09/09/2014 South East Today

Thank you very much indeed. That is it from Edinburgh

Welcome to South East Today, I'm Rob Smith.

A Kent teenager pleads guilty to stabbing 17`year`old

We're live in Oxted where her body was found.

A patient talks of how she felt abandoned by a private

I was very distressed and uncomfortable. I was quite scared.

Cut the speed limit ` councillors make

an official call for fresh safety measures on the Sheppey crossing.

Maureen Lipman brings a lifetime of experience to the stage. And Adam

Gemili will be in the studio, fresh from his European championship

triumph. A teenage boy from Kent has today

admitted stabbing Steven Miles pleaded guilty to

the murder of Elizabeth Thomas who is reported to have been

in a relationship with him. Her body was discovered at Miles'

family's flat in Oxted Surrey. At the time of her death, it was

reported that friends claimed Elizabeth Thomas wanted to end her

relationship with Steven Miles. She had just recently joined

Oxted School sixth form, Elizabeth Thomas was 17 when she was

stabbed to death. Today, another teenager, Steven Miles, admitted

killing her. It happened in this flat earlier this year. A death left

the community shocked, her family said their lives have been broken

beyond repair. The news brings home to everyone here the appalling

nature of this tragedy. Our hearts go out to her family and all of

those closely affected by this dreadful news. Elizabeth Thomas's

body was found in the flat on January 24. Steven Miles, then 16,

was arrested at the scene and just over one week later was charged with

her murder. Today he pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on the 2nd of

October. At the time of her death, Elizabeth's family said they had

been overwhelmed by the messages and support they had received from

everyone who knew her. We were all shocked. They were nice family. We

all know each other year. We were devastated for them. It is shocking

it happened around here. I think everyone was shocked. Elizabeth

Thomas had been sitting for her A`levels. Her family said they were

extremely proud of what should achieved and described her as a

kind, caring and loving person. Our reporter Mark Saunders has been

following the story for us Mark,

what have the police been saying? This is where Elizabeth lost her

life, right at the heart of the small team unity. Surrey police

issued a statement. One of the officers said this was a tragic loss

of a young girl and the devastating impact of the incident, which

unfolded, continues to be felt, not just by the family and friends by

the wider community. In a sense, those comments reflected in remarks

by the judge today, he described the circumstances of this murder as

horrific. He did say he would give Steven Miles credit for guilty plea

at this stage. Miles himself is due to be sentenced next month.

A patient has spoken of how she felt abandoned

after being left waiting for an ambulance for almost eight hours.

Marion Ham was due to be taken from hospital in East Grinstead to

Pembury, by the privately run NSL transport service.The

service has already faced criticism following an inspection earlier this

Recovering from an ankle operation, it was an infection which Turk

Marion Ham back to hospital and doctors gave her an assessment. She

thought she would be for `` therefore an hour but she was there

for longer. I was very uncomfortable and distressed, scared of what might

not be going on my leg. It got to 9pm in evening and I was told the

unit shuts down by 10pm. We haven't heard from anyone. NSL when the

contract to run non`evidence the ambulances. Within days hundreds of

patients complained they have been left stranded. The Care Quality

Commission reported on a series of key failures. In July two report

said there were still problems. NSL said they have improved but accept

this case doesn't that. Most people would see that as an acceptable. I

can assure all patients are important to us. The group now runs

the contract. Their chief officer said the service received by Marion

Ham was an acceptable. While it had improved over the past year, it

still wasn't good enough. The contract of NSL is up in June 2016.

Some believe it is time to ditch contracting out the service

altogether. It is when ambulance services run by the private sector

which have ballooned under David Cameron. It hits home that they

should be about public service to people like Marion Ham, not about

profits and given second`rate service. Marion Ham was taken in an

emergency ambulance. NSL said they have spoken to her and will learn

from what she has taught them. In a moment the pieces of art that

could give a clue to Hastings's history.

There are demands for a reduction in the speed limit on the

Sheppey Crossing in Kent in a bid to save lives.

Councillors voted last night to ask the Highways Agency to cut it

It follows a 150 vehicle pile`up a year ago and a fatal crash in July.

A crossing that simply isn't safe, according to some councillors.

They point to last year's huge pile`up.

Dozens injured, speed a factor but no matrix signs

Followed by a crash in July that killed a mother and son.

The cause of that is still under investigation

but the family of Deborah Roberts and eight`year`old Marshall say

In my eyes it is like a legacy kind of thing.

If measures are made and followed through with,

And now councillors, following a vote last night, will finally have

a chance to put their case for a reduction in the speed limit

They were putting their heads in the sand to some extent.

The bridge is constantly being close.

People are breaking down and there has been a fatal accident.

They have taken one year almost to come to that conclusion.

I think that is because of the pressure we put on them.

Some bridges, such as those at Dartford,

The Highways Agency says each is assessed on its own merit.

Many believe the onus must be on drivers driving safely and there

are calls for more evidence regarding the Sheppey crossing.

