16/10/2013 Look North (Yorkshire)

Welcome to Wednesday's Look North. Tonight ` killed after less than a

month in Afghanistan ` the six members of the Yorkshire Regiment's

third Battalion ` victims of the deadliest single attack on UK forces

since 2001. Also tonight: A community in grief instead of

celebrating Eid ` a Rotherham butcher murdered in his shop is

mourned. He was a nice guy. He was pleasant

and that. He would welcome anybody. Join me later, a trip back in time

to 30 years ago when this shopping centre opened in Wakefield. It was a

grey day at Bolton Abbey. Tomorrow is a brighter prospects. Join me

later for the detailed forecast. Tonight ` a teenage soldier killed

alongside five colleagues in a bomb blast in Afghanistan, was a

last`minute stand`in. Private Christopher Kershaw from Bradford

had volunteered to take the place of a colleague, driving the Warrior

armoured vehicle. He died alongside Sergeant Nigel Coupe, Corporal Jake

Hartley, and Privates Anthony Frampton, Daniel Wade and Daniel

Wilford.. All from the Yorkshire Regiment's third battalion. It was

the Taliban's single deadliest enemy attack since operations began in

Afghanistan. Today an inquest in Oxford was told that the explosion

was so powerful it turned the vehicle upside down. All the men

were either killed outright or knocked unconscious in the blast in

March last year. They had been in Afghanistan less than a month.

Robert Hall's been at the hearing. There are six tragic stories here

but because of private Kershaw's age, that was what shocks more

people when the news of the deaths broke. He wasn't supposed to be on

the warrior. We heard today from one of his colleagues, a private two

said the original driver was not available, he was on his way back

from the shower and Christopher Kershaw always keen to be out there

and keen to be doing his best volunteered to drive the vehicle. It

was to be his last patrol. His mother is here to listen to the

evidence. She has talked about how difficult it is for her. She said

it's not about going through everything and bring everything back

up but it is about closure, it will be a very difficult couple of days.

What else do the inquest tell us? We have been hearing about the

sequence of events on the March day last year, a routine patrol, the two

warriors on a patrol which took them to a crossroads under which this

large improvised explosive device roadside bomb was planted. We have

heard evidence the bomb was so large it blew the warrior on its side and

blew off the gun turret and caused a large fire. Luke stones who talked

about Christopher Kershaw was travelling in the warrior behind

K`12 and he said they felt the blast, huge fireball 45 yards in

front of them. They had run forward to try to help but it was a fire

which was big. Very difficult time for them, the pathologist evidence

we had today suggested the explosion was so large that it probably killed

the soldiers or blended them unconscious almost immediately. The

Ministry of Defence said that this warrior vehicle, even with its

armour, any armoured vehicle in an explosion of this size can not be

totally protected. A traumatic day for those involved. The inquest is

expected to end tomorrow. Some breaking news now and armed police

are dealing with what's been described as a major incident in the

centre of Knaresborough tonight. It's near the St James' Retail Park.

Police have not said exactly what is happening but an amateur cameraman

recorded these pictures of someone being arrested at gunpoint a short

time ago. People living and working in the area around the High Street

have been told to stay inside their buildings. There are no reports of

any injuries but the incident is said to be continuing. Traffic is

being diverted away from the area. There are huge disruptions.

A butcher who was stabbed to death in his shop in Rotherham has been

described as a man at the heart of his community. Parvaiz Iqbal was a

40`year`old father of three boys. He died in the shop in the Eastwood

area yesterday. Tom Ingall's there now.

It is almost 30 hours since the popular shopkeeper on Grosvenor Road

in Rotherham was murdered and another man seriously injured. At

the front of the shop, you can't quite see it, there is a pile of

flowers which has been growing. There is a sense of disbelief in the

community tonight, people are uncertain about what happened and

why and it is muting celebrations on what should be a special day. This

should be a day of celebration. For many, today is the deed

Festival. Families of returning as mourners. There is no joy in

greetings on the street. Look around you, in the mosques... That business

has been there for 30 years. It's a long time. Everyone used to say

hello. He was a bubbly guy. Parvaiz Iqbal, a father of three was

attacked and killed in his shop yesterday. Another man was seriously

injured. He is still in hospital. He was a nice guy, I'd tell you the

truth. He was pleasant. He would welcome anybody, no matter who. He

was a nice guy. It is spoiled for everybody, especially his three

young kids. And his mother and family. Really upset. As the police

cordon is lifted, we have a clearer idea of the size of the attack and

what Ken only be seen as vicious frenzy. There are lots of broken

glass and around the corner the barber shop is closed, the windows

smashed and it leads back to the police van. No other details have

been confirmed yet about the weapon used, postmortem examination was

carried out this afternoon. For those who came to pray and remember

their friend and relative, the details are perhaps unimportant.

