15/09/2011 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today. I'm Rob Smith. And I'm Natalie Graham.

Tonight's top stories: Shot dead during a training

exercise - the Ministry of Defence is investigating the death of a

young soldier on a firing range. Peter Whittlesea is in Lydd with

the details. The criminal gang that supplied

tens of thousands of pounds worth of drugs from a travellers site.

Also in tonight's programme: Patient anger in Sussex over plans

to downgrade the emergency heart attack service at Eastbourne

Hospital. Bearing fruit, how the hot dry

spring set up a perfect season for growing apricots in Kent.

A pitch perfect meeting - the couple who fell in love watching

Brighton and are celebrating their Good evening.

A soldier has died after being shot during a training exercise at a

firing range in Kent. Dean Griffiths was serving with the

Royal Welsh. A major investigation by the

Ministry of Defence, Kent Police and the Health and Safety Executive

has been launched after the incident at the ranges in Lydd

yesterday afternoon. Our reporter, Peter Whittlesea, is there now.

What do we know about how he died? Well, it is unclear how the 21-

year-old fusilier from Shropshire died. It took the MoD nearly 24

hours to confirm his death. Residents said they saw an air

ambulance overhead and ambulances entering the camp. They believe he

was pronounced dead at the scene. A civil police investigation is

underway into the death of Fusilier Dean Griffiths. He died in what is

thought to be a tragic accident. There are about 300,000 training

hours carried out every year at the Lydd and Hyde Firing Ranges. They

have a good safety record, but any accident is regrettable and there

should be a proper investigation in why this happened.

Lydd is one of the busiest MoD ranges used by all regiments. For

residents nearby, the camp is part of the community.

We are close to the range. We love the guys. We see them coming out

and we are proud of them. A lot of them are very young and to

hear something like that happened, it is awful.

We just saw the air ambulance and the ambulance going over there

yesterday afternoon. In 2006 a soldier from the

Grenadier Guards died at Lydd from a gunshot to the head. Military

experts say it is impossible to eliminate all risks in live firing

exercises. This particular incident took place

during a live field firing exercise. That means using live ammunition

where individuals are moving in fire and manoeuvre operations and

therefore, it does entail a higher degree of risk. These individuals

are training for operations, live combat operations, and therefore

there has to be a degree of realism which means a degree of danger,

unfortunately. Tonight police said they were

working with the Army and the Health and Safety Executive

Well, in the last half an hour, his brother paid tribute to him, saying

Dean was fun, loving and caring and was is excited about becoming a

father. The MoD said they regret to confirm his death and their

thoughts go out to his family They supplied illegal drugs worth

tens of thousands of pounds from a travellers' site in West Malling.

Today a highly organised network of dealers have been convicted. During

the trial, the jury had to be given lessons in gypsy dialect called

Rokker which was used by two of the gang. Simon Jones reports.

Infiltrated by undercover officers. This travellers site was home to

Joseph King, the man said to control control it. In the woods

next door drugs and guns. There was a conversation between

two of the defendants that was using a dialect called Rokker. It

was felt the conversation was important to our prosecution case

and we had to get somebody in to interpret that for us.

REPORTER: The jury were given basic lessons in Gypsy language? That's

right, yes. How unusual is that? It is the

The Romany language comes from India. It is every language in

between British and India. It is a language which is spoken by over 12

million people in the world. All the Gypsies of the world speak some

form of Romany. One of the guns found was loaded.

Thousands of pounds in cash were discovered in the loft of a stable.

The travellers site where Joseph King lives is at bottom of the lane.

When we arrived, we were told by the people to leave and threatened

if we didn't. Joseph King will be sentenced

tomorrow along with his brother Samuel and two others for drugs

Coming up: The brother of a murdered Kent

woman completes his walk 150 mile walk to highlight the plight of

Health campaigners in Sussex are reacting angrily to news that a

silt for heart attack patients have to be downgraded.

NHS Sussex says 24-hour cardiology services could be provide in

They moved to Eastbourne to be nearer to the district General

Hospital. John is awaiting open- heart surgery so heavily relies on

the 24-hour emergency service provided for heart attack patients.

