11/11/2013 North West Tonight

Good evening. Welcome to North West Tonight with Roger Johnson. And

Annabel Tiffin. Our top story: Paying their

respects. Hundreds answer a call to arms and

attend the funeral of a war veteran they never knew. It is very

poignant, especially today. I just had to come along.

We look at how social media made Harold Percival's death a national

news story. Also tonight: commuter chaos on the

motorway, a high`street `` high`speed pursuit ends in tragedy

as a man tries to run a police officer down.

13 years after it sank off the Isle of Man. Works starts preparing the

Solway Harvester for scrap. The man just didn't know when to say no He

never stopped, he was fantastic Tributes to a rugby league icon

Supreme charity fundraiser Steve Prescott loses his battle against

stomach cancer. On your bike. Dave Myers leaves

Strictly, having had the time of his life.

In life, Harold Jellico Percival was an unassuming man who shied away

from fuss. But his death created an almighty one. When it seemed as

though few would turn out for his funeral today, a rallying call was

sounded through social networking sites. People were urged to show

their support for a World War II veteran, due to be laid to rest on

Armistice Day. And, as our Chief Reporter Dave Guest explains,

hundreds answered that call on a rainy Lancashire morning.

They never knew Harold Percival But that didn't matter. Because I was

not able to go to my own fathers 's role I'd decided that he was a war

hero as well so I would come to this one and remember what they all did.

I am a next service by myself and it is very pointed, especially on the

11th of the 11th so I just had to come along. Harold died, aged 9 , in

a Lytham care home. With few surviving relatives it seemed as

though the congregation at his funeral would be sparse. In the end,

it was anything but. The funeral director had highlighted

Harold's story in the local paper. He said it was a shame if a few

turned out to say farewell to a man who served with bomb come during the

Second World War. It got picked up and put on Facebook and it has

escalated from there. So, as he arrived at the eleventh

hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, people gave a

rousing welcome, before observing the Armistice silence. Thank you for

coming. We marvel at the power of the printed word, be it on paper or

string `` screen, the word brought you here to give thanks for the life

of Harold Jellicoe. The crematorium was filled within minutes but many

more have stayed out of the rain. They cannot hear or see the service

but they say the important thing is they are here to show their For

Harold's family it was all a little overwhelming. Support and show they

care. It is just outstanding. It is amazing and it takes your breath

away. It has been a fantastic turnout. It is more than we could

have ever dream before. What would Harold have made of it

all? Well, apparently he was never one for a fuss, but perhaps he would

have been moved by this one. Thousands of commuters were caught

in chaos on the region's motorways this morning after a man died

following a dramatic 100`mile`an`hour police chase on the

M6. The motorway was closed for 11 hours following the incident, which

began when a car was deliberately driven at a woman in Blackpool last

night. Ian Haslam is at Standish, close to where the man died while

crossing the motorway on foot. So Ian, how did this all begin last

night? Things are back to normal here on

the M6 but it was a far different story 24 hours ago. This is what we

know so far, details have been coming through to us all afternoon.

We know a woman was deliberately hit and injured by a car in Blackpool at

around 9pm last night. Minutes later a police pursuit began of the car,

which was a grey Ford focus. That took them to Preston new road where

officers tried to stop the man with Sting and he tried to run over one

of the police officers but he was not injured. They then went on to

another motorway and a police car forced it off the road, thankfully

none of the police officers were injured. It made its way to the M6

and hit a `` another Ford Ka and the motorist was uninjured. They pulled

up on the hard shoulder close to Charnock Richard where the driver

got out and crossed the motorway and was hit by a car coming in the

opposite direction and was pronounced dead at the scene. We

have had a quote tonight from the Lancashire Police saying...

An investigation's been it was all very dramatic and it had

a knock`on effect for thousands of motorists. Yes I have been speaking

to people and one man said it took two and a half hours to get from

Liverpool to Manchester this morning which something is up. We have

pictures of the scene at 9am this morning where it is virtually at

hand still `` standstill. It is much heavier than normal and it meant a

very busy morning for those in charge of bringing the information

to people across the region. The closure extended into the morning

rush hour and there were stories of it taking two and a half hours for

people to get to work and we saw that journeys were taking double

what they should have done. I spoke to some of the people caught up in

the tailbacks this morning. I think it delayed us by about one hour

Traffic was horrendous. We were stationary for at least half an

hour. My daughter was taking photographs with a mobile phone to

show her boss that it was really bad. She was running one hour late.

That is what the motorists had to stay after a morning of congestion.

Lancashire Police have confirmed an investigation is now underway by the

Independent complaints commission. An investigation's been launched

after the body of a woman was discovered following a house fire in

Merseyside. Crews were called to Village Road in Wirral on Sunday.

