26/02/2014 Look North (Yorkshire)

Good evening. First tonight, the at Six, goodbye from me. On

Good evening. First tonight, the internationally known Bradford

pianist jailed for indecent assaults on boys. John Briggs was bedn found

guilty for carrying out the attacks over a 25`year period. The judge

said Briggs had abused his position. Also tonight. Could Calderd`le lose

its Accident and Emergency department, as NHS bosses look to

save millions of pounds? And Louis Tomlinson takes to the pitch for

Doncaster Rovers. This is Chatsworth house thhs

afternoon, wind and rain tonight, but what about the next few days?

Join me for the forecast. Tonight, the career and repttation

of West Yorkshire's internationally renowned concert pianist John Briggs

lies in ruins, after he was jailed for eight years for indecent

assaults on young boys, over a 25`year period.

In Bradford, a judge said Briggs, who is 65 and from Bingley, had

remorselessly abused two boxs at private piano lessons at his home

and three sea cadets from Kdighley. His youngest victim was ten at the

time. A thick Tim of his spoke exclusively to others. `` a big Tim.

Described as a gifted and stccessful pianist, of considerable st`nding in

the community. Would you thd MBE by the Queen 11 years ago for support

of Sea cadets `` awarded. As well as a renowned concert pianist, he was a

colourful figure, his publicity stunts included once playing on the

edge of the Grand Canyon. On another occasion, on top of a summary on the

Humber, keeping his sister lastic sex offences hidden. `` sex

offences. His thick tombs wdre aged ten to 15, one agreed to be

interviewed outside court this afternoon. If this has happdned to

anybody else, do not be scared, come forward, the police are there to

help. Not hinder. You will be believed, please come forward, it is

important. I am just glad it is all over. It has been a terribld time,

you have kept locked up in xour mind. Yes, 22 years, and I `m just

completely ecstatic at the sentence he got. Thank you! The judgd told

John Briggs... It took the jury here at Br`dford

Crown Court less than five hours to convicted John Briggs of nine

indecent assaults on the five boys, vulnerable toys said to havd

respected and almost worshipped Briggs. In return, Briggs rdsult ``

relentlessly assaulted and `bused them. A married man of 25 ydars he

admitted to the court he had gay tendencies but he denies thd

charges, claiming they were a vicious campaign against hil.

Tonight, Briggs is beginning an eight`year jail sentence for what

the judge said has been his 25 years of grooming and abuse of boxs who

trusted him. Tonight, Calderdale Royal Hospital

could lose its Accident and Emergency unit under new proposals

which would see services concentrated at Huddersfield

instead. NHS bosses say the proposals could save them ?40

million. It is one of three options. The first option is for Huddersfield

Royal Infirmary to keep thehr 24`hour Accident and Emergency unit,

while Calderdale would have no A That is the Trust's preferrdd

option. It would mean patients from Halifax

having to travel at least an extra six`and`a`half miles, taking about

15 minutes by road. The second option would be the flip

side, Calderdale to have thd A and Huddersfield to lose it.

The third option would be to downgrade emergency hospital care at

both Calderdale and Huddersfield. That would mean some patients in

rural areas facing journeys of up to an hour to the nearest A In a

moment, we'll be talking to a local NHS chief about why they've put

forward these proposals. First, Phil Bodmer's been getting reacthon.

Two hospitals, two A units into macro towns ten miles apart. But now

one of those casualties dep`rtments faces the possibility of closures ``

in two towns. Michael was rtshed to Calderdale Royal Hospital after

suffering a series of heart attacks. The main problem would be if Halifax

was closed and I had to go to Huddersfield, the chances are I

would be dead before I got there. They are both working, so please

leave well alone! At present, Calderdale Royal Hospital sdrves a

population of just over 200,000 Huddersfield Royal covers 420,0 0

people across Kirklees. The Clinical Commissioning Group says thhs review

is not just about A units but a bigger transformation of he`lth and

social care across Calderdale and greater Huddersfield. It stresses no

decisions have yet been takdn. But unions have expressed reservations

about the reasons behind thd review. I think there is another agdnda The

underlying figure is ?50 million worth of savings. The devil is in

the detail and there is no detail at the moment in the proposals. People

we spoke to in Halifax and Huddersfield today were not sure

about the idea. If anything happens to the children, having a b`by, do

have to have those facilitids. People are coming from Todmorden and

it is far to go to Huddersfheld 50 miles. It is the visiting afterwards

as well. Politicians have also raised concerns. It is about saving

money and not about saving lives. It is all about finances, and we need

to fight that and keep the @ in Calderdale Royal Hospital. Health

bosses say the review is about changing health needs and ddlivering

better value for patients. But at what cost to local communithes?

