01/05/2014 Midlands Today

connection with a murdering Belfast back in the 1970s. That is all from

the BBC News At Hello and welcome to Midlands Today.

The headlines tonight... He was killed by the stress of his

job, says the widow of a school teacher who died from a heart attack

at the age of 37. I do think that being a teacher

contributed in a big way to us losing a husband and father.

We'll be looking into the stresses of teaching. Also tonight...

Mugged in the park ` a youth worker talks about the knife attack that's

left him permanently disfigured. It started in Birmingham, and is now

in 40 countries around the world ` Islamic Relief celebrates 30 years.

The beautiful thing I have seen is the generosity of people

irrespective of race, colour and creed, across Great Britain and the

globe. Which singer`songwriter has

surprised these schoolchildren? Find out later on.

And downpours recording half an inch of rainfall in an hour today, but

better now than later ` the Bank Holiday's looking good. For all the

detail, join me later. Good evening. The widow of a

schoolteacher who died of a heart attack at the age of just 37 says he

faced intolerable pressure. She's written directly to the Education

Secretary, Michael Gove, urging him to act to reduce the stress on

teachers. A poll earlier this year claimed 50% of all teachers had

considered quitting the profession. She's been talking to our reporter

Liz Copper. I should be proud that my husband

was a teacher but right at this moment I am not, I am sorry that he

was, because if he had a different job he might still be with us.

Words from a widow to the Secretary of State for Education. This is

Gareth Utting on his wedding day three years ago. He died suddenly,

aged 37, from a heart attack, leaving behind his wife and three

children. It is real families and real people

being put under an enormous amount of strain and suffering as a

result, and of course we have suffered the ultimate.

Gareth Utting worked here, at this secondary school at Wem in

Shropshire. He taught here for ten years. Staff and pupils were amongst

the mourners at his funeral. And, as his family continue to grieve,

there's been support from teaching groups.

I think teachers do get a bad deal. They are under a lot of pressure to

achieve and often they may not feel that they can tell somebody they are

stressed. Also, especially in young teachers and those who want to

impress, if they talk about feeling stressed it could actually be like a

barrier to them progressing in their profession.

Gareth Utting's wife says she doesn't blame Michael Gove, but does

want him to listen. I know that Gareth's death was not

directly caused by his being a teacher but I do think that being a

teacher contributed in a big way to us losing a husband and father.

The letter's been posted to the Department For Education today.

On the half of all the pupils and teachers out there, I beg you to go

back to the drawing board, learn from your mistakes, gained knowledge

and please don't send me your condolences. `` gain. Gareth

Utting's family say they're not seeking sympathy but empathy for

teachers. They want that to be his legacy.

Well, the Department for Education has declined to comment. But Alison

has since posted her open letter to Michael Gove on Facebook ` this has

now been shared almost 50,000 times. And plenty of people have been

commenting online today. Sian Crew says "This should be on the front

page of every newspaper, very powerful."

And Georgina Norgrove asks "Powerful food for thought. Maybe it's about

time it was not just thought, but put into some sort of action?"

Coming up later in the programme... Remembering Dolly ` fundraising gets

under way to pay for a statue of Worcestershire and England cricket

great Basil D'Oliveira. This is youth worker Gareth Howles,

the victim of a senseless and brutal mugging in which he was slashed

across the face with a knife. Thankfully, he's now on the mend and

today he returned to the Wolverhampton park where it happened

to try to help police find his attacker. Here's Giles Latcham.

There's no hiding this scar ` Gareth Howles will have it for life. And

there are mental scars too that wake him in a cold sweat.

Every day you get to, three hours sleep. I do get flashbacks. It is

getting better gradually. The attack happened in this park as

Gareth went to care for his disabled grandfather. It was roared daylight

and the first Monday of the Easter school holidays. `` broad.

Gareth fought back but before running off the mugger slashed him

with a Stanley knife. He lost a pint of blood and spent two and a half

hours on the operating table. Gareth's a youth worker and that was

why he returned to the park today to relive his ordeal.

