03/04/2014 South East Today

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getting stuck trying to retrieve her mobile phone.

Winner Takes It All ` how Abba's performance in Brighton 40 xears ago

launched them to pop superstardom. And cementing his reputation in

tinseltown ` Canterbury's Orlando Bloom gets his own star on

Hollywood's Walk of Fame. I have never been so happy to be

walked over and trampled upon! Good evening. A man who hanged

himself at a Kent hospital would not have died if he had been given

proper care. That is the dalning admission from the NHS tonight,

following the death of Simon Willson from Canterbury, who was suffering

from mental health problems. When the 34`year`old went to the Kent and

Canterbury Hospital in 2010, he was never seen by an A doctor and was

transferred to another unit by staff trying to meet NHS targets. Simon

Jones has our exclusive report. He sought help after an overdose,

only to be failed. He would still be here, they basically said that. If

they had actually bothered with him he would still be with us now. It

has left a massive gap in the family. An NHS investigation has

concluded he was inadequately assessed when he arrived for

emergency care in Canterburx. He was transferred to a clinical ddcision

unit simply to avoid reaching the four hour waiting time targdts in

A and was not adequately monitored. You cannot be more in

need and more vulnerable whdn you are suicidal. You have ment`l health

difficulties. You are in thd heart of a fully functioning hosphtal and

yet you are allowed to take your own life in those circumstances. It is

almost unbelievable. The NHS Litigation Authority found Simon was

not seen by an A doctor at any point. If Mr Wilson had been placed

on 15 minute observations hd would not have succeeded in killing

himself after his transfer. But for these failings, Simon would not have

died. It is a problem that the police are

picking up the pieces after failures in the duty of care of the

psychiatric services. Simon had been discharged from another hospital

despite being at a high risk of suicide. That was just before he

killed himself. I have no confidence in the NHS. Not one bit. Nothing.

The Trust there has offered its condolences. Simon Jones johns us

from the Kent and Canterburx Hospital. Simon, managers are

insisting tonight that lessons have been learned. This letter to the

family from the NHS this mistake after mistake. For example

psychiatric nurse refused to deal with Simon because he had bden

drinking. Instead the nurse went home for his shift had actu`lly

vanished. Simon should have been accompanied when he went into the

toilet. But the NHS Trust s`id that things have now changed and there is

much better training regardhng the care of mental health patients in

emergency units. Something the family to accept. `` to accdpt. A

former soldier who's now holeless and facing deportation says he feels

"let down" by the British government.

Malawi`born Felix Ndalama sdrved in Afghanistan but he's lost hhs job,

and his home at Maidstone's Invicta Barracks, following a drink driving

offence. He says he's sorry for what he did, but claims it's his wife and

18`month`old son who are behng punished. Our political reporter

Ellie Price has more. Felix Ndalama on active service in Afghanhstan. He

served with the Royal Enginders in Maidstone for just over thrde years.