With us now is Dr Matt Walsh, who is the Chief Officer at the Calderdale

Clinical Commissioning Group. What is more important, saving money or

lives? There is no doubt, it is saving

lives. So why in some peopld 's opinion are you putting livds at

risk with this ?50 million savings? Let me establish what it is we are

talking about, it is a proposal that has been generated by the three

providers. It is not a commhssion proposal. Three providers, the

hospital, the mental health trust and a community service provider

have joined together to propose to was a range of scenarios th`t they

think respond to the strategic challenges we have to face `` to

propose to others. People think it is about money. Money is part of the

issue and when we have done our review, we know we have demographic

challenges. The population hs getting older. That has mord complex

needs. And the situation financially in the NHS is getting tightdr.

The government gave an extr` 35 million to the NHS so is it about

bad management? I do not think so. Money has been

brought forward to support trgent care services overwinter and that

has played out. This is a longer term strategic review. So ldt's talk

about the elderly communitids, somebody who lives in hard lidden

come we have had an e`mail. He says to get to Huddersfield will take him

half a day on three bosses, 20 panel `28 pounds each way on a taxi. It is

the difference between getthng there or not. It could be, but thhs is not

about closing A services. That could be how it is perceived. The

report into urgent care services recommends we look at new and

different ways of delivering services. There is good evidence

that tells us that drawing together acute services in one place delivers

better outcomes for patients. What this also is about, and importantly,

this is about enhancing, improving local colleague delivered sdrvices.

`` locally. Evidence tells ts the better we do that and the bdtter we

care for people out of hosphtal the less likely they are to need

hospital services. Thank you. I am sure you have

stirred up opinion and that many of you have strong opinions, please let

us have them. You can go to our Facebook page.

Or you can send us an e`mail. You can also contact us on Twitter.

Later on Look North: Have you heard the one about the elephant hn

Sheffield? But it isn't a joke. Stay ttned to

hear the story of Lizzie, the large lady enlisted to help the Steel City

in World War One. A man from Rotherham has bedn found

guilty of murdering a father of three after disturbing him hn a

burglary. Dean Armitage wokd after hearing noises outside his home last

summer and he was hit over the head, punched and kicked by the m`n who

had been sitting in his Range Rover on his driveway. He will be

sentenced tomorrow at Sheffheld Crown Court. The two Leeds `cademies

that are losing their sponsors will be able to deal with the totgh

challenges ahead, according to the chair of governors.

The charity E`act had been running schools in Seacroft and Rodley. It

has now been stripped of its control because of concerns from inspectors.

A change like this is a bit of a distraction and we do have to think

about the future. So it is ` disappointment. On the other hand,

we are resilient people herd and we are faced with tough challenges at

the Academy and we are making progress in dealing with those

challenges. Three of Yorkshire's councils are

setting their budgets. Wakefield Council is debating plans to cut

1,400 jobs and increase council tax by nearly two per cent to s`ve 61

million. Leeds councillors `re also voting on a rise in council tax and

savings that put 200 jobs at risk. People in Rotherham face a rate rise

of 1.9 per cent, with the council saying only essential services can

be protected. Railway workers at a Yorkshhre depot

are to go on strike later in protest at plans to re`grade their jobs

Members of the RMT union, at Neville Hill depot in Leeds, will stop work

at seven this evening for 48 hours. They are also staging an ovdrtime

ban. The union says Northern Rail has "failed to recognise thd complex

and demanding role" of the depot staff. Northern Rail said there

would be "minimal disruption to train services".

Clergy from West Yorkshire `re to fly to Pakistan to help install a

new clean water scheme. It is part of a long`term project to

improve relationships betwedn Muslims and Christians.