Their grief has clouded everything, even this most spiritual of days.

Police arrested a 27`year`old man and he was arrested a mile away from

here at Tesco in the heart of Rotherham. He remains in custody, he

is being questioned and still a lots of police activity, not just on

Grosvenor Road but in the whole area, a couple of patrol cars and

mounted patrols. Police want to get the message out that the community

is safe. Thank you. Later on Look North: As unemployment falls

Charlotte reports from a luxury lingerie business.

This firm in Leeds makes bras and pants for some of the most famous

women. Find out later why they are struggling to fulfil the order that

are flooding in. First, there's a warning today of a

mental health time bomb amongst sixth form students in Yorkshire.

The Deputy Head of one of York's leading schools says he's convinced

more students are suffering with depression and anxiety because of

pressure to do well in their exams. He's predicting that government

reforms to A`Levels will make the situation worse. Here's Spencer

Stokes. Is there too much pressure on

A`level students? This School in York achieved its best ever grades

but back came at a cost. The deputy head says recently he's seen a big

rise in pupils suffering with mental health issues. He is linking it to

the expert patient that exam candidates will succeed. This is

stress, anxiety, different behaviours, OCD, food problems and

sometimes when it gets really bad, depression where they cannot

recognise themselves, there is a dullness and sadness and they behave

in ways they would not normally and they cannot sleep. This isn't unique

to this school. Their lives in Leeds and found the pressure to do well

too much. She turns to self harm to take away the worry of the exams. My

head felt like it would explode. I resorted to scratching myself in an

angry and frustrated phase and realised the pain and the stuff I

got out of that, I can't explain it but it took me away for a few

seconds. Others have gone further, earlier this year a teenager took

his own life while returning to boarding school. Jake jumped in

front of a train at Northallerton cause of worries about studies.

A`levels will be changed in three years but government plans to do

away with ongoing assessment and in favour of one big exam will add to

stress. The pressure I see on the students will build up and I wonder

if we are in danger of creating a potential time bomb in the future

because if they are worried and stressed now, it will be increased

when you put the pressure on to a final exam. Beth found support

through a charity and recommend students in a similar situation do

the same. On results day, she got a is and bees.

In the rest of the day's news, the Independent Police Complaints

Commission has begun an investigation into a former

Inspector with West Yorkshire Police over his dealings with Jimmy Savile.

It comes after the release of a transcript of a Surrey police

interview with Savile in 2009. In it he was questioned about

inappropriate relationships with young girls. Savile denied the

allegations and said he had a collection of senior police officers

who came to see him socially, and dealt with any letters he received

alleging abuse. Because of who he was, they swept aside. It gets swept

under the carpet occurs they were scared of him, the great Sir Jimmy.

He could do no wrong. Sheffield Wednesday striker Gary Madine is

appealing against his 18`month prison sentence for attacking two

men in nightclubs. Earlier this month the 23`year`old was found

guilty of both attacks which happened in Sheffield city centre in

February and March last year. A new major crime unit has been opened

today by North Yorkshire Police. 31 officers will work from Harrogate

Police station investigating murders, serious violence and sexual

attacks. They'll also review unsolved cases like the

disappearance of Marsha Wray from Harrogate in 1997. A new appeal has

been launched today for information about what happened to her.

Previously, if there were incidents on the weekend, we had to crowd

resources, people who had different skill sets. This provides us with a

good dynamic dedicated resource which can respond with expertise and

skill which the people would expect in place in the 21st century. The

latest jobs figures now and unemployment in Yorkshire has fallen

this month, in line with the national trend. Figures for the

three`month period between June and August show that there were 242

thousand people without a job in Yorkshire and the Humber. That's

6,000 fewer than the previous month. It means our unemployment rate has

fallen slightly to 8.8%, but that remains the third highest in the

country. One company who'd love to see those

figures fall further is Leeds luxury lingerie firm, Something Wicked.

