01/07/2011 BBC Points West

Good evening and welcome to BBC Points West. Thank you for joining

us, later than usual. Our headlines tonight:

It's over-and-out for the Hercules at RAF Lyneham. Thousands turn out

to watch the last fly-past for a tearful goodbye.

It was just so emotional, it is fantastic to be part of the Day

Today, fantastic. The spirit that kept Lyneham flying

- we look back at its remarkable history.

Also tonight: A Cotswold village under siege as

the supermodel Kate Moss gets married.

And get ready to move over, Andy Murray - meet the ten-year-old who

One of the West Country's strongest links with the military flew off

into the summer skies today, never to return. The famous RAF Hercules

transporter planes have been based at Lyneham for more than 40 years.

Today, the final four took off for their new home in Oxfordshire. On

the way they put on a spectacular air show over the county, and

thousands looked skyward to wave goodbye. Scott Ellis was on board.

The Hercules have been here since 1967. Today you might have counted

them all out. But, unlike Brian Hanrahan, you would never have

counted them all back. These were the final four. The very last

Hercules transporters to leave Lyneham. And they did it style.

Flying low, in diamond formation. It is immensely important to say

goodbye to the county that has supported us so well over the years,

over the decades, and I thought what better way to do it than close

formation flying? This is something we do not do very often, and it is

quite a sight when you see it in the skies, especially being such

big aircraft. It is exciting for us. What an absolute privilege to be on

board the Hercules aircraft as they fly off and lead Wiltshire! I have

to say the overwhelming feeling, though, is one of sadness that the

planes are leaving after 44 years. But despite that, what these pilots

are currently doing is putting on a show for the people of Wiltshire

down below. This is one of the best days of my

life! A primary school in Wootton Bassett, near Lyneham, and on the

Hercules' flight path for decades. They were waving goodbye forever.

Are it is just so emotional, it is fantastic to be part of the day

today. Fantastic. It was amazing and very emotional. I feel so lucky

to be here today. It was amazing to see them go over our school field.

The planes will be missed, and the pilots and crews will in turn miss

Lyneham. In the village itself, they could only watch as old

friends flew off. When we come to our Grandma's house, we will not

see them any more. It has been like waiting for a bereavement, and then

we got the execution today. I think it will be sort of a boy it, if you

know what I mean. I wonder what is going to happen to the village --

over for Reid. So the Hercules have gone to their new base at RAF Brize

Norton in Oxfordshire. They will return for training over Salisbury

Plain. Many will look skyward and wave again.

What is the future now for RAF Lyneham? There is nothing definite,

and it is a valuable site with hangers, offices and a long runway.

A short time ago I spoke to the local MP James Gray who wants

troops coming back from Germany to make use of the base.

I still hope the army may come here. We will hear more on that in two or

three weeks from now, and maybe they will come here, the troops

coming back from Germany. But I am not over-optimistic, but let's hope.

If that does not happen, I have two industrialists looking at it to be

a mixed use for a theme park, housing, an equestrian centre, a

variety of business uses, and that is our Plan B. But the army comes

first. At the moment, it seems the MoD are saying, thank you very much,

goodbye. That looks the way it will be, yes. I have not heard the army

are coming year, and I suspect the MoD, foolishly, and I have said so

for many years, are giving of one a brilliant site, it has all of the

facilities that you could want, and the MoD are having to walk away

from it for financial reasons. It was a foolish decision taken by the

last government but not one we can reverse. It is not much of a thank

you to the people living there. It will be a massive loss to the

economy. �95 million in the local economy, 750 directly employed jobs

in RAF Lyneham, so it is a big hole in the community, which is why I am

saying we will not let this spiral downwards. I want to see this place

behind me used and used quickly, and used for high quality

employment land either for the military or Sung Said of industrial

use. But what cannot be allowed to happen is for it to become vacant.

Thank you. We will have more from Lyneham

later in the programme. Police have launched a murder

investigation after a man was stabbed to death in Bristol. The

victim in his thirties was found this morning in a block of flats in

the eastern area. Three people have been arrested.

After around 12:30PM this morning, police were called here, a block of

flats at Croydon Street in Easton. At -- inside, a man suffering a

serious chest injuries from a stab wound. Despite resuscitation

attempts, he died at the scene. A resident in the block who did not

want to appear on camera told us what he's all. I heard shouting,

some people are shouting that the flat. I came outside, I saw the man

on the floor, I go back to my house and call the police. So far, three

people have been arrested. Recently there was a stabbing in nearby

Stapleton Road but police say this is a completely separate incident

and the local community should not be concern. I can categorically say

there is no link between the two. They are two tragic isolated

incidents that are not linked in any way, shape or form, and the

community in this area should be reassured that there is no

additional concern they should have going about their business in this

area. But despite the reassurances, some here say they are worried

about their safety. Every weekend, there is something going on,

fighting, police helicopters in the air. It is crazy. Crazy. It is

frightening to get outside in the 9th, or even in the evening with my

children. -- in the night. It is watch your back, really. Police are

hoping the tight-knit community will be able to provide vital clues

to this incident, helping them to work out exactly what happened here

in the early hours of this morning. This is BBC Points West on a lovely

Friday evening, later than usual due to the tennis.