I just don't want it to happen to anybody younger than me because they

might not be so lucky. They could easily get stabbed in the ribs or

anywhere, in the heart, and die. A knife surrender scheme is under

way in Birmingham at present following a spate of fatal stabbings

last Autumn. Police in Wolverhampton say knife crime is under control,

but agree this was a shocking incident.

Gareth has been really brave coming out and telling us about the

incident. We are looking for a person 6`foot three inch male, mixed

race, probably local to the area. There are two council operated CCTV

cameras close by but both are broken.

There is a chance the man who did this to you is watching this. What

would you say to him? If you are man, hand yourself in. Don't be a

coward. He's going back to work tomorrow.

Getting back to normality will take longer.

The funeral of a soldier who was killed at Tern Hill Barracks in

Shropshire has taken place in County Antrim this morning. 32`year`old

Corporal Geoff McNeill, of the First Battalion, the Royal Irish Regiment,

was given full military honours during a service at a church near

Portrush. He was found dead at the barracks near Market Drayton in

March. Another soldier has been charged with his murder.

Detectives investigating the murder of the Coventry teenager Nicola

Payne have re`arrested two people. A man and a woman, both in their 50s,

were released on police bail this afternoon. 18`year`old Nicola went

missing in 1991. No trace of her has ever been found. Police say the

arrests follow the discovery of new evidence.

Shadow Health Minister Andy Burnham was in the West Midlands today to

launch the Labour election campaign. I think people have decided they are

fed up with this government, they are fed up with Cameron and Clegg

not listening to their concerns. Labour will step forward and give

them an alternative and build to a general election victory in 2015.

And the West Midlands based "We Demand a Referendum Now" Party also

launched its European manifesto election and campaign today. It's

led by Nikki Sinclaire, who was elected as a UKIP MEP five years

ago, but left to form her own party. She's one of seven current West

Midland MEPs. This is a one`off election, a

one`off campaign to re`elect somebody who is proven to be one of

the hardest working MEPs in the region. Immunity work, mobile

surgery, etc. The people of West Midlands know that they will get

somebody who will represent them if they elect me.

And, for more about the European elections in this region, there's a

blog from our political editor, Patrick Burns, who's been studying

this year's crop of Euro hopefuls. It started with a 20 pence donation

from a small boy 30 years ago. Since then Birmingham`based Islamic Relief

has provided over half a billion pounds of aid to more than 40

countries. And today the International Development Secretary,

Justine Greening, praised the charity's key role in helping the

world deal with disaster. Bob Hockenhull has more.

He is writing down what we are giving to each person.

On the ground in Pakistan providing emergency aid after an earthquake

kills 75,000. One of scores of disasters Islamic Relief has

responded to in its 30 years. The charity began humbly in an office in

Moseley in 1984, set up by student doctors from the University of

Birmingham. This is a far cry from its humble beginnings in an office.

Like Sir Bob Geldof, they were inspired to do good after seeing the

BBC Michael Buerk report on the African famine.

Sadly the need for organisations like Islamic Relief is growing, not

decreasing. As it has grown the charity has had

to face concerns it could be exploited by extremists.

That accusation has been going around for quite a long time but we

have a saying, let the works speak. We don't have too justify our

position, we are an independent, neutral humanitarian organisation,

helping all those in need. The government says it works closely

with the charity. We use tried and trusted

organisations like Islamic Relief and we know we can get that person

on the ground to those who needs help.

There are also many ordinary volunteers raising money. This

teacher organisers sponsored treks. I have been mountain climbing for

years and I decided to combine my passion for mountains with my

passion for relieving the suffering of the poor. The charity's biggest

challenge in 2014 is Syria. This is our top story tonight.

The widow of a schoolteacher who died from a heart attack at the age

of 37 says he was killed by the stress of his job.

Shefali's ready with our detailed weather forecast. Also in tonight's

programme... After most of our police forces got

rid of their horses to save money, new research asks was it a false

economy? And we meet the last surviving pilot

from a secret squadron sent to protect the Arctic Convoys which

kept Russia in the fight in World War Two.

