25/04/2014 Midlands Today

firepower in military exercises. That is all from the BBC

Hello and welcome to Midlands Today. The headlines tonight: Anger from

Stafford Hospital campaigners as it is revealed crucial patient numbers

were left out of a report. If the hospital was not there I would have

lost at least two of my children. I cannot think what it would be like

without it. We will examine what hope there is for maternity services

in Stafford. Also tonight: Jailed for two years

for stalking his ex`girlfriend, who later jumped to her death from a

motorway bridge. He is evil. He is a bully and a coward and had put my

daughter through hell. As donations head towards ?2.5

million, teenage fundraiser Stephen Sutton ticks off another one on his

bucket list ` making a video of his life. The aim of Stephen's story is

to spread as much positivity as possible. To show people what it is

like to have something goes wrong in your life but not be defined by it.

A cricket tour with a difference. The remarkable story of the

Worcestershire Gents invited to Berlin in 1937.

And today has certainly been a bit of a wash`out, but will the weekend

follow suit? Well, there are plenty of April showers on the horizon, but

we will get the odd spell of sunshine too. When and where? I'll

tell you later. Good evening. The number of people

using Stafford Hospital was one of the reasons given for its recent

downgrading. But today it has emerged that details of how many

children were treated there was removed from an official report. The

administrators, who now manage the hospital, say it was an innocent

mistake. But Stafford's MP says it calls into question the decision to

cut services. Our health correspondent, Michele Paduano,

reports. Baby Gracie went into the hospital

in Stafford with a chest infection. Her sister had liver failure.

Summer, aged four, suffered concussion last May. And her sister,

aged six, had her tonsils removed. There are ten children in the family

and they are worried about the loss of the Children's Ward. The hospital

is like a lifeline to my children. It is a lifeline to us. If the

hospital was not there, I would have lost at least two of my children. I

do not want to think what life would be like without it. But did their

hospital stays appear on Stafford Hospital's statistics? A report

compiling those numbers was written by senior staff earlier this year.

When it was sent out to other hospitals, with their names on, the

figures had been removed. The Trust's administrators say it is an

innocent mistake made by a junior member of staff and they have now

apologised to the authors of the report. They say that it makes no

material difference to the process and the numbers have now been

agreed. But they will not say who signed off the report and they will

not tell us what those numbers are. I understand that this document has

the correct figures, which shows 3000 more episodes of care. Stafford

Hospital campaigners are looking to see if there are any grounds for a

legal challenge. I would like to think that, by now, Jeremy Hunt

knows the true figures and if that is the case he should be looking at

doing a review on paediatrics. A year ago, 50,000 people marched to

save children's and maternity services. Maternity may have a

reprieve, but now the MP says they should look again at children's

services. What I am more concerned about is what are the consequences

of these revised figures. Clearly, we have to see that the proposals of

the Trust's special administrator are now measured against those

revised figures. For this family, losing the children's ward is seen

as a disaster. And Michele joins me now. The future

of children's services at Stafford remains a big issue in the town.

What hope is there for maternity services?

There should be some hope. Back in February, when they announced the

hospital would be taken over, and decision was taken by the Prime

Minister to organise a review of the maternity services. What is being

proposed is good steps to make sure that A continues at Stafford

Hospital. Hard work to make sure we can continue with consultant led

maternity services, the people can continue to have babies in

Staffordshire. I understand that there was a debate at the highest

level of government about whether that should take place. The night

before, it had not been the sided. The review is being done by NHS

England, but is not likely to take place until next year after the

election. I understand they are looking at downgrading the services

before then. The Prime Minister's personal assistant has said that is

not acceptable. You are watching Midlands Today,

good to have you with us. Coming up later in the programme: 90 minutes

from a European final ` Blues Ladies prepare for a Swedish semifinal

showdown. The remarkable story of Stephen

Sutton continues to inspire. His drive for the Teenage Cancer Trust

shows no sign of slowing down, as his appeal heads towards ?2.5

million pounds. And today the cancer patient from Staffordshire was told

a comedy show in his honour will be held in Birmingham on Sunday ` and

it is already a sell`out. Bob Hockenhull is at the venue for us

tonight. Bob, the amount Stephen has raised is a significant figure for

the charity isn't it? It is. The Teenage Cancer Trust

normally raises much less than this in a year. He has raised one fifth

of their total fundraising. That is still rising. This afternoon, a

video of his life was released. It has many contributors, including

Stephen's mother. When Stephen started his bucket list, we never

expected it to go where it has gone. It has inspired and motivated so

many people. Stephen telling his story has made people appreciate

just what they have got. We are in the bar where the comedy gig will

take place on Sunday night. I am with Richard Taylor, who works here.

