06/08/2014 BBC Channel Islands News

And, forget your bucket and spade ` we're in Alderney

Many people couldn't imagind living now without the internet

Some see it as an essential service for business and pldasure.

But some connections are faster than others and now Guernsey's government

has gone undercover to find out why, as Mike Wilkins reports.

Over the past three months, under the radar, Guernsey's

government has been snooping on the companies that provide

It follows complaints from tsers about their internet speeds.

And now the States wants to find out who's really at fault.

It's been using special software to monitor the broadband speeds at

So we as a government can sde are the problems at home with the route,

either in that little bit of copper between home and the box, bdtween

the box and the exchange, and this software gives us a huge amount

Sure is the company that provides the

It has declined an interview but said that it welcomes the strvey and

it looks forward to commenthng when they see the results of the study.

JT is the other provider of Broadband in Guernsey.

It also declined an intervidw but said in a statement:

The States has three months worth of data to crunch before we find

out where and why there are broadband problems in the island.

Airfares being charged by Atrigny on its Guernsey to Gatwick route are

being reviewed by business groups amid concerns that they're too high.

The airline recently committed to keeping 60% of its fares under 65,

but says it does need to be commercially viable.

Tourism bosses are among those calling for the review.

A petition demanding Guernsdy States make a U`turn on their decision to

introduce paid parking has gained over 1,000 signatures.

In May, politicians agreed to a raft of measures aimed

at cutting car use in the island, including charging motorists 60p an

Those behind the petition s`y it's the low earners in St Peter Port

Politicians in Jersey are sdeking a permanent way

of dealing with the thick coating of green seaweed on St Aubin's Bay.

Transport Technical Services can regularly push the sea letttce

further down the beach, but it always comes back with the tide

Now the Constable of St Helher is asking the Environment

Minister to investigate how it could be treated or disposed of

The environment Department `re doing a lot of work, to understand what

causes it, why it is here some years and not others, and why it hs not in

Jersey. And also to control the amount of the letters we have in

jersey by controlling the ldvels of nutrients it relies upon to grow.

Jersey's Royal Court was in St Martin today for the Visite Royale.

As part of a tradition that dates back to the sixteenth century,

the court tours the parish `nd gives its verdict on any problems.

Today that meant inspecting a failed culvert.

The island's youngest advoc`te acted as defender for the landowndrs,

St Martin's Connetable says it can mean a quicker resolution

This is actually a nice way of doing it because you could have an instant

decision, whereas sometimes you may have two wait many years for eight

court judgement, where is the owners of the property today have got an

advocate representing them laybe later date representing a tree or a

hedge, and speaking in defence of a dead tree, for instance, as has

happened in the past. Back on dry land after two lonths

at sea, but did these Atlantic Now, onto

the mystery disappearance of one A carved stone which has bedn in the

Bailiff's Cross area for centuries vanished during the redevelopment

of the old Hangman's pub thdre. I may be no Poirot, but when

called in to investigate I will And here at Bailiff's Cross it's

the disappearance of the cross that gives the area

its name that's causing a stir. People just noticed that it had

disappeared. I have fielded similar questions about it I have got a

standard response now, which is that we have turned it into gravdl, which

is not the truth at all! A stone, which used to be jtst

here before the old Hangman's The stone was slightly set back from

the wall, so it was not acttally touching the wall at all. You would

have seen the very face of the stone. It is a stone with a story.

The Bailiff of Guernsey acctsed his neighbour of stealing from him. This

was not true and he was sentenced to death. This is the location that it

is believed he stopped to rdceive the holy sacrament before going on

to the gallows. The next ch`pter in this story though brings be here. I

was accused of vandalising ht. But I was taking it away to repair it

That's all I was going to do. They decided not to fill the cracks. Some

stainless steel foul to put across, and it is here and land ready to be

put back. And it won't be long before that happens. As you can see,

there is a stainless steel border and that is where we will mount the

missing stone. So, mystery solved? Indeed.

Over to Alderney Week now, where rain threatened to stop plax in the

We're not talking a couple of buckets and spades and a flag

There were some serious construction efforts going on down at Br`ye Beach

All one needs to enter the sand castle competition is a lot of

imagination, a view helpers, and some basic tools. Before materials

are all provided. One of thd most ambitious entries in the opdn

section was this legendary sea monster of gigantic proporthons It

was entered by JoJo and fridnds It has been fantastic. This is my

favourite event of Alderney week. We have planned it for a littld while,

worked out what we are going to do, and we have finally finished. We are

very happy. Judging the competition is a different matter, with over 100

entries reflecting this year's treasure Island theme, so choosing a

winner was never going to bd easy. We have found it incredibly

difficult. We have had so m`ny entries, so many really original

good ideas. There have been Long John Silver, treasure chests,

treasure islands, some people are sticking to the traditional sand

castle ideas. But very good. In the end, the overall winner was a

delicately executed design called kraken versus Gray Shippey. All too

soon it was time for the winners to carry off their booty, and for

kraken to return to the depths of Ray Bay.

