05/07/2011 Look North (Yorkshire)

Welcome to Look North. On the programme tonight: A big rise in

the number of children skipping school.

Doncaster Council fines more than 400 parents for letting their

children play truant. Does Formula One have a future in

South Yorkshire? Virgin Racing tell us about their

plans to leave their Dinnington base.

Holiday memories captured on film. An exhibition that's turning

Yorkshire's family snaps into a work of art. We have got unsettled

weather returning from the West. Welcome to the programme. First

tonight, the Yorkshire education authority where truancy rates have

quadrupled in just a year. Education welfare officers in

Doncaster recently came across 99 children skipping school in just

one day. Half of them were with their

parents. So what's to be done? In a moment we'll hear from the Calder

Valley MP Craig Whittaker, who's a member of the Commons Education

Select Committee, but first Nicola Rees reports from Doncaster.

The summer holidays haven't started yet but you don't have to spend too

long in Doncaster Town Centre to stop -- spot children who should

probably be in school. In one day alone, Doncaster council stopped 99

children who were absent from school without permission. The

parents of those children were then sent illegal warning letter and

those who did not respond got a fixed penalty notice. According to

Schools and teachers are working their socks off for the kids. It

comes back to parental responsibility. They are the ones

that spent most of their time with their children. They are the ones

that the children learn how to act, right or wrong, most of that comes

from parents. I am sorry, parents, it is your responsibility.

Rotherham, Alexandra Evans has struggled for months to get her 15-

year-old son to attend school. played truant because they are not

happy, they are not feeling comfortable. None of us used to

like going to school. If I dropped him off at the gates, he would only

wait until my car was around the corner and drop back out. It is

ridiculous that they are wanting to find parents. -- fine parents.

figures for Doncaster showed just how serious the problem has become

and many parents are simply choosing to ignore the fixed

penalty notices. Already this year, over 90 families have ended up in

court for Paling -- failing to pay the fines and get their children to

school. Craig Whittaker is on the House of

Commons Education Select Committee. His Doncaster typical of what is

going on in Yorkshire? No. There are so incredibly high figures but

also in Yorkshire we have areas that have got some of the best

results in the country as well. It is not typical. You all the MP for

Calderdale and that is one of the places that is doing extremely well.

What is so different there go to Doncaster? Your report was saying

it was about parental responsibility and the schools take

that seriously as well. If a child is of school, on the very first day

the school will phone and speak to the parent direct and if it becomes

a long-term thing, the education welfare officers will get involved

to work with the family and child to let them know it is incredibly

important for them to be in school. I am not sure whether these are 15,

16-year-olds and feel the education system has failed them? One of the

things about being on the Select Committee for Education, time and

time again it comes up but we need more teachers to be innovative

about the way they teach children, to engage them. The biggest issue

without question is the parental responsibility. Parents without

question the need to start taking that responsibilities seriously.

Quite frankly, there will classes that I used to go to when I was at

school that were pretty boring as well. I would never have dared not

turn up. Absolutely. That is exactly why it in the educational

White Paper there are new powers for teachers. They now have powers

to deal with truancy and discipline for events that happened outside

the school and powers of search. That has extended to alcohol and

drugs, which they never had before. The government recognises their

responsibility to make it easier for teachers to instil discipline

and teach families and children that it is incredibly important

that they get his school. Craig Whittaker, I think your message is,

get tough. Thank you. Also tonight: A 16-year-old boy has died after

being eletrocuted at a former power station in south Leeds. The company

who provide electricity in the area say he probably died after attempts

had been made to steal copper cabling. Charlotte Leeming reports.

At this former power station, the danger signs are everywhere but

they were ignored by a 16-year-old boy who somehow got onto the site

and was electrocuted. His body was found during a routine patrol by a

security guard on Sunday afternoon. Our thoughts are with the family of

the youth who has lost his life in this tragedy. For the uninitiated,

these are very dangerous places. The signs that say danger of death

mean that. Hundred and 32,000 volts this time. The three teenagers who

were questioned about possible theft have now been released. The

company that provides electricity has suggested attempts might have

been made to steal copper cabling and components. The amount of

effort that has been taken to get a bit of cod for no longer than half

a metre long -- a bit of Coppell. It is probably worth �5, �10. That

is all it is. The demand for scrap metal is booming and that has led

to this epidemic cable theft. The wiring in electrical infrastructure

is too tempting for thieves. James knows the horrific consequences of

this crime. He nearly died stealing mettle when he was struck by a

21,000 volt power cable. This picture of him was released a few

months ago as a warning to others. Patrols here have now been

increased to try to stop thefts of this kind happening again in future.