The next convoy to pass, out of 35 ships only 11 got through. `` convoy

to us. Police horses used to be a familiar

sight in our major towns and cities, but ever tighter budgets mean most

forces have got rid of their mounted units. Gloucestershire is the

exception. Now research into the effectiveness of mounted police in

the county has found there's a big difference in the public's

relationship with the police when officers are on horseback. Here's

Steve Knibbs. Across the country mounted police

units are disappearing as Chief Constables face difficult cutbacks.

Here in Cirencester they're back on the streets for the first time in

decades. And they're certainly turning heads.

I think it is wonderful, the more they are round and seen the better

it is for everybody. Everybody talking about it and it is really

good, another angle to introduce the children to the police force. The

horses are attracting a lot of attention but unknown to the people

talking to them they are gimmick `` guinea pigs for a serious piece of

academic research to see how effective they really are.

And, while rural areas are used to horses, here in the centre of

Gloucester it's pretty rare. Following closely behind are

researchers from the University of Oxford, recording how many people

come up to the police and whether their reactions are good or bad `

and early indications are pretty positive.

It is much more visible policing than community controls. People

interact with the officers more, they will chat with the officers and

interact with the horses. The research has been commissioned

by Gloucestershire's deputy chief constable who's the national lead on

mounted policing in the UK. He's not promising that we'll see new mounted

units cropping up once the results are published but just wants it

focus the mind of Chief Constables as they look at their resources.

It may lead to discussions around regional hubs, better that than they

disappear sporadically. It's thought the research is a world

first is and results will be compared to a survey carried out in

London at the same time. But it's already showing that if you want the

public to talk to the police ` bring in the horses.

A fundraising campaign now to build a statue to Basil D'Oliveira. A man

has set out on a walk to raise money.

Mark Ashbourne is blind but that does not stop him loving cricket or

being adventurous so today he set out on a four`day walk in aid of

charity. It was all his idea. I said I am thinking of walking from busted

to Glamorgan and people said they would sponsor me, others said they

would walk with me. You must be delighted. Yes, it is absolutely

brilliant, it will make it a lot more fun. The walk is raising money

for the Basil D'Oliveira Foundation. It has the support of his family and

his grandson is taking part. It is a great thing. I spoke to my grandma

this morning and I am sure he is watching us from above. In 1968

D'Oliveira was chosen for England against South Africa, the country of

his birth. It was the era of apartheid. The South Africans cancel

the tour because in their eyes he was coloured. He died in 2011 but

his foundation lives on, giving young cricketers the chance to take

up the game in England and South Africa. At 7:30am today the walking

party left and will arrive in Cardiff in four days' time, for the

next Gloucester match. `` Gloucestershire. The original

fundraising target was ?2000. They have already passed ?11,000. It is

all thanks to one man's determination.

We are joined now by our intrepid Walker, Mark. Where have you got to?

We are just at the traveller's rest outside Ross on Wye. How many miles

have you covered today? The 23 we set out to do. My feet and legs are

very sore. It really took it out of us. It has been good because they

have been a lot of us, good fun. Absolutely. What got you into this

idea in the first place? I have always wanted to support the

D'Oliveira Foundation, I thought if I was going to do something I would

want to make a difference rather than just a couple of hundred

pounds. I thought, let's do a sponsored walk but let's make sure

we leave the day after Worcester game finishes and arrive before the

next one. The only way to make that happen was between the Berkshire

game yesterday and asked playing in Cardiff. I thought if I do something

stupid like that I want some sponsorship. I said to friends, if I

am going to do this 74 miles are you going to sponsor me? That has grown

out of all proportion is, with 12 people walking fantastic. What

inspires you about Basil D'Oliveira? He is a legend, being a fan he was a

legend as a player but also the difference he made on the world

stage, helping to bring down apartheid in South Africa. There is

no place for apartheid in the world and basil helped to bring that down.