It is convenience, you know, it saves that aggravation of travel.

But it is that point that there is so many heart problems that

Eastbourne is ideal. The idea Eastbourne DGH is

downgrading the unit to a day only service, patients like John could

be facing a 45 minute European European journey to Hastings and

Brighton Minutes saves lives.

The nearest service will be in Brighton. Both options leave

patients with a 20 mile journey. You can't choose when you have a

heart attack. If you have a heart attack in the night, yes, the roads

may not be so busy, but you want to have treatment as soon as possible.

I mean, all medical evidence says the the sooner, you get treatment,

the better the recovery. It is not the first time services

have been scrutinised. In 2006 East Sussex NHS Trust began a review of

maternity services with the option to close the Eastbourne unit. Two

years on, the idea was scrapped, but this year, they are under the

spotlight again because they can't find enough doctors to staff both

units. Some experts feel the changes in the cardiology unit is

not a bad thing. When I grew up a heart attack was

fatal and it was a death sentence. Now many more people survive

because of acute surgery and that can only be done in a number of

specialist centres and if everybody tries to do it, they don't doo it

very well. -- do it very well.

The NHS Trust insist they are following best practise guidelines

and they say they are working with cardiology services and the service

to make sure every patient gets the best treatment and the best

Louise, we heard the campaigners say they are going to fight

services. Stephen Lloyd the local MP said that he will fight to

retain these services in Eastbourne. He has written to the Director of

NHS Sussex today asking why he he wasn't informed. Three years ago,

there was a battle over maternity services and in the end, the then

Health Secretary Alan Mill buren did -- Alan mill buren did overturn

the decision. Stephen Lloyd says he will fight the proposals hard. This

comes against the backdrop of a report out today from a leading

health adviser which says the days of the district hospital have to be

numbered and calling for larger specialised hospitals.

Thank you very much indeed. You can read more about this story

on Louise's blog. A woman has become the third person

to be charged over the fatal fire in Chatham at the weekend.

A local group, the Dover People's Port is opposing privatisation.

Motorists in Kent were stuck in traffic delays this morning after a

44 tonne lorry shed its load of syrup all over the A20 near

Sellindge, closing the Ashfound- bound carriageway. The Highways

Agency has put in temporary lights at the scene while the mess is

being cleaned up. The former wife of the serial

killer, Peter Tobin described him as evil and describes that she is

sickened that he was ever in her life. In a new book she reveals

their relationship became one of abuse and control, but nothing

prepared her for the revelation that her former husband had raped

Here, he looks on at his newborn son, Daniel. In this picture, Kathy

and Peter Tobin on their wedding day. Key moments of their life,

meant to bring about the happiest of memories. They met when Kathy

was just 16. Within three or four weeks I moved

in with him. I felt it was the right thing. I felt convinced that

he was a safe and comfortable person to be with. He had tales of

fighting for this country. He had shrapnel injuries to his wrist and

he worked on the oil rigs and these were wonderfully exotic tales from

Brighton. It was mesmerising. Quickly the relationship turned

abusive. Kathy described herself as battered and bruised and announced

she wanted a divorce. We were upstairs in the house when I said

this. He picked my son up and held him above the staircase and

threaten to throw him down the stairs and he said, "If you try and

leave, I'll kill you and I'll kill your son as well.". In the time

that followed, Tobin started bringing women home and raping them.

Just two years after she married him, Vicky Hamilton and Dinah

McNicol went missing. He was given two life sentences for their

murders. Last summer, police began searching

properties in Brighton for other potential victims. This is where

Tobin lived in the late 80s, but nothing was found.