The visit will be to an are` of Pakistan where Christians h`ve been

persecuted. Emma Glasby reports now on how inter`faith relations here in

Yorkshire are reaching overseas The Bishop and the man, different

faiths but shared morals and hopes. `` Iman. Different religions have

been working together here for more than 17 years and tonight, should

Tony Robinson has come to vhsit a mess `` an extra school for young

Muslims, five nights a week. This visit is one of many that have

taken place in 20 `` and in 201 , he invited a group of religious leaders

from Pakistan to the UK. Three clergy, three lawyers and three

policemen. They spent a week meeting the police and the courts and other

people here and learning wh`t it is like for the Muslim community to

live in a majority country `nd to see how well we get on.

In Yorkshire, the community links are well`established. Last summer,

there was a name for all whhch the Iman is one. `` won. `` football. It

is breaking the barriers and misunderstanding that exist in this

climate of negativity of Islam in the media and it is time to allow

people to come into the mospues By getting together, we have ldarned

there is so much in common between our faiths.

Muslims believe they have a duty to help others. This mosque is raising

money for flood victims in the South of England. And Tony Robinson

himself is preparing to visht Pakistan to help deliver a water

project. Well, you saw him in that rdport and

he is here now. Reverend Tony Robinson, along with Canon Xaqub

Masih, who chairs the Pakistan Concern Charity Group. Welcome. What

are you planning to do in P`kistan? There will be a ceremony for the

water plant we are hoping to install. How important is that? Very

important because it will bdnefit the Christian and Muslim colmunities

and will have 3,000 people daily with clean water and that is

important because it affects their lives. You are building links with

Christians and Muslims impacted Stan, it is that in the hopd to

improve links here in West Yorkshire? It is about how we are

showing people in Pakistan, because we have brought them here two years

ago, a group where `` from the town where there had been attacks on

Christians, to show them how Muslims live as a minority in a majority

country. But they are free to practise their faith, with respect,

and we are working together on many projects.

Are we getting better at living together? Yes, but there is a long

way to go and it is important faith communities are leading the way in

terms of people understanding each other, taking down fears and

educating each other about faith. What would you do if you have a

parent who says, I do not w`nt my child going to a mosque was to mark

how do you get around that? `` a mosque? The purpose is to btild

relations so they learn frol each other. Christian children whll learn

from each other and it is btilding relations Allsop and we havd had the

opportunity to work with schools. `` building relations also. We offer

visits to parents so they c`n visit the other place of worship `nd see

what children will be doing, as part of their educational process. They

are better informed and thex understand the people they living

with in their communities. Keep up the good work!

It is a very good night on the pitch for Chesterfield. The Spirehtes are

now top of League Two, after a goal`filled performance last night.

And One Direction's Louis Tomlinson takes to home turf for Donc`ster

Now, all this week, the BBC is marking the centenary of thd First

World War. Our World War Ond at Home project, in partnership with

Imperial War Museums, features some very local stories. Today, we are in

South Yorkshire, where one very unusual helper was drafted hn to

help with the war effort. Hdidi Tomlinson reports.

Deployed to carry soldiers hn the cavalry regiments and to poll

artillery, ambulances and stpply wagons, most horses in the great War

were sent to the Western front. Receive the elephant filled in for

absent horses. `` Lady McReddie elephant. She was loaned to a scrap

metal business to poll scrap metal around. Wrote on surfaces wdre

scrapped and the government requisitioned the animals so they

were put into the war effort. Horses went to the front and they

requisitioned circus animals which were not in the war effort. Known as

Lizzie, the Indian elephant became a familiar sight on the streets of

Sheffield. This is the only footage of her pounding around, shackled to

a waiting load with onlookers in toto. `` weighty load. Lizzhe was

based here. It was opened bx a vet in 1900 as a multistorey st`bles and

horses could get to the top level over ramps, the perfect homd for a

heavy, hard`working animal. Stories about the tamed and dependable

elephant have passed down generations. Charlie 's father

frequently recounted stories about her.

She came from a large familx. There were eight others, they used to came

`` they used to come down to the main road and follow the eldphant

and they would throw things at it and chase after it. And two of the

men who were the drivers wotld chase them with a stick and if thdy caught

them, give them a thick ear A traction engine got stuck and she

pushed it out of the way, that is a massive piece of the quip mdant for

an elephant so you have an hdea of how strong she was. 100 years ago,

she was doing her bit for the war effort.

In World War I, the image of a three tonne `` the image of a circus

elephant became routine, Lizzie and her place in Sheffield folklore ``

EARNED. We are nursing stories by the hour.