And if you haven't seen the national news tonight, then here's

a reminder of the main headlines: The former head of the

International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Khan, has had his

bail conditions relaxed after doubts have emerged about the

strength of the rape case against And Andy Murray is out of Wimbledon

after losing his semi-final match against Rafael Nadal. Full details

in the ten o'clock News. Back to news in the West, and a

union which represents bank workers says more than 1,000 jobs could be

at risk across the West. Lloyds Trade Union says the announcement

of 15,000 more job cuts could affect staff working at Lloyds in

Bristol and Cheltenham & Gloucester's head office in

Barnwood in Gloucester. One of the nuclear reactors at

Oldbury Power station has been closed down. This is the moment

reactor two came to the end of its working life at midnight last night.

It was built in 1965. The Government has confirmed Oldbury is

one of the sites it considers suitable for a new nuclear power

station to be built. A village and the Cotswolds was

virtually sealed off today because of the wedding of one of the

country's best-known models. Security guards manned the entrance

of Little Faringdon as Kate Moss married Jamie Hince. Lizzie Way

spent the day there and tried, in vain, to get a glimpse.

Pretty as a picture and the secure list corner of the West today. The

wedding has been nicknamed Mossop- stock by the locals. Everyone in

the village has been allocated a permit to reach their houses, but

the veil of secrecy over the event means details are sketchy and the

guest list is more of a guest list. Behind me, we think Kate Moss is

about to emerge into her wedding car and drive the mile down the

road to the church, and when she returns, this village will become

the centre of the party tonight. But still have not seen anything

yet. The reception will be held here, in the garden of her house,

but the church is a mile away. Deliveries were made here all day,

and the grass verge outside her house became quite a social hot

spot. We walked over, we did not look suspicious. Throughout the

village there have been lots of vehicles with blacked-out windows

containing the! -- containing... Jude Law was rumoured to be here,

and I tried not to stare. And then the moment that the fleet of Rolls-

Royces took the wedding party to the church. Unsurprisingly, there

were a few photographers waiting there. The aim might have been for

a low-key country wedding in the garden, but if anyone can make a

country village rock and roll, it is Kate Moss.

Our invites must have got lost in the post.

I could not make it, sadly. Final preparations are under way

for St Paul's Carnival, which takes place in Bristol tomorrow.

Thousands are expected to turn out for the possession.

The event has been going on for more than 40 years. Emma Campbell

has been to a primary school in the City to watch their dress rehearsal.

The last chance to put the finishing touches to their dance

routine. At Cabot Primary school in Bristol, they have been practising

for a month. They are going to be part of the big parade. We are

going to be performing it in front of all were people in the can't

adopt. How do you feel about that? Nervous. -- in the car level.

has been fun, I like the dance. Some of us are dragons, some of us

are goblins, some of us are ferries. Really nervous, but excited. Feels

like I have got butterflies in my tummy. These nine, ten and 11-year-

olds will be performing the whole carnival route. That is three hours

of dancing. They are very young and obviously will get tired, and we

have done two our rehearsals before, so they have some idea, but with

the weather I am sure it will be very nice, it will be nice on

Saturday, so we are trying to prepare them. It is bring in the

community together. The smile on people's faces, the piece for Pipe,

the sherry and relaxed atmosphere. It is difficult to describe, I have

to invite people to come down and experience it because there is

something exhilarating about it and they think it does a lot for St

Paul's and for Bristol. Priceless. If you can't get to St Paul's in

person, you can catch the carnival live on BBC Radio Bristol tomorrow

from 9am to 6pm. Let's hope the sun shines for them.

Sport now, and it might not seem long ago that the last games were

played, but now the region's football teams are all officially

in pre-season training, after Bristol City reported back today.

And there was also a big game of cricket taking place in Bristol

tonight. Geoff Twentyman is there. A great game of cricket at the

County Ground, Gloucestershire have beaten Somerset by two wickets in

the T20 game. 7,000 people came in, most of whom have gone home now.

Chris is here from the winning Gloucestershire side. That sounds

good, I guess? It does, it is nice to win the local derby. They have

Beatles over the last couple of years, so it is nice. Everybody

expects crash bang wallop that this format, but it was a tight game?

