23/12/2013 South East Today

And, singing their way to stardom. The P ferry workers who'vd been

crowned work choir of the year. Good evening.

Storm`force winds and torrential rain are causing chaos across the

South East tonight, with both the QE2 Bridge at Dartford and the

Sheppey Crossing closed, le`ding to long tailbacks for motorists. Rail

and ferry passengers have had to and ferry passengers have h`d to

deal with delays and cancellations, and there are flood alerts across

and there are flood alerts `cross Kent and Sussex. In a moment, we'll

get the latest on the rails and on the Sussex coast, but first, let's

cross to the Dartford Crosshng. cross to the Dartford Crosshng.

In the nick of time, these vehicles made it across the bridge, shortly

before it closed around 1:30pm. Since then, drivers have been

before it closed around 1:30pm. Since then, drivers have bedn seeing

red. A sea of brake lights as motorists were resigned to long

delays, and the prospect of journey time to Treblinka. How long will it

take you to get home? Probably an hour and a half, as opposed to half

an hour. A bit extra. It's ruining my Christmas. It will take le an

my Christmas. It will take me an hour to do a seven minute journey.

And tonight? I have had to park up and walk, I have no chance of

getting it to work. I have got to get through the lakeside as well.

Having two shopping centres other side of the bridge is not good news.

It was not just Hartford. The ship the bridge was closed as stormy

conditions swept across the south`east. With the heavy rain and

to the conditions, slowdown, and now to the conditions, slowdown, and now

for the gaps between traffic as required, and adhere to the speed

restrictions. Sound advice, but motorists on the M25 said not

everyone was heeding it. Cars driving without lights on, Laurie 's

is getting heavier towards London. is getting heavier towards London.

It is just bad. The problems are not expected to get any better tntil

It is just bad. The problems are not expected to get any better until the

traffic and the wind subside. What's the latest for motorhsts

there? This is what it has been like for the last five hours,

bumper`to`bumper. As soon as the bridge closed, this traffic had to

use the East tunnel, and thdre have been build`ups and backlogs all the

Agency says that the bridge will not Agency says that the bridge will not

open until the wind speed dhes down. open until the wind speed dhes down.

On this wind gauge, I have clocked speeds of up to 52 miles an hour.

They expect them to be in excess of 60 miles an hour. They say the wins

will not die down until 4pm, and that is when the bridge will

probably open. Until then, it probably open. Until then, it is

probably open. Until then, ht is expected to be gridlocked peer and

expected to be gridlocked pder and on both sides of the crossing.

So, how bad is the storm buffeting the South East tonight? There is a

warning of winds of up to 85 miles warning of winds of up to 84 miles

warning of winds of up to 85 miles per hour along the coast from

midnight until 6am. Up to 20 millimetres of rain are expdcted

midnight until 6am. Up to 20 millimetres of rain are expected to

millimetres of rain are expdcted to fall by 7am. And, the Environment

Agency says there are seven flood warnings in place in the Sotth East.

And the worst isn't over yet. It really is a wild night right

along the coast, isn't it? Ht It really is a wild night rhght

along the coast, isn't it? Ht is just plain horrible. The wind has

been so strong, the Brighton wheel has not been operating today, and

been so strong, the Brighton wheel has not been operating todax, and we

has not been operating today, and we are expecting things to get worse

overnight. The Environment @gency is predicting flooding in the

south`east in the hours ahead. south`east in the hours ahe`d.

Brighton rocks, the winds have been Brighton rocks, the winds have been

screaming through the city, and huge waves have been roaring onto the

beach. We did not expect it to be this bad. The other week, when we

had the big storm, the waters were not like this at all. This hs

had the big storm, the waters were not like this at all. This is the

not like this at all. This hs the biggest I have seen for many years.

There is a warning to keep `way from the Red Sea. A woman was swept out

to sea in Brighton at the weekend after apparently running into the

surf. The RNLI wants people to keep a safe distance. In three foot surf,

a wave will weigh about half a tonne, it will knock you down, it

will suck you under, and the tonne, it will knock you down, it

will suck you under, and thd next will suck you under, and the next

wave will keep you down. Yot need will suck you under, and thd next

wave will keep you down. You need to keep out of the water. Therd is the

keep out of the water. There is the risk of flooding across the

south`east, with heavy rain falling on saturated ground and swollen

rivers. We are expecting to see River flooding in the area, surface

water flooding also remains a risk, so we are urging everybody to take

care if you are travelling, if your property is at risk, contact us via

our website. There is the risk of structural damage, the roof of this

home in Tunbridge Wells had to be secured by the emergency services.