But he was discharged following a drink`driving offence. It mdant he

had not served long enough to earn the right to stay in the UK and now

facing deportation, he cannot work. I would do anything just to be able

to get some income and provhde for my family. I have been in

Afghanistan, I feel let down. There should have been some kind of

sympathy that they could sax OK this is what we can do. Tod`y the

family moved into a guesthotse with the help of a charity. They have

been allowed to stay in Armx accommodation for the past xear but

where is the earlier this wdek. Felix's wife said she was told the

family would get housing support from the council but they wdre left

homeless. I pleaded with thdm can you please help me. I have got a

little boy. I'm just asking for a roof. But they said there w`s

nothing more they could do. I just started walking around and not

knowing where to go. Then I was discovered by a homeless person who

took me to a place, a day cdntre. Maidstone Borough Council s`id it is

a government policy that non`European economic area nationals

only have access to social housing if they have been granted ldave to

remain in the UK. They should have been looked after. Certainlx when he

has been fighting for this country. He has been abandoned. I have

learned from my mistake and I want to move forward but it seems nobody

is giving you the chance. Fdlix Ndalama lost his licence and his job

with a drink`driving offencd. Now he and his family are being told they

will have to leave the country that he fought for. Ellie Price hs in

Sheerness where the family `re currently living in emergency

accommodation. And there has been some breaking news, an annotncement

about their future? In the last few minutes the Home Office has

announced that they granted Felix Ndalama leave to stay for 30 months

in the UK which means that he can stay and can apply for work. This

case was always complicated. His son was born here and is a Brithsh

citizen and his wife had a temporary Visa so she was working all they

were struggling to make ends meet. It will come as a relief to the

charity who had agreed to p`y for the emergency accommodation here in

GNS. `` sheerness. In a momdnt, the Sussex officer accused of

discrimination by a Met Polhce colleague who claims he picked on

her because she was black. A jealous husband whose wifd left

him for another man has admhtted killing her, but denied it was

premeditated murder. Lee Birch from Ramsgate killed his estrangdd wife

Anne in Broadstairs in Novelber He's gone on trial today at

Maidstone Crown Court, as Hdlen Drew reports. I would rather you die than

have a boyfriend. Something allegedly said to and birch by her

estranged husband Lee Burch who is on trial for her murder. Thd couple

had run this pub together in Westgate on Sea. This afternoon the

court heard and had left her husband for another man last year. Her body

was found in a field in Bro`dstairs in November having been str`ngled

and severely beaten. It is `lleged that Lee Burch lay in wait knowing

his wife would be walking the dogs at that time as part of a dog

walking business that they shared in addition to the pub. Today hn his

opening stick went the prosdcuting QC said the killing was the

culmination of a campaign of stalking, harrasment and terror He

claimed he had bought a ropd that morning and said this was a

deliberate killing, he had come prepared, there was nothing mentally

wrong with the defendant. The prosecution said that Lee Btrch

called 999 after the killing and told them where the body was. He

denies the charge of murderhng his ex`wife. The defence will m`ke its

opening statement tomorrow lorning. Staff at Manston Airport have

presented two separate business plans to management that thdy say

could ensure the viability of the Kent airport. Yesterday an offer to

buy the airport as a going concern was withdrawn, leaving 150 jobs at

risk, after the current owndrs announced it was no longer

financially viable. Today the Leader of the Commons Andrew Lansldy

promised the North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale that he would rahse the

issue with ministers. I know that my honourable friend who

want to keep in touch with him and with the owners and operators of the

airport. Recognising of course that it is a commercial matter.

It could take as long as 20 years to clear the backlog of road rdpairs in

the South East, according to industry experts. A new survey by

the Asphalt Industry Alliance says a "patch and mend" approach isn't

working. It's urging the government to invest in a programme of road

maintenance. Two weeks ago the Government announced it would give

?15 million to councils in the south east for pothole repairs.

People in Brighton and Hove could face another refuse collectors'

strike. Union leaders are in dispute with the city council over the way

rounds have been reorganised and are considering a ballot on indtstrial

action. It follows last year's strike, which saw piles of rubbish

left uncollected for weeks. A senior police officer frol Sussex

has denied treating a femald firearms officer badly becatse she

was black and a woman. PC C`rol Howard claims she suffered

discrimination from Acting Hnspector Dave Kelly, while they workdd

together at the Metropolitan Police. Today, her lawyer suggested Mr Kelly

had harassed his colleague, claiming he'd "tried to obstruct her from the

outset". Our Home Affairs Rdporter Rebecca Williams has the details. A

tribunal today heard how sergeant Kelly treated Carol Howard like

candy he could toy with. It's alleged he singled her out,

targeting and intimidating her. Ms Howard is one of only two black

women out of 700 officers working in the Metropolitan Police's dhplomatic

protection group. Part of hdr job involved working as a firearms

officer here at the American embassy. Sergeant Kelly tod`y told

the tribunal that Ms Howard was the only black female police officer

he's managed. He said he was concerned about her honesty and

suspected she may have faked an illness to have time off work. In a

statement he said he found the allegation of being a bigot

insulting to the extreme and he denied being attracted to hdr. The

hearing was told that serge`nt Kelly sent a marked police car to Ms

Howard's house when shed called in sick. Today her lawyer, Shona Jolly

said, what it looks like is harassment. An extraordinarhly

zealous approach to make her feel like she's being watched. Sdrgeant

Kelly replied, I'd have dond the same for any colleague. Ms Jolly

went on to say, you treated Carol differently to other officers

because she was black and or a woman. He said, I treat all officers

the same. The tribunal heard how Sergeant Kelly would ask Ms Howard

about her sex life and he qtestioned her ability at her job. The Met has

said it will robustly defend itself against the claim. The hearhng

continues. A 16`year`old girl had to bd rescued

by fire crews last night, after she became wedged waist`deep in a drain

outside her house. Ella Birchenough from Dover became trapped after

she'd climbed into the drain feet`first in a bid to try `nd

retrieve her mobile phone. Chrissie Reidy reports. No need to adjust

your television. And you're not imagining it. When her phond slipped

into the drain she thought she could fish it out but instead Ell`

Birchenough became stuck and needed three police officers to rescue her.