Very nerve-racking, 120 by any stretch of the imagination is a

small total, especially at Bristol. A special word for Jack Taylor.

year-old on debut, bowled very well with the ball, and showed some

great skill with the bat. And you still qualify for the quarter-

finals, Your third win? Yes. Anything is possible in this

competition. We wish you well, thank you for joining us.

Gloucestershire won by two wickets against Somerset this evening. The

sun was shining, it was glorious all day long. The footballers also

back in action, pre-season training. Bristol City return today, Lyris

Carey has signed a one-year contract at Ashton Gate -- Louis

Carey. No news on Nicky Maynard, the only thing he signed today was

one autograph for a fan, so no new contract yet for Nicky Maynard.

Swindon also back in training, a rigorous session in the gymnasium

today. They are fancied by many to be the team to watch in League Two

next season. Paolo Di Canio is the new man in charge, and the Italian

has no problems with the favourites tag. I think that we have a chance

to be the team that we can win the league, otherwise I should not

accept it. The opportunity should come, and give me 10 times the

money I have now but ask me to stay in the middle of the table and I

would say no. Time now for our weekly series looking at athletes

who hope to be part of their 20 top Olympic Games in London next year.

This is our 7th part of the Series, meeting people who aspire and hope

to be part of the Olympics next year in London. Tonight we are

focusing on a 22-year-old from South Gloucestershire. Kate Grey

just missed out on a medal at the Beijing Paralympics back in 2008. I

met Kate this week before she left for the European Championships in

Germany. It does testier, and it does bring

out the best and worst in its because you have all sorts of

emotions, but I like to say it has made me a better person and had

fully given me a lot of characteristics and skills to take

on after my life in swimming. Kate grew up on a farm near

Thornbury, in south Gloucestershire, and lost her hand in an accident as

a child. She is adept in several sports. Her parents have been

highly supportive. They will be in Berlin for next week's European

Championships. They feel reliability is one of her finest

attributes. She does not like to let people down. If she gets asked

to do a presentation or go to someone's birthday, she feels she

ought to be Lahm back. She manages her time really well, and that is

what sport is all about, being able to have the magic triangle of a

social life and training. What is it like to watch your daughter

compete at the Olympics? One of the best things I have been to is the

opening ceremony. Seeing your daughter coming to the stadium with

the British team and walkabout in front of hundreds of thousands of

people is fantastic. When she competes what 2012, will that be

better because it is in London? home Olympics, yes. We can feel the

support we are getting from the local come in at it. It will be

fantastic. Last time around, Kate just missed out on a medal.

Regardless, it was a really valuable experience. I want to say

Beijing was a steep learning curve. Hopefully I have made all the

mistakes they come against the experience, and I hope to do my

best in London. This time it is a three-pronged attack as she swims

in the 100m breaststoke, 200m individual medley and the 50m

freestyle. It is good for Kate to have a range because we are

training for the lot and then just get in and get her in good shape

and she raises and enjoys herself. It is about performing in that week,

and if it does not work out there is not much you can do about it.

But I will be very disappointed if I do not come away with a medal

from London, but I have to make the team first of all! One step at a

time, you have to be realistic. Kate is clearly not taking anything

for granted, but right now she is on schedule to make London 2012 and

hopefully go one better than Beijing.

A charming young woman, fingers crossed for Kate Grey. The next in

the series is next Friday on Points West. Just to reiterate on the

cricket, Gloucestershire fans over there enjoying a two wicket victory.

A great win for Gloucestershire, Jack Taylor was man-of-the-match.

19 years of age, what a gay people stop thank you, Jeff -- what a

Andy Murray is out, but we can hope for one day. One ten-year-old

Somerset girl is being tipped as a future champion.

Ola Pittak is already ranked the number one tennis player for her

age in the country. And her coaches say she has what it takes to get to

the very top. Clinton Rogers has been to meet her. What did

Alexander Fleming discovered? At St George's Primary School in

Taunton today they were learning about famous Britons. We might be

able to add one more famous Briton to our list, someone who comes from

Class 5 in St George's Primary School. Who might that be? Yes, she

may only be 10 years old, but there is a belief that this girl has what

it takes to become a tennis star of the future. Ola and her older

sister Kasia came to this country from Poland in 2004, speaking no

English. But their language developed quickly. Their tennis

skills even quicker. Both are coached by their father and are top

junior players. But it is Ola that is being tipped for big things. She

is already ranked number one for her age in the country. Those in

tennis say she is a rare talent. But a future Wimbledon champ?