Tonight, the New Haven Ferrx is Tonight, the New Haven Ferry is

confined to harbour because of the storm. There was no sailing from

here, but it is hoped Christmas travellers will be able to sail from

here at 10am tomorrow. In Dover, they are bracing themselves for the

weather to get much worse. Gusts of up to 80 miles an hour expected

overnight. The port is advising passengers to contact their ferry

operator before travelling. This storm is affecting all walks of

life. In Hastings, the gallery had life. In Hastings, the gallery had

to close early because of the weather. Here, there is a question

weather. Here, there is a qtestion about the iconic Christmas Day swim,

the council is closing sections of the council is closing secthons of

the beach because of safety concerns, the swimming club that

runs the event is due to make a decision tomorrow.

The weather's also causing disruption on the trains tonight. A

50`mile`per`hour speed limit being 50`mile`per`hour speed limit being

imposed on the rail network, leading to delays and cancellations. Trains

are being replaced by buses between Hastings and Tunbridge Wells because

of a landslide at Wadhurst. We have had flooding, landslips, so

we are just being safe. We want to get everybody home, but people are

more interested in that than a fast journey, so it is the safest thing

to do. What's the mood among passengers

tonight? Not great, this is the cause of some of the problels, the

cause of some of the problems, the rail replacement service between

here and Robert bridge, because rail replacement service between

here and Robert bridge, bec`use of here and Robert bridge, bec`use of

the landslide. There are major delays affecting routes across the

southern and southeastern ndtworks. southern and southeastern networks.

This is not a normal rush hour, it is affecting computers and people

wanting to go somewhere for Christmas.

It took me four hours this morning, It took me four hours this lorning,

and I am leaving now, the cost there are no trains coming home. H thought

are no trains coming home. I thought I would get home now. On thd 23rd of

December, it is a nightmare. Get to a train station, I was told there

were delays, nobody knows what to do, I am trying by best to get home

for Christmas. Disruption will continue till

tomorrow morning, southeastern tomorrow morning, southeastern

trains will not run anything until 7am. All this on the day that

trains will not run anything until 7am. All this on the day th`t train

company say they will increase fares company say they will incre`se fares

in the New Year by above inflation. The centres have been saying, all of

this going on, it has not even snowed yet.

What more can we expect frol this storm tonight and tomorrow? It will

get worst overnight. We havd gusts of 70 miles an hour, we are

expecting 80 miles an hour, we have warnings about heavy rain and storm

force winds. We are expecting between 20 and 40 millimetres of

between 20 and 40 millimetrds of rain, and we could see up to 60

minute metres. For Christmas Eve, more of the same, but it will ease

off. We start with a lot of rain, but it moves East. The strongest

gusts in Scotland, so Christmas Eve is an improving story. Christmas Day

will be much colder and much brighter, so a calmer story. If you

are planning to travel over the next couple of days, you can check with

your local BBC Radio Kent go online. At the end of the programme, I will

He's just 23 and has two young He's just 23 and has two young

He's just 23 and has two yotng children, but this is likely

He's just 23 and has two young children, but this is likelx to

He's just 23 and has two yotng children, but this is likely to be

children, but this is likelx to be the last Christmas he spends with

them after Felix Glenny was diagnosed with bowel cancer and

given just weeks to live. In light of the devastating news, Felix and

his fiancee Cola decided to get married at the Medway Maritime

Hospital, where Felix is behng treated. Today, in her only

television interview, Cola told us that it was a beautiful day.

These were the scenes as Felix Glenny was wheeled from his bed at

Medway Maritime Hospital to make his vows to his bride. It was lovely,

really nice. He would not think it was in a hospital, a lot of people

helped us out and made the social club amazing, it was really nice.