That's because they're got orders for underwear from around the world,

but can't find the skilled machinists they need to make them.

Their designer's made pants for American pop star Lady Gaga and The

Sugarbabes. And the company's desperate to find seamstresses who

can keep the orders flowing. Charlotte Leeming's been to see what

they're looking for. In an unassuming room in Leeds, a

small team is busy cutting, selling and stitching. With no fuss or

fanfare and the parent of the machines, it is hard to believe this

business is taking on the big fashion houses of Europe in

manufacturing upmarket underwear. But the luxury laundry is being worn

by some of the most famous women in the world. Lady Gaga and Beyonce are

two of the stars who snapped up smalls something wicked. Despite

this company receiving enquiries from all over the world, they are

facing a big problem and that means they are turning orders down. These

bras and pants are made from expensive materials, some items

itself a hundreds of pounds but the firm is struggling to find machinist

with the skills to make them. We are looking for someone with experience

and passion to create something beautiful. Every piece has to be of

the highest quality. We need the motivation to do that, create

something time and time again. Most diverse when we are buying underwear

get it off the high street and it doesn't cost much. What makes this

so expensive? It is luxury in terms of the materials. With leather is

Japanese and it is a by`product of the cow which produces reef. We use

chantilly lace and chiffon. We use the best materials and it is

handmade. The husband and wife team admit they are being suffered ``

fussy for new staff that only the best will do. They are addressing

some of the most desirable bottoms in the world!

They are too hot for me! And tomorrow we'll be revisiting three

people we've been following in their search for jobs. Six months ago

Chris Smith, Timothy Hall and Natalie Hick were unemployed and

despondent. We'll find out if they're still struggling or if

they're some of those helping bringing yorkshire's unemployment

rate down. Before seven o'clock: Flash, Bang,

Wallop! We're joined by Tommy Steele ahead of his appearance as Scrooge

in Leeds very soon. Tinkling the ivories ` the Yorkshire

piano makers beating Far East firms in manufacturing prowess.

It boasted the first food court in the UK, the first glass wall`climber

lift and was designed so shoppers could enter it from the street on

all levels. Tomorrow Wakefield's pioneering Ridings Shopping Centre

celebrates its 30th birthday. It was to become a model that would be

copied by towns and cities all over the UK. But recently competition's

increased and times have been tough with some traders leaving. Ian White

reports. When it opened in 1983, there was no

place like it. The Ridings in Wakefield was a UK first, a new

shopping experience based on an American shopping maul.

It bought features in never seen in the UK before. The other centres

followed suit. It was a good commercial success. In tough times,

they queued around the block around the job centre for the vacancies at

the Ridings. The finished building was like

something never seen before. Complete with glass lift.

The glass lift is long gone, it is a thing of the past but I've found

something interesting. There are still people who work here who were

here 30 years ago and I've met one of them.

I remember coming to work in a Portakabin on the building site when

the excavation started. It was hugely exciting, we have loyal

customers, people who still love to come here and we try to keep things

fresh and interesting. The last few years have been tough with big names

leaving and moving to the new shopping complex Trinity walk.

It has been trying. It is a difficult market, everybody knows

that. We are trying to bring extra things here but we only have six

vacant units. We are doing much better than the high street. What do

shoppers think? It is handy, the car park is there. It needs upgrading.

It used to amaze me when people came on bus trips here. It is not even

that big. What started in Wakefield in 1983 has since been copied in

towns all over Europe. Fantastic old footage. The trees

brought in from Florida. That wouldn't happen now. The build up to

the Rugby League World Cup continued today when a school in Doncaster got

a flavour of the south seas. Children from Norton Primary School

performed the Haka in front of visiting players from New Zealand

and the Cook Islands. The two teams face each other in a friendly at the

Keepmoat in Doncaster on Sunday. The rugby players returned the

traditional Maori war cry before heading off to prepare for the

match. It was wonderful. They this spent

time practising, the teacher said they learned about the history and

the lads were touched it. Yes, really good. It is a privilege to be

doing it and watching them do it. A well spoken chap! Little white bull,

singing the blues ` he has been a legend for over 50 years in show

business. Indeed he was once described as Britain's answer to

Elvis Presley. Tommy Steele is back in Yorkshire and still wowing

audiences at the age of over 60! That is very nice of you! You know

him as the star of musicals such as Half A Sixpence and Singin' in the

Rain. And now he's taking on the title role in Scrooge The Musical at

the Leeds Grand Theatre. We'll be speaking to him in a moment but

first, here he is in action. # Half a sixpence is better than half

shilling? Better than half a? Penny. Better than none.