I just think it is rather presumptuous of councillors to

think, without any reference whatsoever to the people who are

actually making the decision, that the answer must be only 50 mph.

I'm not against it, but I think there are other options.

Deborah Roberts' sister says no other family should suffer

Otherwise, my days would be crying all the time.

I try and block things out and try not to think of what has

happened, but at the same time you can't stop thinking of them.

Since the opening in 2006, the Highways Agency has insisted

Well, let's cross live to Simon Jones who's at the crossing now `

Simon what's the likelihood of this speed limit happening?

That a decision will be made by the highways agency. They say they have

already logged into last year's huge crash but put it down to fog and

drivers not driving appropriately rather than any problems with the

crossing itself. They say they can't comment on the fatal crash because

investigations are still ongoing. Councillors as well as wanting a

reduction in the speed limit one cameras. They'll get their to make

their case in the next couple of weeks `` one cameras `` want

cameras. An arsonist who set fire to

his flat after being served an eviction notice laughed

when he was told he'd almost trapped his upstairs neighbour

and her two children in the blaze. 22`year`old Jake Walters was jailed

for 30 months today after he pleaded Maidstone Crown Court heard he

started the fire in a revenge attack after being told

he would have to leave his home in A second man has been arrested

in connection with historic abuse allegations at Boris Johnson's

former prep school in Sussex. The 64`year`old man, who hasn't been

named, was questioned by police in Brighton on suspicion of indecent

assault and gross indecency. The former headmaster of

Ashdown House Prep School, Clive Williams, was arrested

and bailed earlier this year. A man has been arrested on suspicion

of murder after a pensioner was The 32`year`old, from the town,

was held after the discovery of the 73`year`old's body yesterday

afternoon. Well, let's cross live to

our reporter Lucinda Adam. Lucinda, police said the dead man

was discovered in the property? They say the body of a 73`year`old

man was found here in the bedroom of his home, on the edge of the estate

here. Officers were called at 3pm last afternoon but through today

forensic teams have been continuing their investigations, and this

afternoon a body was taken away from the property. This is a row of

bungalows for the elderly. Police said it don't think this was a

random attack but there were 30 `` but the man arrested in connection

was known to the victim. There were a lot of police officers here. I do

realise it was a murder. We would see him and waved to him. He would

way back. He was a nice man. The victim hasn't been named but other

neighbours describe an outgoing and friendly manner, often seen out and

about on a scooter. The man suspected of us made it is being

kept in custody. This is tonight's top story. A teenager has pleaded

guilty to the murder of a 17`year`old girl. Steven Miles

starved Elizabeth Thomas to death at his family's flat. Also. A woman of

many talents. Maureen Lipman talks about love, betrayal and retribution

later in the programme. And the art of creating a piece of televisual

history. We meet the man behind many creations. And it seems summer is

having a last farewell. Join me later to see if it will last.

The charity restoring Hastings Pier is trying to solve the mystery

of three paintings, which may hold vital clues to its past.

The artworks, which were originally donated to

a boys club and are now hanging in the Conquest Hospital, are believed

It's costing ?14 million to rebuild the pier after a fire in 2010,

with ?11.4 million coming from lottery funding and ?590,000

Juliette Parkin has tonight's special report.

Hanging in a corridor in a busy hospital. I'll paintings of a time

when Hastings Pier was a place to be seen. Who witnessed and recorded the

scenes, nobody knows. In 1992, they were given by the close to the

hospital, to be shown on the wards. We don't have any idea who painted

them and that is what we are trying to find out. There is no signature

on them and no record of where they came from. Today, construction

workers rebuilding the structure and cutting free the chains of a

devastating past. Hastings Pier close because of fears it have come

and save. 95% was destroyed in an arson attack. Then in 2012, the

government confirmed the purchase order from the owners could go

ahead, leading to its restoration. Now preserving the past is equally

important. Built in 1870 2,000 flocked here in its heyday. Scenes

like this wouldn't greeted people. We are taking copies of material,

and we will photograph them and save them into a digital archive, which

will be used in our interpretation. The charity is asking anyone with

photos, objects or memories of Hastings Pier to get in touch, and

there is certainly no shortage of those. You can see the fishermen off

the pier. My mother and father used to come here. The slot machines with

old fashioned ones. It is hoping it will open next summer. A new

restaurant and entertainment space on its decks. There are parts of

that history people would rather forget, moments like these certainly

not among them. That is a mystery. She's the star of stage and screen `

and to many she's best remembered for the BT advert, consoling her

grandson who's failed his exams. Well,

now she's starring in a drama at the Theatre Royal in Brighton, in a play

with two love stories at its heart. Miranda Schunke went

along to meet her. Treading the boards. That his/her

real love. Indeed. Maureen Lipman has decided to take this show on the

road after a successful run `` that is her real love. I spoke to her

today. There was so much to talk about. She says she still get

nervous when she still get nervous when she's about considers herself

as just another jobbing actress. Who could forget those classic adverts?

