19/09/2011 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today. Tonight's top stories:

Sentenced to life - the Kent sailor who murdered an officer onboard a

nuclear submarine. We're live in Ryan Donovan's home town, Dartford.

A moving story - how the last 200 in-patients at the Kent and Sussex

are being taken to the new hospital at Pembury.

Also in tonight's programme: She lost her legs to meningitis -

now Diana Man is campaigning for all children to be vaccinated

against the disease. Pining for the ancient woodlands -

why the forests of Sussex are being thinned out.

And my, what big eyes you have - we meet the first little red flying

fox to be born in the UK. Good evening. A sailor from Kent has

been jailed for 25 years after pleading guilty to attempting to

murder one officer and firing at other officers.

Able Seaman Ryan Donovan, from Dartford, opened fire on board HMS

Astute while it was docked in Southampton. Winchester Crown Court

heard he'd previously spoken of wanting to create a "massacre" in

the control room. Simon Jones reports.

Described as a murderous onslaught, six shots are fired within just a

few seconds. With Mrs say Ryan Donovan was stony-faced but with

wide eyes when he shot it dead lieutenant Commander Molineux, a

father of four. Now they can replace -- nothing can replace him.

There is no pleasure or relief for me today, only the on going

heartbreak and sadness for the loss of my husband. This was Ryan

Donovan on his passing out parade. Local dignitaries on a visit to the

submarine tackled him to the ground to prevent further bloodshed. He

was in possession of a rifle and 30 rounds of ammunition in the course

of his duties as a sentry. He used that gun to shoot two senior

ratings before turning it on Lieutenant Commander Molineux and

Lieutenant Commander Hodge. I liked him very much, he was a nice boy. I

thought, Ryan is on a submarine, and then I spoke to Jean and

consoled her, and she told me. Donovan also admitted the attempted

murders of Christopher Brown, David McCoy and Christopher Hodge. The

judges said it was a miracle they also had not been killed. This is a

case that shocked of the naval service and our thoughts are with

Mrs Molyneux and her family and all of those affected. The submarine

service is a close community and Lieutenant Commander at Molineux

will never be forgotten. His family said Donovan has taken away a euro.

Simon Jones reporting, and he joins us live from Ryan Donovan's home

town of Dartford. Do we have any idea what led him to kill, Simon?

He seemed to have a lot neighbours have been telling me he seemed to

have a lot of his mine. He turned down an attachment to another ship

because he did not carry out his cleaning duties properly and that

led to anger. He said to a colleague last year that he wanted

to cause a massacre in the control room. He said to another, I'm going

to kill someone. But colleague but he was joking. He was also into

gangster rap. He would make mood music. He said he wanted to be

famous but tonight he is behind bars.

A major operation to move hundreds of patients into a new multi-

million pound hospital has begun. 200 patients are being transferred

from the Kent and Sussex hospital in Tunbridge Wells to the new �235

million pound hospital in Pembury. The new hospital has more than 500

beds, all with en-suite facilities. Our reporter is live at the Kent

and Sussex Hospital. They're using a special bus-sized ambulance for

this, aren't they? They're the last leave. Patients

are carefully moved from the Kent and Sussex hospital - a building

which's served Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas since the

1930s. The migration is the end of a three year project. It is the

biggest mid I have ever done. I was part of the move from All Saints in

a Chatham to make a maritime. It is a not -- not a news experience but

it is a big move. Along with other vehicles, staff and patients travel

in a special coach, or jumbulance. This vehicle will move around 100

patients today, 80 will be transferred tomorrow the most rail

will be transported on Wednesday, bringing to an end and 80 years of

hospital history in the centre of Tunbridge Wells. We have been

looking forward to it, it is not something that is universally

desired, but if you are a hospital unit the most of it. It is just

another hospital. The staff have always treated me with a lot of

respect and I hope if I ever have to go into another hospital that it

will be equally as good. Are some of the staff came in at 6am to get

the patient ready and prepared for the move. They are phenomenal.

new era of hospital provision in the South East has begun. The

building holds 512 beds. At a cost of more than �200 million, each

patient has their own room and en- suite bathroom. Providing that

level of service in the centre of town would've been impossible.