What was your reaction when Stephen as to put on the gig? I was

honoured. All he was bothered about is can we do it inside the Mac days.

We are doing our best to make it successful. We are hoping to make

about ?10,000. We are going to have an after party and you can join it

if you do not have a ticket. Any money made on the door will go to

the charity. There are many celebrities taking the campaign to

heart. Some big comedy names here? There will be, but I cannot tell you

yet. It may also be streamed on the Internet? It may. But that is not

yet confirmed. Thank you very much. A man who stalked his former

girlfriend in the days leading up to her death has been jailed for two

years. Ryan Dey was arrested a month after Kamaljit Sidhu jumped to her

death from a bridge over the M6 motorway. The judge said he had

subjected her and her family to "a sustained campaign of harassment."

Giles Latcham has more. Kamaljit Sidhu, or Kam, was kind,

smiling, and funny say her family. She was the manager of a bar in

Birmingham and began a relationship with a doorman there, Ryan Dey. His

controlling and abusive behaviour led her to break up with him but he

continued to stalk and harass her right up to the night of her death.

We really miss her. Her death has left a big hall in our lives. Does

he realise the damage that he has inflicted? Early one morning last

October, traffic on the M6 was brought to a standstill. There was a

police incident. It was a young woman jumping from her death onto

the motorway below will stop Kam had reached the end of her tether. He

had hacked her Facebook and stolen her Ford. He would turn up outside

her home at the end. For months, he harassed and stalked her `

obsessively jealous when she went out to see friends. "You do nothing

but show me hate", she messaged him. And later, "you terrify me". Dey

pleaded guilty to stalking and was sentenced to two years. Not enough

say her family. We want the world to know that this can never be allowed

to happen again. I do not want anyone else to go through what we

have. Our lives have stopped. Kam never reported the harassment to the

police. We have made stalking a criminal offence, but we are still

finding that victims are coming to us saying that they have reported it

to the police but it has not been taken seriously. In light of her

death, Kam wrote, trust me, I will get through this. Her final message

to her family, I love you all what I got weak.