Later: What would you do for a bit of peace and quiet? We will be

meeting the Bradford boffin he says he has worked out a formula for

tranquillity. The father of a teenager who

collapsed and died while playing football has told Look North how

other people will benefit from a fund set up in his son's memory.

15-year-old Huw Thatcher from Holmfirth suffered a brain aneurysm

during a match in March. Since then, his family and friends have raised

almost �20,000 to help other Playing the sport he loved in the

school playground. This was built two weeks before he died. -- this

was filmed. The 15-year-old collapsed during a match. Unbeknown

to anyone, he had a brain aneurysm. It is shock and emotion. He had the

ultimate bad luck, if you like. That is the way I see it. In terms

of the 15 and a bit years of his life, he was lucky because he did

have the looks and sporting ability and academic ability, charm, the

And hundreds of loved ones attended his funeral. Cardiff City was that

he be supported. Its colours chosen for his coffin. It was a time to

mourn and to remember. He had a great relationship with his sister

and with his mum. He would put his arms around his little mummy!

Shortly after his death, a trust was set up in its name. Its aim is

to help those left disabled from brain injury. In three months,

nearly �20,000 has been raised. is seeing so many people who want

to do something, helping and talking about him and remembering

him and doing things in this spirit. It makes me feel in a funny sort of

way that he is there. You speak to his friends and talk about these

things, you just know that he will never be forgotten. A moving

tribute to a much-loved son. More news from around Yorkshire now

and a man has been arrested in France in connection with the

murder of Zabihullah Rafiq in South Yorkshire in May. The 30-year-old

was stabbed to death in the Gleadless Valley area of Sheffield.

French police arrested a 19-year- old man in Marseille last Friday

after a Sheffield district judge issued a European arrest warrant.

South Yorkshire Police are preparing extradition papers to

bring him back to face a charge of murder.

NHS Sheffield has agreed to keep two care homes open that look after

people with dementia and Alzheimers. A four-month consultation was

launched after it said it could no longer afford the �2.8 million

needed to keep Woodland View and Birch Avenue centres. The 100

current residents of the two homes will stay where they are.

North Yorkshire Police have revealed that the force's new speed

camera helped spot 75 speeding motorists on its first day of use.

The force say the highest speed detected last Friday was a car

recorded doing 112 miles an hour on the A64 near Malton.

A row has erupted after Opera North decided to cancel an opera

involving primary school pupils on the East Coast, when the writer

refused to tone down references to a character's homosexuality.

Beached was written by Lee Hall, who also created Billy Elliot and

was due to open later this month in Bridlington. But Leeds based Opera

North said the piece couldn't go ahead after a primary school pulled

300 pupils from the project. The Director General of Opera North

Richard Mantle is with us. First here -- let's hear what parents had

to say. I have one child at school. I was worried for him and the other

children coming to watch the opera because there will be a lot of

families watching and it is not suitable at all. I believe that the

writer has changed some of the words but I don't believe he has

changed them as much as he could have done. I don't think Queer is

the right word to be using for. am very open to my son. She has no

right to tell me that that is not an offensive word for my son to

hear. She must have known that content, could have set to the

parents, we are not happy with the content, what do you think? There

was nothing, just a letter yesterday. Presumably you knew

there was an issue. We have known from when we got there first

libretto back in January. Lee Hall is a great writer. We have heard

Billy Elliot. He writes fairly raw stuff, he says it how it is. We

have worked with the composer for a number of weeks to develop the

peace. It is a new piece of work. You say you pulled it back, the

reference to homosexuality? Is the word Queer...? I think it is

terribly old-fashioned. So why keep it in? The librettist wanted to

keep it in. As of today I think he has probably taken it out. Good!