In a moment... Call of duty - the Sussex

youngsters who have created their own educational computer game

alongside Second World War veterans. When the Liberal Democrats joined

the coalition Government last year, they were riding high, with their

first taste of power for more than 60 years. But today, at their

annual conference in Birmingham, party leaders are fighting to

regain lost support. In the South East, there are two Lib Dem MPs -

Norman Baker in Lewes, and Stephen Lloyd in Eastbourne, who won the

seat last year. But at this year's local elections, the party lost

control of Lewes District Council, leaving Eastbourne as the only

local authority they control here. And nationally, opinion polls show

Lib Dem support at just 11% on average - the lowest it's been for

20 years. It comes amid accusations of selling out on key promises when

they joined forces with Conservatives. The party leader

insists that is not the case. If you look at what ministers are

dimming day in day out and what we did when we negotiated the

agreement, I do not think any fair- minded person can say we did

anything other than punched well above our weight.

We asked people in Lewes for their view about how the party is doing.

I have been disappointed with Norman Baker's performance. I think

they're going downhill. I don't see a future at the moment. I think

it's a positive role and long may it continue. Their attitude towards

the Lib Dems, they are downright ungrateful. It -- they would not be

there without the Lib Dems. Our political editor is at the

conference in Birmingham and joins us live. It's been a rough ride for

the Lib Dems in Government, hasn't it? One of the reasons is because

they were punished at the local polls in May, for decisions that

were being taken nationally by the coalition government, particularly

over things like tuition fees. The message today from the transport

minister and Larisa Empey, who gave his first ever speech as a minister,

was eight positive one. He says they are embarking on the biggest

real expansion programme since Victorian times. As soon as public

finances allow we must end the era of RPI plus. We must drive further

improvements to the rail network. I know only too well that there are

too many occasions which trains are shunted off on a Sunday and

replaced by buses. I am joined by the Transport Minister. You may be

investing in transport, not might not be felt by hard-pressed that

these commuters who see their fares rising by much above inflation.

They will see investment in the area three new carriages and the

Thameslink been completed. I do not want first to go up. At a time when

other services are being cut, the real and services are being

expanded significantly. -- railway services. As soon as we can get off

or P I pressed the better. We have heard the Lib Dems are punching

above their weight. Are you credible in the south-east? There

are only two of you. Twice as many as before the last general election.

We have had a good kiss in the South East. I am pretty confident

that we will maintain a base in the south-east and confidence that as

Parliament unfolds, people will see the good work we have done. We are

stopping Tory policies we don't want and opinions will mellow, I

think I spoke to some activists who feel as in Norman Baker said, the

message is getting through. You can keep up to date with the

latest from the party conference season, and all the politics in the

South East, by reading Louise's blog, or follow her on Twitter.

A Kent woman is facing a jail sentence after admitting recklessly

endangering life by drilling holes in her husband's luxury yacht. But

Mandy Fleming from Sheerness and two co-defendants will not face

charges of conspiracy to murder, after the prosecution case against

them collapsed at the Old Bailey. Her husband's �90,000 cruiser sank

at Brighton Marina on Valentine's Day in 2004.

Officers from Kent have been helping Essex Police to oversee the

eviction of travellers from the UK's largest illegal site. Bailiffs

were sent to clear Dale Farm, in Basildon, today. But the eviction

has been put on hold this evening, after residents won a last-minute

legal reprieve. Three people from Sussex have been

chosen to sail a special ship along the South Coast during the 2012

Olympics, as part of the Cultural Olympiad. Michelle Die'tt from St

Leonards, Steve Ashmore from Hastings and Jerome Timmins from

Bexhill were chosen from hundreds of nominees as crew members on the

ship, which has been made from over 1000 wooden objects donated by

people in the South East. She lost both her legs and several

fingers after contracting Meningitis B in her 20s. Now Diana

Man, from Tunbridge Wells, is campaigning for all children to be

vaccinated against the disease as soon as possible. A new vaccine is

awaiting a license and the Department of Health is considering

whether it should be added to the list of recommended childhood

immunisations. Rebecca Barry has more.

Diana has a three pairs of artificial legs. These are her

running blades. She started horse- riding as well. Things she used to

endure before she contracted meningitis B four years ago. I have

had both of my lower legs amputated and all the fingers of my right

hand, the fingertips of my left hands, both arms have skin grafts.

Like many, Diana did not spot the warning signs. She that she had flu.