The victim was found after the blaze had been put out. It has since

emerged that batteries from the smoke alarm had been removed. Both

Merseyside Police and the Fire Service are investigating.

The former Manchester City Youth player Courtney Meppen`Walter, from

Greater Manchester, has joined Carlisle United on a two`week trial.

The 19`year`old player was sentenced to 16 months in prison in February

after a road traffic collision which led to the deaths of two people The

defender's linked up with the League One side after being released from

jail. A scrutiny panel to oversee the

progress of the new enquiries into the Hillsborough disaster has been

announced. Members will have access to material and information that

were gathered by previous investigations. They will have the

power to publicly voice any concerns that they have about those two

enquiries. For more than a decade, it has been

a memorial to seven fishermen who lost their lives off the Isle of

Man. But today the process of scrapping the scallop dredger The

Solway Harvester began. The families of the Scottish crew were told their

deaths in 2000 were a tragic accident. And, although the vessel

has been kept for ongoing legal action, it's been decided it is no

longer needed. This rusting wreck in Douglas

Harbour is a chilling reminder of one of Britain's's worst wishing

tragedies. Seven fishermen from neighbouring Scottish villages are

now believed to have drowned after the wreck of their trawler, the

Solway Harvester, was found... The entire crew lost their lives,

claimed by the very season which they made their living. Rescuers

searching for seven missing fishermen believe they have located

the wreckage of their boat. The isle of man kept their promise to the

families by recovering and keeping the Solway Harvester, due to the

possibility of continuing legal action. The captain was involved in

salvaging the wreck and his job now is to scrap it. There needs to be

closure because this has been a very sad and macabre recite in the

harbour for 13 years. It is always a reminder of the tragedy that

occurred. The move is reckoned `` the move is welcomed by the public.

I do not think it is nice for any fishermen for this to be the last

place that people say. I would prefer it to go back to where it was

bound and left at the bottom of the sea but it should be removed. It is

a good idea, it is long past time it was done. The scrapping of the

Solway Harvester will be done as quickly and as sensitively as

possible. It is just a closure for the Isle of Man and also for the

families of the deceased. The opportunity and the time has come

and we believe it is appropriate `` we believe it is appropriate to move

on. The vessel is expected to be gone by the time of the 14th

anniversary of the sinking in January.

Cleveley's last market will close to make way for a new Poundland store.

Traders had fought a public campaign to keep it open ` with support of

the local MP. But today they moved stock out and dropped plans for a

civil court action. It is the last of three markets to close in the

town. Councillors in Blackpool will vote

this evening on whether to close the organisation set up to promote the

town. Marketing Blackpool, which is partly funded by the council, lost

?375,000 on this year's Illuminations switch`on, after

introducing a charge for tickets. When Kelly Griffin from Oldham was

diagnosed with breast cancer her world fell apart. She feared the

disease might rob her of seeing her three children grow up. But, two

years on, Kelly is back at work and has even got married.

Kelly is part of a clinical trial at Manchester's Christie Hospital. Her

handprints, and those of other cancer survivors, are now being

included in the design of a new research centre. And, as Abbie Jones

reports, it's hoped treatment there will offer new hope to more patients

like Kelly. Push nice and hard. Purple paint. One way to leave a

lasting impression. Kelly Griffin's handprints will now be immortalised

in the windows of Manchester's new cancer research centre. But she says

the treatment, including a new trial drug, she received at the Christie

hospital has left an equally positive mark on her life. I have

had positive scan results. We have holidays and me and my husband both

work and we are able to take our children to school so everything

really continues as normal which is fantastic for us. Without new

research into cancer, 10`year`old Amber Irvine's family say she might

not be here today. Amber, from Ashton under Lyne, nearly died from

leukaemia, but is now in the clear. It was a bit scary. I did not know

what was going on but my mum and dad explained and then it was all right.

Amber dug the first piece of ground for the new Manchester Cancer

Research Centre which opens next year. Funded by Cancer Research UK,

The University of Manchester and The Christie, it hopes to make more

breakthroughs in treatment. We want to have more trials so patients will

potentially benefit from potential new treatments. We want to really

understand the disease in more detail.

Lily Beswick was diagnosed with cancer just after her first

birthday. She tragically died a year ago. But her mum Clair says advances

in research still helped them. We had those nine months with her that

probably 20 years ago without the research that has happened, we would

not have had that. Kelly and her family are now slotting the pieces

of their life back together. She hopes her story and the new centre

will give others hope that they can do the same.

It is a milestone day for the Christie and BBC Radio Manchester is

raising money for them all year Still to come on North West Tonight:

It's that time of year again, how you can help Children In Need.