This video will become a treasured This video will become a treasured

memory to Ralph and Perl, it will tell of the courage of their father

and mother, in the face of tragedy, which nobody could have fordseen

and mother, in the face of tragedy, which nobody could have foreseen a

which nobody could have fordseen a key months ago. One night, we had a

Chinese. He started being sick. key months ago. One night, we had a

Chinese. He started being shck. It Chinese. He started being shck. It

went from there. Before that, he was absolutely fine, we did everything

we wanted all the time, we went on holidays, we took the kids out,

everything. They were engagdd, holidays, we took the kids out,

everything. They were engagdd, we got engaged a year and a half ago.

We were going to get married after everything, it did not work out that

way. For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer. To love and to

cherish. Is this you understanding of the covenant of promised that you

have made? It is. Thank you. They have been a happy, doting family,

have been a happy, doting f`mily, looking forward to bringing up their

children together. It is evhdent from their photographs. Now, the

outlook for Felix, it has bden set outlook for Felix, it has been set

in weeks rather than years. He went in on November the 11th, and it has

gone in a month and a bit to this. It is not real yet. Does it surprise

you? Yes, I thought I would be having a breakdown, but I c`nnot

pay. The fund for the family has pay. The fund for the familx has

exceeded ?14,000, boosted by a exceeded ?14,000, boosted bx a

donation from Sharon Osbourne. They would trade any amount of money for

time. Four men have been sentenced to a

total of more than 30 years in prison for an armed robbery at a

house near Edenbridge. In the early hours of the morning in March, three

of the gang, David Milner, Zak Price and Jack Menzies, broke into the

house in Four Elms, while A`ron Wall house in Four Elms, while A`ron Wall

acted as a getaway driver. They forced the female occupant at

forced the female occupant `t gunpoint to lie down while they

stole ?200,000 worth of jewellery stole ?200,000 worth of jewellery

and watches. Specialist police teams in Sussex

are preparing to tackle an anticipated rise in domestic abuse

over Christmas and New Year. In 2012, reports of abuse in the county

rose by more than a third over the holiday period, compared to the year

before. Heather Mills, the ex`wife of Sir

Paul McCartney, has denied news reports claiming she verbally abused

and physically harassed an official from the International Paralympic

Committee. The former model, who lives in East Sussex, has ddfended

herself on YouTube, after her lives in East Sussex, has defended

herself on YouTube, after her hopes of competing in the 2014 Paralympic

Games in Sochi came to an end. It follows reports she'd had a wild

tantrum after finding out the prosthetic leg she was using to

compete had not been approved. I never physically touched her, like

the report in the media, she has never saw `` made a statement saying

that I harmed her. The reports that she begged me not to hit her art

upward rubbish. Two women from Kent have been sentenced to life in

prison for the murder of a man have been sentenced to life in

prison for the murder of a lan with prison for the murder of a man with

learning difficulties. Alicia Davis and Charlotte Coulson

slashed Michael Kerr's thro`t and then claimed he'd tried to rape

them. His body was found in a car in Capel`le`Ferne near Dover in April.

What was the reaction to the Capel`le`Ferne near Dover in April.

What was the reaction to thd guilty What was the reaction to thd guilty

verdicts in court? As the verdicts were read out, there were cries from

the public gallery, LEC Ed Davis sobbed throughout. Charlotte

the public gallery, LEC Ed Davis sobbed throughout. Charlottd Coulson

sobbed throughout. Charlotte Coulson wiped the tears from her eyds. Both

wiped the tears from her eyes. Both women have been given life

sentences, Charlotte Coulson will serve a minimum of 20 years, and

police Leah Davies 25. He was murdered by two women he

believed he could trust. They believed he could trust. They

slashed his throat and left him bleeding to death. Today, his

bleeding to death. Today, hhs family have welcomed the guilty verdict.