On May the 22nd, voters will go to the polls in both European and local

elections. And today the Conservative Party have launched

their West Midlands European Parliamentary Elections campaign in

Birmingham. The seven Tory candidates describe next month's

vote as the most important European elections for a generation and claim

they are the only party that can deliver real change in Europe. We

want to see real change in Europe and we want to make sure that we

secure a better deal for Britain. We want to put that deal to the British

people in a referendum. Right now, we need to see Conservative members

of the European Parliament working with our colleagues at Westminster

to negotiate that better deal. Meanwhile the UKIP leader, Nigel

Farage, took a rain`soaked tour of Dudley town centre this afternoon,

chatting to market stall holders. He is due to speak at a public meeting

in the town hall tonight. The politician is the privately`educated

son of a stockbroker. We asked him how much he felt he had in common

with many working class people in the Black Country. I have a bit more

in common with them than Clegg, Cameron and Miliband, because I have

actually had a job. I have been through some tough times in life and

some good times in life. I've had times I have been losing money in

business. I have lived in the real world, I worked for 20 years, I ran

my own company for nine years. It is the story sparked by a simple

letter which claimed that hard`line Muslims were trying to take over

schools in Birmingham. We still do not know if that letter is a hoax,

but the focus on schools in the city is widening. There are now at least

four investigations into 25 schools ` being carried out by Ofsted,

Birmingham City Council, the Department for Education, and the

Education Funding Agency. The Education Secretary, Michael Gove,

says he is extremely concerned and has drafted in a former

counter`terrorism chief, Peter Clarke, to investigate. There are

now fresh claims about inappropriate teaching. The BBC was contacted by

the British Humanist Society staff at Park View Academy, who also told

the BBC that creationism is being taught in science lessons. Cath

Mackie has more. Sitting in the shadows, not wanting

to be identified. This is the first time staff from Park View Academy in

Birmingham have spoken publicly. Their complaints are of extremism

and discrimination in the classroom. In a sex education lesson, it works

she was given out saying that a woman had to obey her husband will

stop questions were asked. So a woman cannot say no? Creationism was

being taught in a science class by a science teacher to students studying

for their GCSEs. Park View Academy is not the only school under

scrutiny. 25 schools in the city are being investigated over claims they

have been taken over by Muslim hardliners. Park View is strongly

refuting the latest allegations. Creationism, they say, is not school

policy and the issue of sexual consent came from a misunderstanding

of historical reference to do with cultural expectations of sex within

marriage. They have since held a special assembly, they say, to make

clear sex without informed consent is rape. The situation is now so

sensitive the chief inspector of schools in England, Sir Michael

Wilshaw, is taking personal charge of Ofsted's investigation in

Birmingham, while the City Council is under pressure to publish the

results of its own investigations. One woman, whose daughter is due to

start at Park View in September, says she is confident it is a good

school. The first thing that has attracted me is the education and

the results, because you want to send your child to a school where

you know they will achieve their potential. It is thought the reports

into the allegations will be made public next month. Cath Mackie, BBC

Midlands Today, Birmingham. This is our top story tonight: Anger

from Stafford Hospital campaigners as it is revealed crucial patient

numbers were left out of a report. Your detailed weekend weather

forecast to come shortly from Rebecca.

Also in tonight's programme: How taking up an invitation to tour

Germany led to some tricky moments for Worcestershire cricketers in

Nazi Germany. Custard pies and the dying fly. We

meet the man behind the Saturday morning ritual for many children of

the 1970s ` Tiswas. Time for sport with Ian Winter and a

big weekend for Birmingham City ` men and women.

Thirty`two years ago this month, Aston Villa flew back from Belgium

having earned their place in the European Cup final. This weekend,

Birmingham City Ladies are hoping to do the same, in Sweden. They are

just one game away from reaching the final of the UEFA Women's Champions

League. And if the Blues succeed, it will be a remarkable achievement,

against all the odds. Nick Clitheroe reports.

Karen Carney and Kerys Harrop are loving their football at the moment

and who can blame them. They have been coaching young players at

Shrewsbury Town ahead of England's World Cup qualifier there next

month. But there was no hiding their excitement about Birmingham City's

European adventure. This is a big achievement. It is the biggest indie

club's history. To go that one step further, into the final, would be

amazing. Also amazing for people in the past who have helped to build

the club. Tyreso are one of a number of European clubs who have thrown

big money at the women's game ` signing major stars like the

Brazilian Marta, although they have since run into financial trouble.

Victory for Birmingham City would justify their alternative philosophy

of developing their own young talent. We have got nothing to lose.

Everyone thinks they will go through and we are the underdogs, but we

have done so well as a club to get where we are. We are under no

pressure. You do not get many opportunities to play in these

competitions. To be in this position is very rare, and you have to enjoy.

The Swedish side had the better of the goalless first leg, but

Birmingham grew in confidence and will fly to Sweden tomorrow with

plenty of belief. The other big plus was a sell`out crowd at Solihull.

Even if they go out of the Champions League on Sunday, Blues have already

succeeded in raising the profile of the women's game. Nick Clitheroe BBC

Midlands Today. And there will be full match commentary from Sweden on

BBC WM 95.6 on Sunday afternoon from 1PM.

Good luck to Birmingham City Ladies on Sunday. But as for their male

counterparts, what a contrast! Is there any end in sight to the Blues

dismal home form? In a word, no! Cast your mind back

to the 1st of October ` the Blues beat Millwall 4`0 at St Andrew's.

Who would have thought that now, almost seven months later, they are

still waiting for their next home win. That is 16 home games ` nine

defeats and seven draws. Just seven points from a possible 48.

Relegation form. Look at the bottom of the Championship. Birmingham just

outside the bottom three, on goal difference. They have got three

games left: At home to Leeds tomorrow, at home to Wigan on

Tuesday, and then finally away to Bolton.

And the nerves are jangling for Villa and Albion near the foot of

the Premier League as well? Yes, they have both got four games

left to play. West Brom are hoping to avoid a hat`trick of 3`3 draws at

the Hawthorns. Tomorrow, they are at home to West Ham, with whom they

drew 3`3 when they met in December! If we lose the game, we will have to

go to the store game will stop we played under pressure in games

against Cardiff and Norwich and spires `` Spurs. We have done well

in those games and I believe we are ready. Albion should be safe if they

beat West Ham, likewise Villa if they get a point away to Swansea.

But if they don't, it could go to the wire Elsewhere, Shrewsbury could

be relegated from League One tomorrow, even if they beat

Peterborough. And Hereford United must win their

last match to stand any chance of survival in the Conference.