The children of today remember generations gone by as hundreds get

together for an act of wartime remembrance. We will get straight

with that story. Remembrance commemorations have taken place

across the region today and hundreds of schoolchildren have been getting

a stark reminder of the horrors of war. They've been taking part in an

act of remembrance, based on a host of wartime events including the

blitz, dam`busting and D`day. It's being performed to raise money for

the Royal British Legion. Peter Marshall went along to see

rehearsals. Don't let there be a gap! Keep it up.

Lest we forget. A vivid reminder of history's horrors for today's

schoolchildren. The rise of the Nazis, evacuation, sacrifice. All

acted out by youngsters from a dozen Lancashire primary schools. If we do

not learn about it then it could all start again and it is not very nice.

People gave their lives for us and we are giving something back to

them. Sometimes it makes you want to cry. If we remember how horrible it

is that we will learn not to start another war in the future.

The Forget`Me`Not act of remembrance has been created by head teacher

Simon Wallis, based on memories from his own family. I have had tears

rolling down my cheek at times because it strikes a chord because I

am thinking about my family and people who are no longer with us.

Its poignant and powerful. In the D`day reconstruction, children are

given a number which decides if they survive or die, the lottery of life

and death in war. There are limits of entertainment am from within the

performance, there has to be to keep the children engaged, but above all

it is about remembrance, reminding young and old about the true horrors

of armed conflict. It ends with scores of

schoolchildren creating that blood red symbol of remembrance, the

poppy. Money raised by public performances earlier today and later

tonight go to the Royal British Legion.

The North West has long been one of the most generous regions when it

comes to donating money to Children In Need and it is hoped that this

year will be no different. Friday is expected to be bigger and better

than ever. Expected to be?

It will be! You are taking part of course.

The venue for us this year is in Manchester. I will meet some heroes

who have raised thousands of pounds over the years. What does the

charity do with all of that money? Carol is integral to the campaign

and you have some facts and figures for us.

BBC Children In Need is one of two official BBC charities.

BBC Children In Need is one of only two official BBC charities. We're

consistently one of the most generous regions. Last year you gave

more than ?2 million. Now while we give a lot, we get a lot back. The

charity is currently funding 31 North West projects totalling ? 3

million. Each year a board of volunteer trustees sift through the

applications to decide which projects to fund. But there's never

enough money to go round. Children In Need can only fund one in every

three projects. And every penny you give goes towards helping children

and young people. That's because Children In Need invests your

donations and pays its running costs from interest it makes. Now, I've

been to visit three projects this year The Boathouse, a youth project

for children in a deprived area of Blackpool.

Pulling Together, an arts project in Manchester which is creating a

puppet show to raise awareness about forced marriage among young girls.

And Oakleaf, a bereavement service for children in Liverpool. Your

donations pay for specialist children's counsellor, Joan Brennan.

She uses techniques such as play therapy to help youngsters and their

families come to terms with loss and separation. She says the service is

invaluable. First of all I would say an absolute thank you for the money

that we have had so far to build this service. The service is very

new and we are doing so much. We have a whole waiting list of

children to come in here and see us, children and families and

schools that have really desperate for our full service `` about are

really desperate for our service. So, the big night is this Friday.

Joining Roger will be the Children In Need choir, Hacker T Dog and

Chris from CBBC and most importantly, our fundraisers.

Roger, have you been airbrushed on that?

I think it is an old photo! How old? There is some

conversation, there are two things about going to work with no make up

on all wearing your pyjamas to work. Can you get away with it? I

would wear my pyjamas to work. I would love to be brave enough to go

barefaced. Richard will be here He is here for the sport and he might

wear our pyjamas if he is very lucky.

It is shaping up to be one of the most exciting title races in years.

Liverpool are just two points off the top after another convincing

win, this time over Fulham, while Manchester United are also finding

their feet after a huge win over leaders Arsenal.

It was United's big names that made the difference in that game.

Yes, Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie both drew praise from David

Moyes after the 1`0 win. And they combined for the

all`important goal as well. It was Rooney's corner that was met by the

Dutchman midway through the first half, as United moved to within

three points of Liverpool and five of The Gunners. We defended well.

That was tough teams and Arsenal moved the ball really well. We

defended well and created the better chances so I think we deserved the

win. All good for United then, but a sorry Sunday for Manchester City.

They really are having problems away from home this season. After

surprise and costly defeats at the likes of Cardiff and Aston Villa

already this season, it's now four points from 18 away for City, after

this loss at lowly Sunderland. Manager Manuel Pellegrini has

admitted he's concerned and says they must start winning if they re

to retain their Premier League title hopes.

One of our most inspirational sporting figures passed away at the

weekend. Steve Prescott, who played for the likes of St Helens and Hull

FC, raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity despite being

diagnosed with terminal cancer seven years ago. Since then Steve has

driven himself to run marathons row across the Channel and take on

countless other physical challenges. A man to be truly admired.