too young to say right now, it is too early in her development to

make a call like that. It would be nice if we could, but she is

definitely on track. Time now to really test her talents. Who needs

tennis kit? What is your big ambition one day? I hope to be the

No. 1 player in the world. Wimbledon champion? Yes. You had

better get that shot them. I, no! Somehow, I think there will be

tougher challenges ahead. I am not sure he will be giving

Rafael Nadal any sleepless nights! You never know, the way that

British tennis is going! Next move on to the weather, and

It has come and it will continue into the weekend, one way or

another. Variable cloud around said the sunshine will come and go, but

high pressure dominating as we go through the weekend and it will

stay that way until at least Monday and Tuesday next week until things

turn more unsettled from the West. Through the course of this evening

and tonight, losing some cloud cover, so there will be prolonged

clear spells across much of our Districts and the temperatures will

drop away accordingly, but not as chilly as the last two nights at

least. Tomorrow we will start again with a good deal of sunshine around

for most of us. A familiar pattern from the last couple of days, the

cloud starts to bubble up and will tend to flatten to become more

extensive inland as we get through the day, but pleasant sunshine,

light winds everywhere, so feeling warm in those conditions.

Temperatures up a degree or two on today. It bodes well for the St

Paul's Carnival. Also if you want to go down towards Burnham-on-Sea

for the Somerset church fete, at 2pm until 4:30pm. Sunday is going

to be an even warmer day to come, it would get to 22 Aug 23 Celsius,

and we have cricket in Somerset where they are playing Winscombe

against Bristol. Sunday is a decent day, sunny spells, Variable cloud.

Still ball on Monday or Tuesday, the sign of a few showers are

starting to appear at the end of Tuesday because, as we get towards

the middle of the week, low- pressure coming off the Atlantic

spins towards us, but I think it will be Wednesday, Thursday before

we enter the more showery weather, which may well be out of the way

back at least the second half of the following weekend. Decent for

It has been another historic day in the West. Wiltshire said goodbye to

the Hercules, the beginning of the end for RAF Lyneham.

As the base enters its final months, we have looked through the archives

remembering some of the most significant moments in its 70 year

history. Originally an aircraft maintenance

base, it also had a key role ferrying planes and personnel to

the front in the Second World War. VIP passengers included Winston

Churchill in his famous liberator, Nick gained Commanders. The hangars

Inst in the background are there to this day. After the war, thousands

of aircraft were stored here. No photograph to prove it, but there

were so many that they put the Spitfires on their noses to a bit

more of them in. Top security. Pathe cameraman John Parsons went

out under sealed orders to airfield X to greet Britain's atomic expert.

Airfield X was Lyneham, and reporters gathered to hear the

scientist behind Britain's was Russian nuclear bomb test give a

non-committal statement. What is your next move? I have to send in

my report to the government. When I have done that I shall have a short

holiday and I hope to play some golf. The Hercules arrived in 1967.

The go anywhere, do anything workhorse, known affectionately as

Fat Albert, has been involved in virtually every British military

operation since, flying in troops and supplies as well as covert

missions under the most dangerous conditions. It has taken great

courage and skill. When Saddam Hussein set fire to the Kuwait

oilfields in the first Gulf war, I saw it first hand, what aircrews

had to go through. Like the turbulence which made the job

highly dangerous. They say that they get used to working in

conditions like this for the low- level supply drops. And some of

them have actually fallen out, although Frank Foley still attached

to the aircraft. On the ground, engineers became remarkably

inventive. Some Iraqi fencing and a bucket is all that was needed to

produce a refreshing shower. The leather armchair was flown out in

the back of a Hercules. Back home in Wiltshire, facilities had always

been rather better. In the 60s, RAF Lyneham's restaurant when the

finest food in the most puzzling surroundings award two years

running. And the brand new's sergeants mess always offered a

pint of the best to drip your moustache in. It became such a busy

transport hub that air stewards were introduced to to give airline-

style service for cruise en route to foreign bases. The Royal Air

Force transport brings the first casualties to reach England from

Korea. For those coming back the other way, sometimes a more

rudimentary said this was needed. mobile elevator waist picks and the

men in their stretchers and can days than so they have as little

Hambling as possible -- and conveys them so they have as little

Hambling as possible. Among the more emotional homecomings, the

Beirut hostages returned via RAF Lyneham after spending years in

solitary confinement in the Middle East. To be able to sit and feel

the wind on my face, and fill one warmth of the Sun, because I was in

almost total darkness for two years. I thought, this is marvellous, this

is freedom. Mind and gave me my freedom back, and helped me back

into freedom -- RAF Lyneham. its more recent sad role in

repatriating those killed in Iraq and Afghanistan has again put the

station in the national spotlight. Pride in the base and its crews was

no better shown than at RAF Lyneham's 60th anniversary. From

mechanics to Cook's, they marched, heads held high, proud of their

heritage, proud of their base in the Wiltshire countryside. They may

be moving on now but it is hard to imagine they will never be

forgotten. -- they will ever be forgotten.

A remarkable it back. That is it from a later than usual

Points West. Andrew Plant will be here with the day's News at Ten.