It is a difficult time in the season.

In August 1937, an unlikely group of Englishman arrived in Berlin, for an

even more unlikely sporting tour. The Gentlemen of Worcestershire

Cricket Club had been invited by members of the Nazi hierarchy, who

had developed an interest in the quintessentially English game, to

compete in three games against the best players in Germany. Well now a

new book, The Fields of Shadows, tells the story of this long

forgotten cricket tour. Dan Pallett reports.

It is a timeless English scene. Cricket, especially at Worcester, is

a relaxed and convivial sport. But history shows it spread to some

surprising places. Germany in Nothing like a spot of cricket,

then, to diffuse the tension. There was an element of still trying to

make friends with Hitler. There was an element in British society that

what he was a man you could do a deal with, maybe he was not so bad.

They hoped to have a civilised Nathalie government in power. Author

Dan Waddell has researched the tour for five years. It began after he

chanced upon a reference to cricket in Germany in an essay by George

Orwell. His work, alongside the Worcestershire archivist Tim Jones,

uncovered these Worcestershire Gents who took`up an invitation from the

German minister for sport to tour Berlin. Eager to promote their sport

and build bridges with their hosts, they even made a Nazi salute before

the first match. I am sure that they were quite ashamed when Hitler

turned out the way that he did. I think they were being polite.

here in the middle of the photograph. I don't remember any

German animosity, but I do not know why he went on the tour. I suspect

he thought it would be interesting. We are expecting a few showers from

the south`west will stop. In the mid 1970's, Peter was one of

the most famous faces on TV screens in the Midlands, as the creator and

host of Tiswas. It was a success because it broke all the rules. I

got the first custard pie and the first bucket of water. It was a

tremendous reckless `` a tremendous recipe for kids. Peter's fame saw

Redditch come calling, to front a major promotional video for the

town. So if we are here, I think I can remember it the way. Since we

showed the old film on Midlands Today last week, Peter's celebrity

status has returned once again. I began to get e`mails from people. I

got some calls saying I remembered you will stop Over the last 40

years, Peter has run radio stations, been the High Sheriff of the West

Midlands, and is now dabbling in politics. I get elected as district

councillor. I walk in, not knowing what to expect, and immediately

someone said that is councillor Tiswas. So seeing as we have the

creator of Tiswas, there's one thing I'm desperate to know....who was the

flan flinger? Do not go there. Some very heavy rain around today `

tricky on the roads. Is it looking any drier for the weekend, Rebecca?

April is well known for its showers and today we certainly had a display

of those. Some heavy downpours, with 15`20m of rain across the South

Midlands, and plenty of surface water around. And we have more heavy

rain on the way through the weekend. But it won't be a total wash`out `

there will be some brightness, particularly tomorrow. But winds

will start to pick up, and we could get some blustery conditions over

the next few days. For a time tonight things will dry out, but

that is sandwiched between two fronts ` the first from today

clearing away, before a second swings in around this deep area of

low pressure which is bringing us this unsettled weather this weekend.

So we still have some showers to contend with this evening and

tonight, at times some will be heavy. Then we have this brief spell

of dryness, even though we have clear skies for a time, as that

second band of rain works its way. A spell of steady rain for most of us

and temperatures won't fall away too far under the cloud and rain. So a

wet and cloudy start to Saturday with that rain band sitting over us

` but it will brighten up as that clears away to the north. Some

pleasant sunny spells to come, not a bad morning really. Through the

afternoon, showers will pep up a little ` again we could get some

heavy bursts in there, and we can't rule out a rumble of thunder. Where

we get the sunshine, temperatures not doing too badly ` up to 15

Celsius. Winds are picking up a little bit though. A blustery

afternoon. Those showers continue through Saturday evening, again some

could be sharp. But they won't really clear away as that low sweeps

across us. Temperatures again around eight or nine Celsius with the cloud

cover. The low continues to clear away through Sunday and around that

we will get some showers. The north Midlands perhaps doing a little

better ` managing to see some brightness. But not a bad day `

again sunshine and showers for most of us. With lighter winds and milder

air, temps into the mid`teens. Goodbye.

at the European elections on May the 22nd.

even though that would wreck the recovery and destroy jobs.

The Conservatives are now openly flirting with exit.

they just don't have the courage of their convictions on this.

They wouldn't lift a finger to help keep Britain in the EU.

So, I'm asking you to vote for the Liberal Democrats, the party of in.

In for the sake of British prosperity and jobs.

I'm in because we set the global standards