Lovely weather there. Will ht continue?

The has been plenty of talk recently on the Internet of what is happening

to Couric and birth `` hurrhcane Bertha, which will cross thd

Atlantic into the weekend, `nd what it will do is uncertain at the

moment. Tomorrow will be a lovely day across the islands, dry with

some sunshine, and generallx light winds. This string of cloud will

past just to the south of us tonight, and there is some rain on

that. It will move into the middle of France before pulling east. It is

a weather system that develops a few ripples along it, which means its

progress is fairly erratic. middle of the date Meyer, it will be

to the of us. Then a fair alount of moisture on Friday, and it will be

quite a wet day. Generally by Friday, there is no sign of any high

pressure with low pressure taking charge. Overnight tonight, the

patchy cloud will trickle along the south of jersey, perhaps producing a

few showers overnight tonight. It should remain dry but rather cloudy

with 16 the minimum damage. Tomorrow, quite a lot of cloud to

start with, but it will bre`k up with sunny spells into the

afternoon. Temperatures responding quite well in the sunshine. 23 the

top ten were just. Dash`macro temperature.

Looking further ahead, the weekend forecast. Saturday will be bright

and dry, but quite breezy. Then the remnants of the hurricane

across northern France by the time we get to Sunday. Strong winds and

we could well have another wet day. Have a good evening.

Before we go, some sports ndws. Matt Le Tissier has stepped down as

president of Guernsey FC. The former Southampton and England plaxer, who

has been president since thd club was formed in 2011, says he is

giving up the role because of work commitments. The club says ht is not

seeking a replacement tonight. That's it for now.

Portland as part of this coastline's past becomes part of its

future as well. Many men who fought in the

First World War never spoke of their experiences

and the horrors they'd witndssed, but tonight, in the third of our

World War I At Home series, we hear John Mathews was left for ddad

on the battlefield but went on to lead a long life in West Cornwall

working on St Michael's Mount, and sometimes sharing his mdmories

of the Great War with his f`mily. I've been to meet his grandson,

who's also called John Mathdws, My grandfather would have known what

he was getting into, but like many men at that time, King and country,

he would have viewed it as `n honour to serve. But nothing can compare

you for the culture shock that would have faced him living on an idyllic

island not much more than a boy In March 1918 like so many soldiers

before him, John Matthews w`s injured and knocked unconschous

When he came round he had bden to different place on the

battlefield, but until a frhend visited West Cornwall in 1979, he

never knew how or why. The chap knocked on my

grandfather's door and said, you are John Matthews. Served in thd great

War? Yes. He said, you're ddad, Haji? And my grandfather sahd, I

don't think so. And the chap said, you're meant to be. My grandfather

asked him why he thought he was dead, and it transpired that when he

had been badly wounded his best mate in the platoon had

seen him fall and him and another they were carrying him, thex thought

he was already dead, another Tommy calling for hdlp was

obviously a life. So they dtmped my grandfather and picked up the other

Tommy. When he came to, he was faced with a German soldier, towards them

with his rifle and bayonet. And my grandfather 's thought he w`s either

going to shoot him or stab him, but the German soldier didn't, he

stabbed the end of his rifld into the earth to allow my grandfather to

a German field dressing station The easiest thing to do

amount of flesh that was blown off was to chop his leg off armour but

the German surgeon took timd, patched it up, and saved my

grandfather's Lake. `` saved his leg.

When it was over, John Hahn time convalescing in a military

hospital. He became friends with a young woman. When it was tile to go

back to the island, he said goodbye to her, never dreaming he would see

Doris again. But that was not to be the case.

One day the board called in, and my grandfather on the front thought, "I

know that hat!" And then, "H know that what!" He started walkhng

towards and being a romantic, he said to her, " what entire nation

are you doing here?" She sahd she was a new kitchen maid at the

castle. In 1923 they got married. They were completely devoted to one

another from 1923 until his death in 1988, completely and utterlx

devoted. After their wedding, John M`tthews

worked back on the mound for 40 years. He was filmed in 1948 in

role as island postman, either ruling to the island walking across

the cobbled causeway to delhver the mail. Every so often he shared

stories of his wartime experiences. As a man and a boy, his grandson so

loved to listen to his tales of life on the line.

My grandfather would get a parcel from home and give it all away. And

his mates would say he was lad. "all this handsome food!" And I could see

my grandfather saying, " I knew boy, I knew! "because his mother

thought the most important thing in life was to be regular, and so every

piece of fruit was laced with something to make your regular!

There were also other more gruesome memories that John never sh`red

After he died, my Nan said to me that write`up too close to his death

she would be walking with hhm sobbing with nightmares. He could

never forget what he what he went through. There are

people who paid the ultimatd sacrifice, but they're suffdring

ended when they were shot. For my grandfather, until he was two weeks

away from 90 years old, he carried that. 72 years of nightmares.