Now I can look back on them with a sense of neutrality, but at the time

I was trying to be a versatile actress. Now I was a grandmother.

Now, I am a grandmother, it doesn't matter. But it was playing and which

made her a household name, well beyond her comic prowess. They do

tend to be a lot of Jewish agony and which is interesting. I don't know

why that is. It was a good show `` agony aunt.

The last time I was here was to do two weeks. It must have been in

1988. Aside from the show I am doing now, that was the best thing I did.

Let's talk about the play. It is a romantic thriller. Are you a fan? I

ballroom dance which is only one minute long but it took a lot of

work. We still practice that night. And he is very musical. I am very

good at making everything look it is his fault. As well as dancing,

there's plenty of love, betrayal and retribution keeping the audience

gripped in this show. If you get along, it is on here at the Theatre

Royal until Saturday. Now, he's got one of

the biggest smiles in British sport That's because Kent sprinter

Adam Gemili has enjoyed easily his most successful season since

swapping football for athletics. He starred

at this summer's Commonwealth Games and just over three weeks ago won

gold at the European Championships. I'm delighted to say Adam's with us

now, but before we talk to him, let's take a little look at some

of his recent achievements. We were talking about your smile but

you had a grimace on your face when you are watching that. Why do find

it so hard to watch. I find it embarrassing to watch yourself

racing and on the TV. It is a bit embarrassing for me to see myself.

It is brave of you to come into a TV studio. You are also shy about

showing off your medals. You are shown for us but very show them off

at home. This is the gold. This is a 200 metres. Then another gold in the

100 metres. This is the 200 metres gold and the silver at the

Commonwealth Games. You were not in front of your home crowd. How was

that? Mental. It was good to me. There was a lot of anticipation as

to whether the English athletes are going to get a good reputation at

Scotland. It was great. I felt like a British athlete competing in

Britain, rather than an English athlete in Scotland. You have 2

major target the next summer. One is a world championships, the other is

finishing your degree. The Will Sharman ships are in Beijing next

year and that coincides with my final year of university `` the

world Championships. I have the jungle that around and try and run

fast and compete with the likes of the same bolt and the rest of the

world. You have done well because your time in the metres, you are

part of an elite group of athletes. All in all, in Britain it is only

myself and John Regis Rab and 20 seconds. In the world it must be

less than 50 people `` John Regis, who have broken 20 seconds. When you

have some more gold medals, if you could come back in. We will have you

on any time. Thank you. Good luck with the degree as well.

A Sussex fine art sculptor, who helped create

the 1980s character Max Headroom, is showing some of his new work at an

John Humphreys' work in film and television includes

Alien Autopsy, Doctor Who and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Piers Hopkirk went along to meet him.

He's the face behind the faces, which made us hide

When we first started working on Doctor Who it was exciting,

To go onto the set at the BBC, with a monster you created,

He may be a fine arts sculptor, but his work is just as likely to grace

From bringing the imagination of Roald Dahl to life in Charlie

to creating '80s cult hero Max Headroom.

John may not be a household name, but his work is known

This is arguably John's most infamous piece of work, the Roswell

alien, star of movies and a million conspiracy theories the world over.

The alien was created by John from film footage,

supposedly of an autopsy of an extra terrestrial, a hoax which to this

When you make something that half the world has seen,

then you have got to look back and think that is a job well done.

John's sculptures form the centrepiece of the September

Having someone of John's stature with is exciting

His work stretching the human, form and with it the imagination.

That was great but weird. Let's check the weather. Plenty of

sunshine now. This is a picture of a family fishing in west Sussex by the

weekend. I wonder if they caught anything. If you have any photos, we

would love to see them. You can e`mail them to us or get in touch at

our Facebook or Twitter pages. Lots of lovely weather, worth last? We

have this area of high pressure. That will stay with us `` will it

last? There is plenty of sunshine over the next couple of days. We

should be staying dry and some sunshine, particularly by the

afternoons. Clearer skies at night mean it will be cooler. In the towns

and cities, temperatures down to 11 degrees but across the country

temperatures in low single figures. So temperatures this afternoon

Company in the top teams, with highs of 17 degrees `` come to be in the

top teams. You may see some mist and fog around is. Perhaps 11 or 12

degrees in cities. Cooler and more real spots, seven or 8 degrees.

Clear skies mean sunshine from the word go. Any mist or fog should burn

back quickly and by the afternoon variable amounts of cloud, but

mostly settled and bright. Temperatures of 90 degrees. A little

bit cooler on the coast, 17 or 18 degrees. It'll feel warm still. More

the same tomorrow night. Settled, clearer skies and winds. The chance

of some rain and drizzle weather cloudy get fit, but over the next

couple of days it'll be staying settled. Warm sunshine with

temperatures in the top. Prince Harry has challenged them -

now they will challenge each other, more than

400 international competitors. No strangers to battle,

all have served their country. Prince Harry has challenged them -

now they will challenge each other, pushing their bodies to the limit

in the quest for glory.