All I could see was her shotlders and her head. I went down and said

what are you doing. She said she dropped her phone. She had lifted

his mother heavy drain cover and climbed into this dirty drahn feet

first. Clearly overlooking the fact that it is quite a narrow hole so

hardly surprising that she found herself stuck for around 20 minutes.

It was pure stupidity. Seeing the size of the goal, she should not

have been down the drain in the first place. She is not a slall

lady. It could have been a sight Worth than it was. I do not think I

will ever see anything like that again in my life. I hope I do, it

was amazing! But it was comddy gold. And Ella is not the only ond to have

found herself in a spot of bother. Emergency services had to rdscue two

women in Herne Bay who got stuck in the mud trying to save their dog. We

are happy that there is a good outcome to this and that shd was

able to laugh about it. But in this bad weather all manner of things

have been washed down the drain so we would urge people to think

carefully before they do thhs and find a safer way to retrievd the

objects. The 16`year`old did not get her phone back in case you were

wondering. Something tells le this spot of bother is going to haunt for

some time! Chrissie joins us live from Dover. This isn't just creating

headlines in the south east. There has been media interest frol Canada

in Australia and there has been an indication from a television company

in Norway. So it is causing a bit of a stir. Ella Birchenough Did not

want to appear on camera but she is surprised by all the media hnterest.

The top story tonight. A man with mental health problems who hanged

himself in hospital would not have died if he had given proper care.

That was the inclusion of the NHS over the death of Simon Wilson who

was transferred to another tnit to meet NHS waiting targets. Also

tonight. How a really good weekend in Brighton turned Abbott into

overnight pop superstars 40 years ago. And after another day of high

pollution levels over the ndxt couple of days the air will be

cleaner and fresher. He's the film star who's made the

journey from Canterbury schoolboy to Hollywood heart`throb. And now

Orlando Bloom's mark on Tinseltown has been cemented, quite literally,

as he's been given his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Born and

brought up in Canterbury, hd made his stage debut aged four at the

city's Marlowe Theatre. He was awarded an honorary degree by the

University of Kent in 2010. And last year gave his support to East Kent's

bid to become UK City of Culture. Caroline Feraday has tonight's

Special Report. Today Hollywood honours Orl`ndo

Bloom. From Canterbury to Tinseltown. Orlando Bloom got his

big break straight from drala school starting as an elf in Peter

Jackson's Lord of the Rings 13 years ago. Now he has unveiled his very

own star on the famous Hollxwood Walk of Fame. Never have I been so

happy to be walked over and trampled upon. It is ridiculous. It hs the

strangest thing. Do you get a moment to take stock or are you just

thinking wow, I did all that? This is one of those moments, for sure. I

think what's seen him through is that he is so natural. He's not

driven, actually. People love him, he's very nice to people on set

They are super proud of you in Canterbury. They are showing Romeo

and Juliet. Your mum said your success is because you are such a

nice person. Oh, well she's a wonderful mother. I'm sorry she

couldn't be here. She booked a holiday. I was like, mum, you need a

holiday. I will video this. He has made his mark not just amongst his

adoring fans but with his pders as the nice guy of Hollywood. He has a

joy and a love of life and people and connection, you know. That goes

inside of his work and that is why people love his work becausd you can

feel his soul and his spirit. He has reprised his role of Legolas to work

again with Peter Jackson for the Hobbit, The Desolation Of Slaug

Tourists travel from around the world to see the names on the famous

Hollywood Walk of Fame. For Orlando Bloom to be established herd puts

him firmly in Hollywood history The Eurovision Song Contest has

become a bit of a national joke these days ` an excuse to l`ugh at

Eastern European heavy metal acts, mock the voting system, and grimace

as the UK receives "nul points" once again. But in 1974 in Brighton, it

was the springboard for one of the most successful acts the pop world's

ever seen. 40 years ago this weekend Abba won the contest at the Brighton

Dome ` and John Young's there for us now. Yes, it seems extraordhnary. To

think that their big moment came here in part of a stable colplex

built for the Prince Regent in 805. But their big moment did cole.

Waterloo was the hit. I havd been finding out how many of us can

remember the lyrics. 40 years ago Sweden rocked Europe here.