John clearly never fully got over the effect of war, but he dhd go on

to lead a long and happy life on the island with the wife he met when he

was convalescing from his w`rtime injuries, and the nobles rest here

in peace. `` they both rest here in peace.

Tomorrow in the fourth in this series of World War I At

Home we'll hear about the unexpected arrival of 32,000 Canadian soldiers

in Plymouth, and how their mascot went on to inspire the

International cricket is behng played in Somerset today.

England Lions are playing Sri Lanka in Taunton as part of

a triangular of a triangular series which also involves New Zealand

Among the best of England's young talent is North

Devon's Craig Overton, who's having his best season for Somerset.

Spotlight's Dave Gibbins went to see their preparations at King's College

He is already touted as one who will make it big for England. He has

twice already recorded caredr`best scores, and accompanied that with

his best bowling figures. Not surprisingly, he has been rdcognised

by his country for this one day international tournament. Hd spoke

exclusively to Spotlight it is massive for me.

. I have always wanted to plax for

England, and it is always nhce to test yourself against those kind of

players. If you can prove yourself, it is a massive confidence boost and

you can take that on. Andy Flower is head coach of the

Alliance. The captain is Jales Taylor of Nottinghamshire who has

played for England, and wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow. They were sharpening

up before taking on Sri Lanka. Creek Overton knows he is just a step away

from joining the elite band. I need to be a consistent pdrformer

Tom and then I might hopefully get the caller. I just need to

concentrate on keeping my fdet on the ground.

Best of luck to Craig Overton and his England colleagues.

beaten And in the first match of the tri`series, England have

Two South West rowers are celebrating on the Isles of Scilly

Elliott Dale and Chris ?Darby? Walters from Lyme

Regis have raised more than ?10 ,000 for Children's Hospice South West.

They set off on Saturday thd 7th of June from New York, and rowed

They arrived today at St Mary's in the Isles of Scilly after 60

As Alec Collyer reports, thdy are still waiting to find out if they've

On June seven they left New York to challenge a rude first road in 896

by two Norwegian Americans. Today, 60 days later, we find them

approaching the silly I is still a ten miles to go out and covdred over

3200 miles at sea. Happy to be here. It has bedn a long

trip. It was beyond belief, the 3000 miles

they have rowed in all sorts of weather. Sharks following them,

Wales surprising them. It h`s been epic.

A couple of hours later a slall flotilla escorted into St M`ry's

harbour where a true welcomd waited for the record`breaking pair.

APPLAUSE .

We only said we would never do it again. We're talking about doing

another one now! The pain was excruciating. But the

welcome has been credible. The guys have set a record today, 60

days, that is a tough record to beat.

On behalf of the children and families who need our help, thank

you, Chris, thank you, Elliott. We're so proud of you.

There are suspicions that and I s party might go on into the darly

hours. Someone was clever with the

soundtrack, when they? It was looking beautiful on the

silly I, but they had some pretty strong winds after hurricand after.

We will have more in the wax of sunshine tomorrow. Mainly dry. This

group of cloud is parting as it moves towards us. It will produce

some hybrids of rain. Behind that we have a ridge of high pressure for

much of the day tomorrow, and then things start to go downhill

somewhat. This is the chart for Friday. It is that area of

pressure that could produce outbreaks of rain as we movd towards

the end of the week. There hsn't high`pressure near as we go towards

Friday, so it does become more unsettled. A few showers thhs

evening coming in on a gentle breeze. Overnight temperatures will

fall a little lower than last night. Any showers we do sed this

evening will fade away. sky to bring the temperaturds lower

than last night. Between 12 and 14 Celsius for many of us. Tomorrow is

not bad. Some patchy cloud, but mostly dry. The chance of a few

showers moving through the Dnglish Channel. In terms of temper`ture, it

will reach 19 degrees on thd coach, `` on the coast, but 22 degrees the

top figure. Much lighter winds on the Isles of Scilly and we have

seen. The high water times: And the surf isn't too bad.

This is from today, glorious sunshine and a proper summer day on

the south coast of Devon. The sunshine has been out over lost of

the area, some showers, but they have been the exception. I'l sure

our cameraman got himself an ice cream. The sea temperature hs around

18 or 19 degrees, still unusually warm for the time of year. For the

coastal waters forecast: Rebecca mentioned that we h`ve wet

weather heading our way. We might see showers on Saturday, quhte

blustery conditions. On Sunday the remnants of an old Harry Kane that

is moving across the Harry Kane as an old tropical storm, it whll be

weak when it gets to us, but that could bring a spell of unustally wet

and windy conditions on Sunday. We don't know the exact area of low

pressure, it could be into the middle of France or the south of

England. I will update you tsing our Twitter feed, or if you want to ask

questions you can e`mail. Asking for questions? You are

brave! From all of us on Spotlight, good night.