An inspirational figure who battles to the end. Few people have touched

as many lives as Steve Prescott As a rugby player he did have equals

and I think it is safe to say that everybody knew him as a person, he

did not have an equal and never will. Messages and tributes have

flooded in and a book of condolence has been opened. He was such an

inspiration, truly wonderful human being. The man did not know when to

say no. He never stopped, he was fantastic. He will not be forgotten

in this town, that is for certain. Steve, Saint Helen 's double `` St

Helens born and bred, made his name with his home club and this was his

finest hour scoring two tries to lift the challenge cup. He did not

just inspired a rugby league community, he inspired everyone

Typically he often spoke about what others had done for him. This was

him after a charity match. The rugby league community has got together

and it is fantastic. Despite his condition he ran marathons, climbed

mountains and swam across rivers to raise more than ?500,000, much of it

for cancer research in Manchester. He took his challengers on

headfirst. He led them from the front and I took pleasure on being

with him on many of the challenges and he was always there, no matter

how poorly he was. You could not keep count of the charities and the

things he was doing. I would pick up the paper up and he would be

climbing something or rowing something and I just could not

believe it. More than inspirational, `` more than inspirational, probably

mostly `` the most exceptional person I have ever met. Steve

insisted after he died at his foundation would carry on and

continue raising money. A true man of steel.

He really was a tremendous fellow and I could have picked any number

of examples to illustrate how far he went to raise money. In 2012 is he

started a tremendous fellow and I could have picked any number of

examples to illustrate how far he went to raise money. In 2012 is he

started challenging Harle and ran across the Humber Bridge and swam

part of the Humber estuary and then cycled to Liverpool. He swam the

mercy, he got out and ran to witness and then the next day he got in a

canoe for 27 miles to Old Trafford and he delivered the match ball

A real man of steel, you are absolutely right.

If you watch Strictly Come Dancing, you'll know our very own Dave Myers

was voted off this weekend. The Hairy Biker from Barrow failed to

impress with his tango which was described as stompy. But he's

certainly been one of the most entertaining contestants on the

show. Afterwards he said it had been a spectacular privilege to take

part. Judy Hobson reports. Their dance was described as a

little rough around the edges but Dave Myers definitely deserved full

marks for entertainment. Let me tell you, you are unforgettable,

unpredictable and for me you are on Mr. But his dancing was not

unmissable. He was the sixth celebrity to be

voted off this series. US jumping around like a beast of burden,

dragging that poor girl. It is like John Sergeant all over again. And

although disappointed, he said he'd had the time of his life. It has

been like being part of the best party ever. There is a strictly

family. People ask if it is really competitive but the early person you

really compete with it yourself My only thoughts were moving my feet

one in front of the other. There are two things we really love

in this world, biking and baking. He is best`known as a hairy biker

but his roots remain firmly his hometown of Barrow. We have got a

dance Academy and a lovely theatre and I am looking forward to going

back there tomorrow. I am a middle`aged man with two left feet

and I got halfway through Strictly Come Dancing and my last dance was

my best dance. I thought it was all right. If you are a fan, can see

more of his stomping steps on the Stricly Chrsitmas Special, although

he insists his dances arent supposed to be funny, they just come out that

way. He gave hope to dad dances like me

everywhere! Well done. Today was a completely

different day to yesterday. Yesterday there was plenty of

sunshine but it has been very disappointing today. Cloudy with a

lot of rain on and off all day. In the next few days you can see the

warm air is just starting to flow away so it will be chilly for the

next few days. We go from 13 degrees today down to 10 degrees tomorrow

and for the rest of the week we keep the temperature is in single

figures. Tonight plenty of cloud around. Look at this, the rain will

ease the way and it will be drier by dawn. We hang onto clear skies and

it will be murky by dawn and temperatures could fall to two or

three degrees. Cumbria will be the coldest place to be by dawn.

Tomorrow, what a difference a day makes, conditions will be better. It

will be drier and brighter from the word go. We hang onto clear skies

first thing with sunshine through the morning. It will be a breezy

day. Chile despite the sunshine Hardly any rain around tomorrow

Look at these temperatures. They will be in single figures in parts

of Lancashire. Over the next couple of days there is plenty of clouds to

come as we head into Wednesday. Look at this. A lot of cloud. The

temperatures will just about stay in double figures and from Wednesday

into Thursday we expect rain and a weather front so it will be colder

again by Thursday. It is all up and down, isn't it

Thank you very much. The excitement of Children In Need

is building already. The one show is live in Bolton after

this with a rickshaw challenge. We are wearing pyjamas?

Hope so.