REPORTER: You were married to a murderer. That must be haunting for

you? It's disgusting. Its sick. I feel awful that the man ever

touched my body. It really sickens me. I know it is true what he has

done because he is in prison for it. I have gone through the court cases,

I find it now even indescribable to think I shared any part of my life

with him. During their years together, Tobin

threatened to stab Kathy and she says he hent her like a prisoner in

her own home and the escape from the relationship only marked the

beginning of a series of hellish revelations. She says, she wants

her book to draw at least a faint The brother The brother of a woman

from Kent who was killed by her husband has completed a 150 mile

walk to highlight the plight of families of murder victims. Malcolm

Webster was jailed in July for killing Claire Morris in

Aberdeenshire in 1994. Her brother Peter, started walking from her

graveside in Scotland two weeks ago and today he met the Scottish

Justice Minister. Rebecca Barry reports. The final steps of a very

long journey. Peter Morris walked 150 miles to the Scottish

Parliament from his sister's grave. It is an unmarked grave now, the

family of Claire Morris campaigned to have the headstone dedicated to

a dear wife, removed. It had been place thrd place there by the

husband who killed her. During the course of the last two-

and-a-half weeks, we have been successful in raising awareness of

what victims of crime have to go through.

On her wedding day, little did Claire know that the man she was

marrying planning to murder her. In 1999 he tried to kill his second

wife in a similar accident. Detectives re-investigated Claire's

death and in May Webster was convicted of her murder, the motive

had been money. The ordeal of Claire's murder

spurred her family to campaign for the rights of victims and their

families, but this latest challenge has not been easy. Peter injured

his foot and was was hospitalised for four days.

One man can only do so much and I will never regret what I have done

because I have made an attempt, regardless of whatever comes of

these discussions, I will feel that I made an attempt to make things

better for people who are victims of crime and that is what it is

about. Today, they handed in a petition to

the Scottish Parliament with over 6,000 signatures.

It is a cause that deserves to be supported and I have been happy to

support Peter through his efforts to walk from Aberdeenshire to

Edinburgh. Money raised from the walk will

help other families through their journeys as they mourn their loved

ones. A soldier has died after being shot

during a training exercise at a firing range in Lydd. Fusilier Dean

Griffiths was serving with One Battalion of the Royal Welsh.

An investigation has been launched. Also in tonight's programme:

From the pack to the peloton - why some of the biggest names in

british rugby have been cycling round brands hatch and 50 years

after their first date watching brighton - the golden couple

celebrating their perfect match. This golden couple are celebrating

It's very difficult to grow apricots here, they're usually

imported from Mediterranean countries. But a trial at a farm in

Upchurch is bearing fruit - in the form of Kentish apricots. The fruit

originated in Asia. It's a member of the plum family and in mainland

Europe they usually ripen in July and August, but this crop from the

Garden of England has been cultivated to ripen later. Yvette

Austin has the latest in our food Ripened by the sun, it is a fruit

that enjoys warmth, but apricots, are no longer confined to sunnier

climes. These are on a farm in north Kent and the crop is as good

as could be expected when back in the spring it was touch and go.

It is a very risky crop. Here we are at the beginning of April and

we have three or four weeks of the frost season to go, but you can see

the little apricots on the trees. Hopefully they will survive until

October when we come to pick the last ones.

Two weeks early as as every this year, picking is well and truly

underway. Seven varieties are being trialled, the aim not to compete

with France and Spain, but to extend the season, ours ripen later.

It has been a fantastic summer. We are producing something that isn't

grown in the country already and reducing food miles. These are the

apricots that we are picking now and they will nb the shops shortly.

Another fruit which may grow here is the key the kiwi, vines are

becoming established in a trial plot near Canterbury. The first

fruit expected in a few years. Another example of something

unusual growing here snnchts it is a combination of things. Import

replacement. Ten years ago, they said we couldn't grow Braeburn.

Kiwis are grown in Italy and Greece and Asia. We thought they can grow

apples there, so we must be able to grow kiwis.

If you think about climate change and the likely impacts of that in

Southern Europe and the countries from which we source our food, they

are likely to suffer from a lot worse droughts than we get in the

south-east so they won't be able to produce and supply the UK with the

food that they currently do. These unusual fruits are not just

being grown for the fun of the challenge. It is possible, concern

over the security of our food supply will prompt an increasingly

Some of the biggest names in British rugby have been at Brands

Hatch to compete in an endurance cycling event for charity today.