When you are creating a work, it is a holistic process. It is not off

the shelf. It is important and all the media hype that has gone on

over the last 24 hours, it has been pretty stiff stuff, it has centred

on this gay character and the homosexual content. It is a

miniscule element in the piece itself. But you got 300 children

involved... The school, it is a curriculum peace, it is not as

though this is a voluntary piece for the children, we have been in

Bridlington for two years working with the community and the school.

We have built up a young... can't have been a fantastic

project... It has been a great project. It hasn't happened! This

opera is only one element of a longer project. We said we will be

there for two years doing a singing project. It has been fantastic. We

said we would commission a piece to bring the project to an end and

that would be 400 people taking part in Bridlington. Any lessons

Could you not to Tsegay instead of queer?

The school has an age range of 5-11. The school must answer for

themselves. The guidelines say they have to address the business of how

they teach sexual relations in a way they are comfortable with. BG

edged that young children should not be exposed to certain words.

They're not against the homosexual character. We could debate this for

ages. It is a big subject. We are debating it in a little way. What's

your idea of tranquillity? A shady wood? Rolling views? The kids

asleep in bed? Or perhaps all three! Amazingly enough, a Bradford

University professor has devised a formula for tranquillity and he's

looking for volunteers to help him test it. You'll need to join him

for a walk round Ogden Water at one o'clock tomorrow. Cathy Killick

explains. It may seem obvious to you and me

that this is a tranquil. And this is not! In the world of academics,

what makes some think he's got is a perplexing puzzle in the need of

further study. Would you like to take part in our experiment? We are

doing work on tranquillity. This professor is hoping to measure

tranquillity. He is recruiting volunteers to assess the peace and

quiet at various points on a five- mile walk. Tranquillity is

important as it relates to people's well-being. A more natural

environment helps us to recover from stress. The research will help

town planners create truly tranquil areas in cities. We will assess the

tranquility over 30 seconds so I will start to offer and if you

could be quiet and look around and listen and after 30 seconds I will

stop. The volunteers make the assessment and the professor

measures sound levels to see if they make a difference to the ball

and his perception of tranquillity. We all like tranquil places and

anything helps -- which helps us feel tranquil and relaxed could put

used to other places. It is a tranquil, my wife and I come a few

times a week. It is one of our favourite places. You might think

tranquillity would be subjective but the research shows we do

broadly agree on what constitutes a peaceful setting. And that is vital

to the findings. We need to quantify what tranquillity is and

how it changes certain elements of the landscape. For example if there

is a motorway going to be built, what effect would that have and

using the equation we have developed we can predict that.

volunteers are wanted so if you want to contribute to the research,

go to Ogdon water at 1 o'clock tomorrow. It will be a walk in the

park. You live near there.

I do. It is very tranquil. Do you own in the water? No, it is

a great find place. Paul's here with news from our south Yorkshire

Formula 1 team? Look North has learnt that Yorkshire's only

Formula One team, Marussia Virgin Racing, is to leave its base in

Dinnington. They plan to bring the different parts of their operation

together under one roof; but it's unclear where that will be. Shamir

Masri reports from South Yorkshire. It's halfway through the current

Formula One season and Dinnington's Marussia Virgin Racing team are at

the bottom of the standings with no points. In F1 terms they're in

their infancy but they want to make changes to become more competitive.

We have the team that we position where it operates well. We have got

the pit stops right. We feel we are ready for a car. To achieve that

goal they've announced some big changes this week. The most

exciting of which is a technical partnership with F1 giants McLaren

- Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button's team. That team has more

heritage and experience than any on the grid. It should give us the

opportunity to be where we want to be. This is all very positive, but

potentially not such good news for the future of the base in

Dinnington. The Marussia Virgin operation will now be split in

three different sites across the country, and that's a situation

that can't continue. Long term we will develop a new facility. That

will take place over the next couple of years. Somewhere between

Shepherd and Oxford, we will look for sites. It But before then the

Virgin team will be focused on one thing - this weekend's British

Grand Prix at Silverstone. Beyond that, the decision on where their

future lies is still to be made. Super League and Leeds Rhinos'

Keith Senior is to leave the club at the end of the season. The 35-

year-old is out injured for the rest of the campaign and his final

appearance will come in Leeds's traditional Boxing Day charity game.

Senior holds the record for the most appearances in Super League

and is the competition's leading try scorer with 190.

