incredible record and something cracked so, something

went for him to do for him to do what he did. Blackman was the first

soldier to be convicted of murder since the Second World War. The

Afghan was shot in the chest. Is your husband a murderer?

Absolutely not. No way, no shape, no form. Categorically no. Even though

he is convicted as one? I do not know that I know what defines

somebody as a murderer but everything that defines him points

me and everybody else in completely the opposite direction. Sergeant

Blackman's appeal on his life sentence will begin tomorrow.

One of the South West's leading businesses could end up in new

hands. Dorset Cereals, based on Prince Charles' Poundbury estate,

has grown from humble beginnings into a multi`million pound business.

But as Simon Clemison reports there's concern about what impact a

potential sale will have on the workforce and the Dorchester

factory. For a generation after generation,

companies have been competing to get their cereal in your breakfast bowl.

One match to fracture is selling 25,000 `` 25 million packets back to

America which brought us some of the biggest brands. Dorset Cereals is

even selling muesli to the sweats. It is a sense of pride for the

people of Dorset to have Dorset attached to a quality product. The

company has grown up and stayed here and people identify it as a company

that other companies can aspire towards. These recipes were begun at

a Christmas `` kitchen table. The boxes are now exported to 70

countries. The breakfast cereal accounts for more than a quarter of

the muesli market and in the past year it was bought by 2 million

households in the UK. With those figures it is easy to see why the

company is ripe for takeover. It is not clear who the interested buyers

are all weather sailors in the thing but if it is, any new owner plans

will be examined carefully. It could be a British company has spare

capacity and they may have spare oats and they may be happy to close

a factory to cut costs but it may be that they want to expand the

capacity. Away from the factory floor thereafter some highly

controversial `` confidential negotiations taking place.

Moving to sport now and Yeovil Town's bid to avoid relegation from

the Championship was dealt a severe blow last night after a 3`2 defeat

at Charlton Athletic. But Plymouth Argyle's chances of reaching the

League Two play`offs have been revived with a 2`1 win at Newport

County. BBC Somerset's Chris Spittles and BBC Radio Devon's Drew

Savage describe the action. Yeovil Town equalised! A great

advantage from the referee. It is an outswinger and into the six

yard box. A goal and into the back of the net. Charlton have regained

the advantage here. Fraser on the right`hand side,

Baxter defender into the box. I am afraid it is a disastrous start to

the second half for Yeovilton. Into the box. Yeovil are back in it!

It is 3`2 from close range. It is a goal for Plymouth Argyle!

Into the penalty area and onto his left foot. A great goal from the

Plymouth Argyle captain. The play`offs could be back on.

Ship enthusiasts are in for a bit of treat in Cornwall, as one of the

largest working steam ships in Europe has arrived in Falmouth for a

major refit. Whilst most historic steam ships are now museums the SS

Shieldhall is a working vessel, taking visitors on sea trips.

Eleanor Parkinson has been on board to talk to her crew.

SS Shieldhall was built 60 `` 60 years ago and she was built in

Glasgow. Initially she transported raw sewage out to sea but recently

she has been used as a living museum and visitors can get a taste of life

at sea with a steam powered vessel above and below deck. There is

nothing like her left in the world as far as I know. What is the

attraction of steam? People love steam engines but what is it about a

steam vessel like this? It is the same thing, it is in this dowager.

It is that wonderful thing that people have about this longing to

see the past and understand where it all came from. From the bridge we

can talk to the other important part of the ship, the engine room. Hello,

can we come down and speak to the superintendent engineer? Norman

knows the engine room inside out, he has worked here for 28 years. There

are three fires in each boiler and each boiler contains about 20 tonnes

of water. It takes a tremendous amount of heat to heat up water up

to change it to steam. When we come up from cold, we take about three

days to raise steam before we have enough energy in the boilers to

drive the ship. 60 years of work have taken its toll and she now

needs a full refit. Plenty and blah `` painting and blasting to preserve

the steel. A lot of steel will be replaced and it will all be riveted,

the first time we have had riveting in the yard for a long time. The

National Lottery is funding most of the work and it costs ?1.4 million.