Former internationals Rory Underwood and Victor Ubogu have

joined hundreds of cyclists in an eight hour Le Mans style race

around the Grand Prix circuit. Neil Brands Hatch has hosted a variety

of events over the years, but today it was the team endurance cycling

race. Victor Ubogu is the race organiser

and he was delighted by the response.

It is brilliant. There was great banner amongst the boys and the

teams taking part. Some people are raising money for their chosen

charities and at the same time challenging themselves as well.

Some of the competitors might have been passed their sporting best and

the aim is to raise money for charity, but for the likes of Rory

Underwood, the old competitive fire burns strong.

Once you get out there, you try your best. When you are fighting

the track, it is hilly around here. I knew it was going to be hilly and

I did tell Victor, why didn't you have it at Silverstone, it is flat!

Among the most impressive was former international skier Graham

Bell. It is similar to ski racing. It is

picking lines and carrying your speed down a hill.

Exhilarating? The top speed I recorded on a bike is around 100

kilometres an hour which is 60mph. That's frightening. I know.

Some of the par Paralympic cyclists Kent's cricketers look likely to

lose the first ever day-night county championship match to be

played in this country. The match attracted plenty of interest as it

featured a pink cricket ball which is supposed to be easier to see

under floodlights - but a number of the Kent players said they've found

A couple from Sussex who met at a Brighton and Hove Albion game, they

had their first date two years later watching the Seagulls. Brenda

and Les Shepherd have been celebrating their anniversary with

a visit to the stadium. It is not the most romantic setting,

is it? That's right. Today it is a retail park. This was the site of

the old Goldstone ground where the couple met. After that Les used to

save a seat for Brenda every week. The last match here, was the last

game they saw. They were thrilled to get the chance to visit the home.

A couple of supporters who met at the club's former home. For years

they stood together on the terraces until the grown was sold off. Even

their first date was at a match. I had to ask her mum and dad and

they gave their approval that I could take her and this is what we

did. The Cup final was a family affair.

Brenda travelled to Wembley. Their daughter knew the perfect place to

celebrate their anniversary. They will be so excited, and seeing

their little faces yesterday was like, "Are we really going to the

new stadium?". This is a dream come true. Stepping into the stands of

the Albion's new home for the first time, a golden moment for a golden

anniversary. It is very modern, but it is nice.

It is very nice. It is really, really nice. I like

A life long Seagulls fan, Les thought the perfect way to Woo his

wife was through football. How different would a first date be

here? The Goldstone was good, but this is better.

We use used to have to stand. The rain used to come in under the roof.

Here, it is a beautiful place. He may have whisked her away to

Brighton v Rotherham on their first day, but romance blossomed, the

score a nil-nil draw, but for them, the perfect match. When the couple

were married in 1961, it was a beautiful day and 50 years on the

sun shown on them today. Brenda described their first date

uneventful Les says he wants to see Uneventful dates can lead to

marvellous marriages! They have had lots of golden

They have had lots of golden sunshine. Things aren't looking so

promising. Of course, the first of September is the beginning of

autumn, but today has felt somewhat more like summer than most of

August did really. Some really pleasant weather out there, but

things as I say, are turning a bit. Now tonight, it is going to start

off dry, but by the early hours of tomorrow, a little bit wetter. A

picture of what's been going on today and as you can see in the

south-east corner it has been clear skies all the way. Now, we are

seeing a build-up of cloud as we move through the night so the next

couple of hours cloud-free, but once the cloud has built up, we

will see rain throughout the early hours of tomorrow. It will be

chilly as well. The temperatures down to 12 Celsius in places. But

throughout tomorrow, well any wet weather there is around will clear

away and there should be quite a few sunny spells. Not as bright as

today because there is a lot of cloud cover around. But still a few

breaks in that and those temperatures still holding up not

badly for the time of year, we are seeing them get up to 20 Celsius at

their highest, but the weekend isn't far away so I'm sure he would

like to know what it has in storement by first thing Saturday

morning, the odd shower around, but nothing too substantial, generally

a bit of cloud cover. Those temperatures down to about 11

Celsius first thing and as you can see the wet weather isn't far away.

It is hard to predict at this stage where and when it will fall, but

the chances are there there will be a bit of wet weather mixed in with