The pain we have experienced and are still suffering from cannot be

expressed in words. Michael was a loving and caring son, brother and

grandson. The verdict, whilst not bringing him back, provided us with

some comfort, knowing that those responsible will serve a number of

years in prison. Michael Kerr was killed in his car back in April

Both women said they lashed out after he tried to rape one of them,

a claim that has been denied. He loved driving, he loved music, he

loved driving, he loved mushc, he was caving about family. He enjoyed

life as much as he could. C`ught on life as much as he could. C`ught on

CCTV, Charlotte Coulson claimed she CCTV, Charlotte Coulson claimed she

had been sleeping in the back of the car when the killing took place She

car when the killing took place. She was text being Alicia Davis. She

wrote... Minutes later, Michael Kerr had been

set upon with knives. He had no chance, he has disabilities, so the

chances of him defending himself were reduced. He did not have a

chance. It was Drew Talbot. Just a fewer hours after the killing, both

women were captured on CCTV acted normally, ordering McDonald's,

laughing and giggling. They have both been given life sentences.

When sentencing the women, the judge said they had shown no remorse, just

a desire to save their own skin. He a desire to save their own skin. He

said they repeatedly lied to the police, and he rejected ten macro's

claim that she had been raped by claim that she had been rapdd by

Michael Kerr. This is our top story tonight.

Storm`force winds and torrential rain are causing chaos across the

South East, closing both thd QE South East, closing both the QE2

Bridge at Dartford and the Sheppey Crossing. Rail and ferry passengers

have also had to deal with delays and cancellations, and therd

have also had to deal with delays and cancellations, and there are

flood warnings across Kent `nd flood warnings across Kent and

Sussex. Also in tonight's programme.

The dazzling chorus ferrying you across the Channel. P are

workplace choir of the year. They'll be here, telling us about harmonies,

be here, telling us about h`rmonies, high notes and Gareth Malone a

be here, telling us about harmonies, high notes and Gareth Malond a bit

later on. After storm force winds and heavy

rain, it gets worse before it gets better. What will Christmas Eve

bring? Drawing me later. When he burst onto the rock`and`roll

scene in the 1950s, he was dubbed Britain's answer to Elvis Presley.

But Tommy Steele went on to become better known for his roles on stage

and screen in hit musicals hncluding and screen in hit musicals including

Half A Sixpence and Singing In The Rain. Now aged 77, he's still

treading the boards, and st`rring Rain. Now aged 77, he's still

treading the boards, and st`rring in Scrooge at the Brighton Centre.

He was 19 when he became a teen sensation. But Tommy Steele was only

a rock 'n' roll star for 18 months before he was offered a chance to

act. The director said, OK, this is your first day, you will not need

that. He pointed at the guitar. I was holding onto it for life. The

was holding onto it for lifd. The choreographer said, these are your

first steps, and from that loment first steps, and from that loment

on, I knew. 15 shillings a week A wife, five children to support! He

still goes on about Merry Christmas! He is back on stage as

Christmas! He is back on st`ge as Scrooge. It is a song content man's

king glia. The door swings open, king glia. The door swings open

this apparition appears, Scrooge. The audience go, it is not what my

mum told me. Are you sure? This was one of his 20 hit singles.

His career took him to Hollxwood, and the movie Half A Sixpence

brought him back to camp. `` to Kent. I drove a 1910 car up and down

the cobblestones, it was like the lanes in Brighton, Tunbridgd Wells.

lanes in Brighton, Tunbridge Wells. Back in the theatre, his single ``

his Singing In The Rain became the Palladium's longest`running musical.

I want to do those big musical shows, Scrooge, big musical show,

you have got to do shows like that, you have got to get people to come

and say, I went to see a show last night, you have got to go. That is

it. His Scrooge comes direct from its West End run, and it opdns

denied. `` tonight.

They're officially Britain's best workplace choir.

Staff from P Ferries in Dover have won the BBC Two series The Choir `

Sing While You Work, and thhs was Sing While You Work, and thhs was

the moment they found out they were the winners.

The workplace choir of the year The workplace choir of the xear

is... We're joined here in the studio by

two members of the P choir, Stacey Young and Nik Wickham. I was holding

my breath! How did it feel to find out you were the winners? It is

lovely to hear it again and relive that moment. When our name was

announced, you do not even know you are doing it, but you are bouncing

in the air like a lunatic. The whole thing was a fantastic experhence.

When did you start doing it? It was around May, June that we st`rted.

Had you sung as a choir before? We were all auditioned. I did not know

half of the choir members at all. You have got this lovely trophy you

You have got this lovely trophy, you have done a bit of singing before.