She will be fit to carry passengers for another 25 years.

One of the South West's most exclusive gardens is opening to the

public for charity this weekend. Tregothnan near Truro allows

visitors to explore its amazing collection of plants just once a

year. BBC Radio Cornwall's James Churchfield has been along to

discover what visitors can expect to see.

After the grey skies and wet winter, the sunshine is back in Cornwall to

reveal the charms of one of the county's most exclusive gardens at

Tregothnan near Truro. This man has lived here all his life and said the

grounds are looking particularly good this spring. It is lovely to

show it off once a year because the guys here do an awful lot of work.

Having a target like opening the garden means everything is done

properly and smartened up once a year which we probably would do for

ourselves. Every year, the gardens at Tregothnan are open to the public

for charity for just one weekend. And despite the winter storms, the

grounds have been relatively unscathed. Yes, there have been

little bits of breakages through plants, other than plants knocked

over. The wetness has affected some of the evergreens, the conifers. And

the roots have been saturated and they have blown over. But by and

large, things have been fantastic. Among the shrubs and trees, visitors

can see this rhododendron, thought to be the biggest of its kind

growing outside of India. The estate also has this example of a tea

plantation grown on the slopes of what is known as the Himalayan

Valley. The Open Garden Weekend at Tregothnan is billed as the largest

such event in Britain. Visitors can explore these beautiful grounds on

both Saturday and Sunday from ten until five.

What beautiful flowers. Lovely. Great spring weather today.

It has been cloudy places but the sun has been out in a large part of

the reason and `` region and it has felt like spring. All of the leaves

and flowers are starting to come out. The four `` the forecast

tomorrow is a bit more cloudy. It has been rather cloudy and a small

chance of passing showers. For most of us it will be another dry day.

Notice that all of the fine weather across as an Spain and France has a

lot of sunshine, we still have the area of high pressure but it is

weakening. It starts to retreat a bit further into the Atlantic,

allowing the weather system to come in late in the day tomorrow. It is

an overnight feature and will be gone by the time most of us are up

on Friday. It will bring in clearer skies so on Friday morning there

should be sunshine. The satellite picture has more detail. You can see

the cloud bubbling up through the day. On the north coast of Devon we

had some lovely weather with blue skies and a gentle breeze. The

leaves are now beginning to show on the trees and it looks fantastic.

Very light wind but those we have seen on the coastline are drawn in

some cold air so temperatures today have been a bit disappointing. Some

blue sky for some of us and others have had a fair amount of cloud.

Overnight in the cloud will return and there will be some holes in the

cloud through the night which allows the mist and fog to form. It will

not be very thick. It is shallow and should be gone by the morning.

Overnight temperatures are still low. Three or four degrees in the

countryside. Tomorrow is much more cloudy. There will still be some

sunshine now and again. Thick enough for a few light showers but not

many. For the most time it `` for the most part it is a dry day but

cloudy at times. Similar temperatures to recently. A better

chance to see some sunny spells in the Isles of Scilly. Times of high

water at Plymouth. Surfing, not a great deal. The beach is a fairly

good place to be. A quick look at the coastal waters forecast. The

windows from the west or north west. Variable and no more than a forced

to three. Mainly fair with generally good visibility out of sleep. The

outlook continues drive right the way through and includes the

weekend. Thank you for your lovely photographs and them coming.

Have a nice evening. Before we go, we will go back to the

scene in Teignmouth. This is the view with the emergency services and

the police surrounding a house in the town after reports of a man with

a samurai sword. We understand that police negotiators are continuing to

talk to a man and we will keep you up`to`date throughout the evening in

our figures `` late news if there are any further developments.

Thank you for your company. Have a good evening.

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