Now in a little over a year the London Olympics get underway and

athletes are already trying to find that extra edge. In Sheffield the

British table tennis team have turned to the Far East. Their

secret weapon has come all the way from Beijing. Here's Neil Smallburn.

Speed, agility and hand-eye co- ordination, necessary to be a top

class table tennis player. The GB squad have a new recruit. His job

is to beat our boys. Again, again and again. I have improved a lot

and everyone has. If I keep getting his practice we can be a dangerous

side. Personally, his personality is great, his English is limited

but we all get on with him. He has a good sense of humour. I think

everybody will miss him when he goes. What you reckon of their

chances in 2012? TRANSLATION: I think most players have a chance at

London Olympics, especially Paul if the trains consistently.

He could do well and get into the final 16. A lot of people have been

involved. Sheffield Hallam University provided accommodation.

The Chinese community has also chipped in. As a community, we have

given vouchers for him to shop in the local supermarket and to get

restaurants to provide free meals for him. We have helped with

language problems. He has let his time in Sheffield and describes it

as Green, beautiful and very unlike Beijing. -- he has loved his time.

Those ping-pong balls and motor racing, I felt a lot of movement.

Keith Senior, one of the greats. cannot believe he will not have a

role in the future. They said they would always welcome him back.

More going on behind you right now. We are going nostalgic. That was

not me! Finally a brand new exhibition in Sheffield is turning

holiday snaps into art. City artist Pete Mckee has put down his brush

and given over the walls of his gallery on Sharrow Vale Road for a

display of holiday memories as The ice creams have long since been

licked. The summers might have seemed as though they wouldn't end

but inevitably did. What's left is a pile of holiday snaps. That is

great to see my photograph on his wall. Sheila Rimmington posed for

this one in 1946 and it's ended up on display in the Wish I Was Here

It is the first holiday we had as a family after the war. 1946, it was

the very beginning of September. It does not look very warm.

weather, or the lack of it, is a common theme as are crotchety

children, chips and caravans. is me, yes. Sheffield artist Pete

McKee often employs his distinctive style to capture classic seaside

scenes. Now he's decided you should be the stars of the show. There is

nothing to hide in the photographs. It is there to be seen, the

frailties of the human being, there is one fantastic photograph of a

young lad lifting his spade to hit his mum on the back of the head

because he wet his pants. You do not get that, really. You do but I

do not sit in the gallery ex-mayor -- you do not see it in a gallery!.

This is Pete's favourite - proof of the British determination to dress

up smartly and have a good time against the odds. Well, it is

Weston Super Mare. Meanwhile Kilve Humberstone uncovered his family's

traditional migration to Devon has been going on for generations.

had been to will come in Devon with my family. We went there in the 70s,

when I went back home I found this one. This was from 40 years before.

She has a box Brownie on her lap. Pete is still looking for other

snaps to feature in the exhibition which runs until the end of July.

Clicked by accident or design - your memories could be masterpieces

Behind before is somebody who is listening to the forecast as we

speak. Admiring the quality of it. She must have been on my block!. --

blog! You like to receive old-fashioned

photographs and we get them on mobile phones. Last winter we had

lots from cars in 12 ft drifts. are showing a photograph of the day

at 1030 every night. Let's look at the first one, the

reservoir, I thought it was beautiful. The lake is looking

beautiful. Of the rooftop a camera, We had three drops of rain in Leeds,

elsewhere nothing. The it has rained a lot this afternoon in

Ogdon. I have not measured it. The headline is unsettled. The cold

front introducing more unsettled weather. Sunny intervals and

scattered showers. The risk of thunder. Low-pressure anchored

across the UK, it will be like that for the next few days. The weather

front has given patchy rain could not too much. It could reinvigorate

the three tonight, especially in more eastern areas. Light and

patchy at first, a little bit of rain to come in western areas but

further east and north heavy bursts. Temperatures around 12 Celsius. The

sun rises in the morning at 4:44am. The high water times: heavy rain at

first. It will clear away and then a day of sunny intervals and

scattered showers. The risk of the thunder but not a washout. There

will be long brighter periods in between the showers. A quick look

at the temperatures, Scarborough coming in at 19 Celsius, West and

South Yorkshire looking very similar. That is the way of it