There are several vaccines that protect against some forms of

meningitis but not one for a group B meningococcal bacteria. It

accounts for half of all cases in the UK. If vaccination would

hopefully help reduce the number of cases of the disease and to people

with these side-effects. The cost to be reduced for everyone. Clare

also lost both legs after getting the disease. Each year, around 100

people in the south-east contract meningitis and septicaemia. Every

day, for people get meningitis B and one of them will either die or

be left with lifelong disability. It is a terrible disease. Diana

wants people to sign a petition to get a vaccine included in the

chanted immunisation schedule as soon as possible. She says it makes

financial fence. Without a vaccine, the NHS will continue to pay for

the lifelong treatment of people like her. The Department of Health

says experts are considering the evidence.

The top story... A sailor from Dartford has been

jailed for at least 25 years, after admitting murdering an officer and

attempting to murder three other seamen on board a nuclear submarine.

Able Seaman Ryan Donovan opened fire on board HMS Astute while it

was docked in Southampton. Also in tonight's programme...

The Sussex school children who've created a digital war game -

alongside those who lived through World War Two.

And, my, what big ears you have - the first little red flying fox to

be born in the UK makes its debut in Kent.

It sounds like a tale of destruction - a huge felling

machine has been tearing down trees in Sussex this afternoon. It is in

actual fact a scientific operation to regenerate ancient woodland in

Brede High Wood, near Rye. The Woodland Trust is thinning out

thousands of pine trees that have blocked the light from the forest

floor for decades. Robin Gibson has tonight's Special Report.

It looks like the Forest's last hours have come. In fact what you

are looking at is a carefully planned operation to regenerate the

ancient woods, which preceded the pine trees, an ill-fated business

venture. The, for us were put on here. They operate differently than

a broad-leaved tree. There is all you shoot, which means the plans

that were adopted two days canopy are not adapted to the, for can be.

You can see what they are up against,, first planted together so

tightly there is virtually no light getting through to the forest floor.

--, first. This is a wood that is virtually sterile. This is what

they are trying to achieve, a landscape that is anything but

sterile. It is called Ancient it would land because although it has

been cut or copyist, it has not been cultivated. -- copyist. Some

of the oak trees that were originally on the what line side

have survived. They have managed to hang in. We are removing some of

the, for us that her growing around them so they are not competing. You

have to go with what nature is telling you. The landscape is part

of our heritage, as most of England was originally we did. Today, only

1% of the land remains as ancient would land. That hard during the

20th century. Once gone, it is impossible to re-establish. This

project has only been made possible after a 25,000 grant from an

environmental trust. To those visiting, it will be worth every

penny. Children have traditionally been

taught about World War Two by reading history books, or perhaps

watching a film. But for today's internet-savvy generation, things

can be much more interactive. So when a group of Sussex youngsters

got the chance to work with pensioners who'd lived through the

Second World War, they came up with a computer game, as Paul Siegert

explains. What better way to teach a group of

teenagers about history than to incorporated into the making of a

video game. First, they had to research their subject by

interviewing pensioners who live through the second world war.

had to find some object in people's houses and help them get their

rations. Where did the idea come from? Talking to older people.

did not know how much Brighton was affected. I did not know they had

to take bits of the peer off in case the Germans invaded.

veterans admitted they were surprised by any enthusiasm. They

were very interested in the subject. They asked lots of questions and I

do think they have benefited from the instruction they were given.

was amazed. When I heard about this I thought, youngsters today know

nothing about the war, they are not interested. But it was completely

the opposite. The finished game allows players to have a taste of

what life was like in Britain during World War II. We wanted to

develop an online game to teach history in schools and museums and

managed to get money to create a community venture project and the

online game. We had never work with schoolchildren in this way. It is

their input into the design of avatars, creating content for the

game, that has made it unique. pupils love the game, but what

about the older generation? I think it is a great idea. I am hoping I

will see the whole lot again. I am surprised they have got so much

information from us to make this game. There is 75 years the

difference between the pupils and pensioners but they have shown that

learning history has never been so much fun.