Tommy, welcome back to Yorkshire. You have been visiting family in

Harehills. Harehills. It is wonderful to be back. I don't know

why but it always rains when I come to Yorkshire. Unless I was watching

a football match, the first division. We won't go into that. How

challenging is the new musical? The best way you could call it is a song

and dance man King Lear. You have to be a certain age to play King Lear,

with Scrooge it is the same thing. Song and dance but at my age, it

works very well. It is nice to see the old geezer going around the

stage singing and dancing. You are normally the cheeky chappie lovable

rogue so to play this role, ten years off and on, it is a miserable

`` he is a miserable chap. Humbug! The producer took me out for a meal

and said I have a great new musical for you, a Christmas Carol. I said,

Bill, I am too old to play Bob Cratchit. He said, no, Scrooge!

Made, and old man? Are you out of your mind? I am 65 years of age, of

course I can play it. There was trepidation in rehearsals. But now

he is my best friend. You love being on stage. That is

what engages the audience. I do. I love it and I love them and

I love orchestras and great songs and dance routines. I love beautiful

stories and they are rare in someone's career but I have been

lucky enough to be given great shows. This is one of them.

You were a heart`throb and you still have it! Good luck with the show!

Crawling. It's an industry in which Britain once dominated the world.

Pianos were made at over two hundred factories around the country. Now

just one remains. Hidden in the Yorkshire Dales ` Cavendish produce

just fifty of the instruments a year but, they're now getting

international recognition with orders from China and a chance at

winning the most prestigious competition in the industry. Joe

Inwood went to just what makes them so special.

It is time`consuming, skilful, aircraft dating back hundreds of

years. It has been a dying art but one being brought back to life in

the Yorkshire Dales. We have gone from strength to

strength. There is a waiting list, it is a hand produced ides. We are

small Artisans working slowly to produce finely tuned instruments.

It is a far cry from the way most demos are made. China and Japan lead

the market. Compare that Cavendish who make just 50. But small, they

say, can sound beautiful. The process of being a musician is

emotional and takes time, effort and skill. It is equally rewarding to

know I am playing an instrument which has been crafted and

Manufacturing to a high specification.

And those qualities are being recognised with a nomination for a

music industry award as the worlds best acoustic piano.

The other pianos are large, multinational corporations, we are

the first British piano to feature in the awards which is great for us

and the music industry and for piano building in the UK because we hope

we are the first of many piano manufacturers.

And so if the glory days of British pianos return, it will have started

at a family firm from the Dales. Wonderful stuff. Are you musical?

No, I played the guitar but I broke my finger in crickets before the

exam. I played the triangle, that is how

much they trusted me. A beautiful sunrise in Filey. That

was taken at 7am. A beautiful sunrise in Filey. That

was I think that is nice. A bit of colour. Keep your pictures coming

in. Tomorrow, the best day of the week, brighter with sunny spells but

only because we are in between weather systems. The next feature

will bring rain later in the day on Friday so wet but tomorrow looks

brighter with sunshine. The active weather front brought miserable

weather, it is clearing from the South West, Cloud bringing rain

across the West and North of Yorkshire. Showers follow in from

the west, a strong and gusty wind for a time, lowest temperatures

eight or nine degrees Celsius. The sun rises at 7:37am. A bright start

in Filey with sunshine, further west, showers over the Pennines

fading and the many bright mostly dry with an increasing amount of

sunshine. A tonic compared to today. Temperatures are a little above

average for October. Further ahead, Friday looks cloudy, rain later and

the weekend, sunny spells and scattered showers.

That is as far as we go. We told you about Knaresborough and

we are sending news teams there. All of the information at 10:25pm. Good

night. You ask us to get behind you

and why should we? You're punching above

your weight, aren't you? He wouldn't do that to me because

he wasn't that sort of a man.