`` Basil. A World War Two fighter pilot has

written a book about his role in a secret wartime mission. Eric

Carter's job was to try to protect vital Arctic convoys carrying

supplies to keep Russia in the war. Their destination was Murmansk, but

many ships didn't get through ` they were sunk by German U`boats or

bombers. Ben Sidwell has been talking to the last surviving pilot

of 81 Squadron. Northwards to the Arctic Circle...

It was a mission so secret that not all even their closest families knew

they were going. The pilots suggested were amongst the best in

the country. Among them was Eric Carter from Birmingham. You don't

think of dining at 21. We just got on with the job the best way we

could. They spent ten months in the Arctic Circle with temperatures

around 40 below zero. Their mission was to go along with convoys carry

`` carrying vital supplies from Britain to Russia. The next convoy

to us, out of 35 ships, only 11 got through to Murmansk. This

international expert on World War II believes that few `` although few

today know about the Mission Eric and his comrades played a key role.

It introduced the Russians to modern fightersand fighter tactics. They

had the knowledge of how to fly and operate the Hurricanes, and that was

the building block to create their own modern air force.

The German propaganda minister came on the radio one day and said, we

know you have got to Russia but, sorry, chaps, you will never get

home again. Thanks to Eric's book, future

generations will be able to see what he and his comrades went through to

help win the war. Laura Mvula has risen to fame in

recent years and she has just returned from America.

A lunchtime session with a difference. Students at this school

in Cheltenham are treated to a live Internet performance from

singer`songwriter Laura Mvula. The Birmingham conservator our graduates

will be performing at the Jazz Festival tonight in Birmingham. This

is her way of giving something back to the next generation of musicians.

This is the region that nurtured me and gave me confidence and the place

that I keep coming back to, to refuel and get a sense of who I am,

and all of that is so important and I feel indebted and I feel so

welcome and every time I come back. For once, teachers did not have to

hush their students, although they had plenty to say afterwards.

Shocked! Because obviously I like her and her music and I have all ``

I have always said to miss Smith that I wanted to meet her. I saw her

at the Jazz Festival yesterday but seeing her in the room I was shaken.

It is nice to see some body who has achieved it already because she

gives you inspiration. I really enjoyed it. I have never really met

anyone famous before. Laura's rise to stardom has been

rapid. Since the race of her debut album last year, Singing To The

Moon, she has been nominated for various awards. Today she answered

questions about this and much more. Why did you decide the `` to perform

at the Jazz Festival? Because it is great! It is a bit of a dream for me

if I am honest. This is part of the education

programme for the Cheltenham Festival, ringing a taste of the

Jazz Festival to these young people. A school day like this one, well, it

is simply special. A day to remember. We are inching

closer to the bank holiday weekend. Will the weather behave itself?

After today's thunderstorms things are improving. The storms today were

localised. That's what motorists were confronted with in Dudley. The

rain was hammering down. We have had reports of about half an inch in the

space of an hour. Some of the worst thunderstorms in England were

breaking out here. We are now looking at things improving over

bank holiday weekend, mostly dry and warming up. There will be one cooler

day in between and that is tomorrow. We have a cold front heading down

from the north tomorrow at because pressure is building behind it the

effects of it will be significantly weekend, so just the odd shower here

and there. It will be an incentive for the winds changed to these

north`easterly winds. Temperatures slowly but surely climbing. We have

some thunderstorms breaking out over the region tonight but they will

fade out overnight. The cloud will break in a few places so

temperatures will get slightly lower tonight, down to about seven

Celsius, and that is why we have a chillier start tomorrow. Frosts may

return over the bank holiday weekend, certainly tomorrow night.

This is the scene tomorrow, much more dry than today, and there could

be the odd shower here and there. Temperatures will only be up to 11

or 12 Celsius, 13 for the south`west. Tomorrow night, things

will clear up significantly, temperatures dipping to about three

Celsius, with a frost. 'The last two generations have been

robbed of an opportunity 'And yet it has greater impact

on our everyday lives than anything 'We need to put this issue

to bed now, 'and not leave it

for another generation.' I want a Britain that is free

to control its own destiny.