Not so much for you. Nothing. In the bath, in the bath, IndyCar, nothing

serious at all. I have sung on the P ferries, with a live band,

before. It is not new to me, but sinking in a choir is very different

from singing with a band. You have to listen to each other, blend, it

is all about all parts coming together. It is a different

experience. You had never stng in together. It is a different

experience. You had never sung in a experience. You had never stng in a

choir at all? Nothing at all. What did Gareth do to bring it out of

you? So many of our choir wdre inexperienced, they would go line by

line and teachers by ear. You learn by repetition. I am sure there are

by repetition. I am sure thdre are quiet that can see a piece of music

and go away, but we did it the hard way. You must be very proud. What do

P think of your success? We are staying together, we are 100% still

a choir, we performed today for all of our colleagues, friends and

family, to say thank you, because their support has been amazhng, and

it has been a brilliant year, at times, really tough as well. Yes, we

are really pleased, we are still together. Congratulations, we look

forward to hearing more from you in forward to hearing more frol you in

the future. Now, not long to go before the big

day. Hope you're in festive mood, despite

the weather. Here are yuletide the weather. Here are yulethde

messages from some of the celebrities we've interviewdd over

the past few months, starting with the Doctor Who actor Colin Baker.

Happy Christmas, everybody, have a lovely Christmas, and go and see a

pantomime somewhere. You never know, I might be in it. Hello, I would

like to wish every single pdrson who watches ABC South East a fabulous

Christmas and a happy New Year. I Christmas and a happy New Ydar. I

want to wish all the viewers of BBC South East Today a very happy

Christmas and a wonderful Ndw South East Today a very happy

Christmas and a wonderful New Year. Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Nice, gentle snow falling down, all festive. It is not like that in real

life! We have the amber warnings from the

Met Office. We have had the storm force winds, they are intensifying,

costs of up to 80 miles an hour went hand`in`hand with heavy

went hand`in`hand with heavx rainfall, we could see up to 60

millimetres. It is falling onto already saturated ground. Heavy

rain, storm force winds, brhnging rain, storm force winds, bringing

travel disruption, but it whll rain, storm force winds, brhnging

travel disruption, but it will turn travel disruption, but it whll turn

settled and called by Christmas Day. Not so today, look at the blue on

the map. It has been a wet and windy the map. It has been a wet and windy

wind. 40 mph on average. Th`t will wind. 40 mph on average. That will

intensify as we go through tonight. Gusts of around 80 miles an hour on

the coast. From the night, the wind starts to ease off, and slowly, the

rain ages eastwards. The temperatures are pretty mild. But of

course, it is not especiallx pleasant. We start the day tomorrow

with storm force winds, what's of rain, and further travel disruption,

but it will be an improving story, the wind will ease off. One or two

heavy showers behind the band of rain. Some of them could have a

wintry element, some hail lhkely. wintry element, some hail likely.

Between them, you might see a bit of rightness, a more pleasant day than

today. By the end of the dax, rightness, a more pleasant day than

today. By the end of the day, the today. By the end of the dax, the

south`westerly winds are easing off. Through tomorrow night, further

outbreaks of rain as we head into Christmas Day. It is much colder and

brighter. Similar for Boxing Day, but the storm will be back by the

end of the week. We're leaving you tonight on a

festive note, and what better way to festive note, and what better way to

do that than with the help of the P choir. Here they are, singing

Deck the Halls at the historic Dover Town Hall, the Maison Dieu. We hope

you have a lovely Christmas, and a very happy new year.

Goodbye. # Deck the halls with boughs of

holly. # Fa la la la la, la la la la.

# Tis the season to be jolly. # Tis the season to be jolly.

# Fa la la la la, la la la la. # Don we now our gay apparel.

# Fa la la, la la la, la la la. # Troll the ancient yuletide carol.

# Fa la la la la, la la la la. # See the blazing Yule before us.

# Fa la la la la, la la la la. # Strike the harp and join the

chorus. # Fa la la la la, la la la la.

# Follow me in merry measurd. # Fa la la la la, la la la la.

# While I tell of yuletide treasure. # Fa la la la la, la la la la.

# All these stars have come out to shine so bright.

# All together. Fa la la la la, la la la la.