Just senses may have moved on but the walk that they took backstage

that might have not changed much. It is exactly the same room. And this

is the hall that greeted thdm. It is one of our landmarks. Not only for

the Brighton Dome but for the group. It marked the start of their fame.

And to have it happen here hs just amazing. We all know what h`ppened

next. No one cared if you wdre Austria or Germany or Sweden. But if

you are accepted in Britain, OK that is fine. Now you are rdally a

pop group. Bonnie Tyler of course sort of did things in reverse. 9th

in Sweden last year. But 1974 remains one of those years when

Eurovision created stars rather than laid them to rest. It was ndwsworthy

in other ways as well. In Ndwhaven, the abandoned car of Lord Ltcan was

discovered. The mystery of his disappearance has never been solved.

1974 was the year of two general elections. Ted Heath lost n`rrowly

to Harold Wilson in Februarx, and again in October. Jon Pertwde

stepped down as Doctor Who, replaced by Tom Baker. They looked

extraordinary and they had the ultimate book. They began whth the

hook of the song which is so catchy. As we just about discovered on the

streets of Brighton this afternoon. THEY SING.

I do not know the words. Best leave things there, perhaps.

But the Brighton Dome have produced their own version of members of the

public having a singalong on that famous stage. There will be quite a

party on Sunday. And on Sunday evening there is a big partx with

tickets still available, I'l told. And you can come along and listen to

cover versions of all the songs in 1974 the did not win.

Brighton feels like their spiritual home. And if that's whet yotr

appetite for all things Abb`, there'll be a special progr`mme

celebrating their Brighton victory 40 years ago on BBC Sussex `nd BBC

Surrey from 3pm this Sunday with Mark Carter. Do tune in if xou can.

Thousands of football fans `re expected at Brighton's Amex stadium

on Saturday afternoon for the first women's international ever to be

staged at the ground. England take on Montenegro in a World Cup

qualifier and both the club and the FA are hoping for a big crowd, as

Neil Bell reports. Over 70,000 people were cheering England on when

they played Brazil at Wembldy in the 2012 Olympic Games. As interest in

women's football hit new hehghts. Qualifying for next year's World Cup

is well under way and the tdam are looking forward to playing for the

first time in Sussex. It is amazing. It is my first time in here. Just

walking out where the players will be walking up through the ttnnel.

Hopefully there will be a bhg crowd to get behind us. With more girls

and women than ever before playing the game a visit from a couple of

England internationals was luch appreciated by the children and

staff at St Joseph's school at Haywards Heath. We are alwaxs

looking at ways to raise thd profile of sport on the back of the Olympics

so it is a fantastic opporttnity and we are very excited. Having played

alongside them, many youngsters are now keen to see them in acthon. I

think it will be amazing. I have only been to one football m`tch so

far. They are proper football players. And it was fun to play

football. With four wins and 20 goals so far in the World Ctp

qualifiers, both Brighton and Hove Albion and the FA are antichpating

plenty of interest in the g`me on Saturday against Montenegro. I think

it's helped that the media have taken more of an interest shnce

London 2012. We had great exposure and the platform to show wh`t we are

capable of doing. When the Dngland team walk out of here they will

receive a great reception for what should be a good advert not just for

the women's game but for thd stadium itself.

Today we had slightly higher than normal levels of pollution. But

tonight we have the wind coling back in a westerly direction. And we have

a band of rain passing throtgh. It does mean we have some cleaner air

coming in from the Atlantic. But there is going to be some r`in

around for the weekend. Tod`y we had some or cloud cover. But it stayed

mostly dry. And again temperatures doing very well for the timd of

year. Tonight we may initially have some light rain and drizzle. That

clears away and behind that we have some clearer skies above sole mist

and fog patches developing. Add remaining in double figures for the

most part. Tomorrow there is cloud around but it is a relatively

settled story. The wind is back in the south westerly direction. So

quite a different feel to the day and the top temperatures a little

cooler than today. Where we see the sunshine it is going to be feeling

pleasant. And we stayed dry tomorrow night. Although temperatures fall

back to single figures. Then fresher feel as we had towards the weekend.

There will be some rain arotnd especially on Sunday. But some

sunshine around as well. Top temperatures of around 14 or 15

degrees on Saturday. Sunday looks wet and the new week stays on for

Monday and Tuesday. But the warm weather will be back later hn the

week. weather will be back later hn the

That is all for now. We will see you tomorrow. Have a very good dvening.

Goodbye.