This e`mail says, my great`grandfather looks aftdr the

elephant. He was called Tholas Hancock and he died before ly mother

was born in 1936. Her brothdr, my uncle, that everybody knew `s happy,

said it was his grandfather 's job to look after her. Amazing pictures.

The BBC has been working with Imperial War Museums on the World

War One at Home project. Radio York, Radio Leeds and Radio Sheffheld will

also be featuring stories every day. And to be able to see all these

features in one place, then go to the website.

Rugby League now, and it is a testing time for fans of thd

Bradford Bulls, after their prospective owners pulled ott of a

deal to buy the club yesterday. Their announcement came aftdr the

club was docked six points by the governing body for entering

administration. Bradford won their second g`me of

the current campaign, the whn came against Wakefield last week. The

club's administrator will continue to oversee the running of the Bulls,

while the RFL continue talks with other potential buyers. But their

coach has today said he is positive his players can claw back their

points deficit. We could be back on an even keel by

next Friday. We play London on Sunday and if we are back on zero

points, we are back with other clubs. If I can keep this group

together and we are able to bring a win in, we have a great chance.

Football now, and three of our teams were in action last night. @nd it

was a particularly good night for Chesterfield.

Shamir Masri can tell you more. Chesterfield two points cle`r in the

league, they scored four go`ls in seven minutes at Cheltenham. These

goals were minutes apart. Three minutes later, this was the third.

And a fourth from Liam Coopdr capped an incredible couple of minttes

They deserve big credit bec`use second half, we withstood a lot of

pressure. Sheffield got a late win at

Colchester. And rather run had to come from 3`2 down to get a point at

Preston. It was 3`all and the Millers remain in the play`off

places. Girls used to swoon at David Beckham

and David Ginola, but it is perhaps not something you'd expect `t good

old Doncaster Rovers. Used to? ! He is gorgeous! H think

he is rubbish! But if I mentioned One Direction,

then you probably know what we're talking about.

It's no surprise to me that fans have been queueing for hours to get

in to watch tonight's match. Louis Tomlinson's not just a talented

singer. Tonight, he makes hhs debut on the football pitch, and guess

what? Instead of the usual crowd of around 100, 400,000 tickets have

been sold. I bet none of thdm are fans! Olivia Richwald tried to

gate`crash. Never in the history of the sport

has a match day crowd looked like this. 95% female, average age, about

16, average excitement level, at least ten out of ten. Wedded you

come down so early? `` why did. I want to meet Louis Tomlinson really

bad, I have tried for three years and it has never happened. H came on

three trains from Glasgow and we came at two o'clock. Definitely

worth it! A typical day would reserve `` would attract about 00

fans but tonight, more than 5,0 0 tickets have sold and the profits to

night are going to a childrdn's Hospice.

Louis Tomlinson is a local boy, despite his One Direction f`me, he

still goes to matches. Tonight's sessional debut, his grandad says,

is a dream come true. He will appear in a Rovers shirt in a compdtitive

match and he is thrilled about that. But mostly, it is about fundraising.

Louis has been training twice a week for more than a month ahead of the

match. I have just heard he is not in the starting 11, but he hs likely

to, on at half`time and if he impresses the club, this might be a

new direction! `2, on. `` to come on.

It is Paul Hudson! It is like my book signing ` couple

of years ago! I turned up! This is Chesterfield again, the second

rainbow. This was last night. And thhs was

the nest at six o'clock this morning in Doncaster. `` Venus.

Sunny spells and scattered showers after the rain clears. This is an

interesting feature, the last day of winter on Friday and this could

bring else know over the Pennines. There is a lot of uncertainty. ``

ring snow. Showers for the Dales at a time but skies are brightdning. A

nice afternoon but wind and rain overnight. This is 5am. Arotnd five

Celsius. High water times... A wet start, but the rain will be out of

the way by around 8am and then it is a day of Sunny spells with showers.

Many places in the East could become dry. These are the top tempdratures.

Around nine Celsius for `` nine Celsius. And Friday, the forecast

will change. It looks wet whth the risk of some hill snow, sunshine and

showers on Saturday, sunny spells on Sunday. Will you sign my umbrella?

Whatever you want! That is fine!

We will give you that result later, good evening.