Paul Siegert reporting, and he joins us live from Brighton. What's

going to happen to the computer game they've created now, Paul?

do not know about you but back in the day when I was learning history,

if you were lucky you would have been brought somewhere to try and

inspire you. This computer game has got the enthusiasm running wild. It

will be available to play online. It will be available in various

museums and it is hoped skills will login and play. The people behind

the idea are so pleased they are planning more computer games based

on other periods of history. It has been a great success all round.

It's all a bit different nowadays! Football now, and it was goals

galore over the weekend for our top teams, with no fewer than 17 of

them in the four games they were involved in. Brighton and Hove

Albion suffered their first defeat of the season. But there were

victories for Charlton, Crawley and Gillingham - who secured their best

away win since the war. Neil Bell has more.

Having scored just one penalty in their previous four games, Gillian

-- Gillingham began nervously. But after their first goal it was plain

sailing. They knew it was their day when a Hereford defender turn the

ball into his own net just before half-time. There was still time for

a few more goals. Unfortunately, her third had a well executed free-

kick just before the whistle. only had one session the other day

and it has gone really well. The boys have taken to the West I am

happy. Crawley must have feared the worst when they were a goal down

early on but after the break, a powerful header hit -- even things

up. Crawley were put ahead with a decent shot and with a couple of

minutes to go, there was a second to wrap things up.

Charlton continued their start despite a wobble. Do they had two

goals before half-time. Rochdale have stormed back with two second-

half goals. Another header was enough to secure all three points.

It was a test for us. I am really pleased. I thought many are --

maybe our play merited the full scorecard.

They argued but scary. -- they are cute.

It's believed to be the first baby of its kind ever bred outside its

native Australia. Staff say they were thrilled when they discovered

a Little Red Flying Fox at Wingham Wildlife Park near Canterbury.

Despite the name, flying foxes are actually small bats, with a

wingspan of around 60cm. They can travel up to 80 kilometres in a

night to find the nectar and pollen that they eat. Chrissie Reidy has

been to meet the new arrival. Clinging to its mother at this

little red flying foxes just a week old. It is the first time on record

one has been born in captivity outside Australia and New Zealand.

It is so important and exciting. We could not believe it. We are over

the moon like you would not believe. It is a rare species of Old World

fruit bat and the new edition came as a big surprise. I came in on

Monday morning to feed them. I noticed this little pink thing

hanging down from higher. I had to wait for her to open her wings and

move about and see what it was, and there was a nice little baby.

the wild are they roost in camps of up to a million. Regarded as pests

by some farmers, they can generally decimate acres of crops. Fully-

grown it will be around 22 centimetres in length, slightly

bigger than the common fruit bat. It is no surprise, when you see the

amount of food they get through. They eat a variety of fruit, mainly

soft fruit. In a natural habitat they are not in danger just yet but

they are threatened. To start a breeding group and moved to other

zoos, they would be great. We have got a good gene pool and if we

wanted to release them to the wild we will be ready to go. They hope

it will be the first contribution towards a much needed Breen

programme. -- breeding programme.

It is a good job you do not have this mellow vision but when those

This week I am afraid it is pretty uninspiring. Today has not been bad

at all. The average temperature is just above 18 degrees. We are

seeing a high of 24 some of us tomorrow. Those temperatures are

holding up but there is cloud as well. Tonight, mostly mild and

mostly dry. Not for all of us, as you will see tomorrow. Clear skies

have stuck around for months of the day. A little bit of cloud cover

next in but still some sunny spells. I hope you have made the most of

them. Things seem to be changing somewhat. We will see a few bits

and pieces of light rain, nothing to substantial. Anything that is

around will be quite isolated. Those temperatures around 13

degrees at the lowest. Holding up for the time of year. Throughout

the day tomorrow, the wet weather will not be far away from us. As

you can see to the north and west, quite a wet picture. For us, it

should remain just pretty cloudy. The brightest conditions to what

Hastings. -- towards Hastings. Even though the wet weather is dying out

tomorrow night, we will be seeing some of it creeping across our wet

-- area overnight. Wet for some, by first thing Wednesday morning, the

art -- not the ideal start to the day, but we will see a brighter

picture and once again a cloudy day to come. Temperatures are going to

drop through the week. After tomorrow night, figures start to

drop by a degree or so each day. Tomorrow, a high of 18. Gradually,

as those figures dropped, there will be a little bit of sunshine

mixed in with any Clough. The theme for the coming days is just a lot

of cloud. I hope the made the most of it.