16/02/2012 South Today

Hello, I'm Sally Taylor. Welcome to South Today. In tonight's

programme: Under construction, but she could

be mothballed? Spirits are high as work begins on

the Navy's �3 billion aircraft carrier. Today is a fantastic part

of the journey. We have two years ahead on that programme.

Fighting back. The early-warning system designed to keep the pirates

of the high seas at bay. From front door to stage door, the

bouncer who is living his dream. Many people give up on their dreams

and do not do things. They do not even drive. -- try.

And diving's dream double act tell It's a �3 billion defence project,

but will it ever see service? Work began today in Portsmouth on the

second of the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers, the Prince of

Wales. The two ships survived the government's defence review, but as

it stands, one of them will be mothballed as soon as it's ready.

Portsmouth's share of the work is helping to sustain up to 1500 jobs

in the city. But as work began today, BAE Systems reported a 7%

fall in profit and over recent weeks questions have been raised

over the future of the city's shipyard. Steve Humphrey is in

Portsmouth. There are some tough decisions ahead for BAE Systems.

Yes, if you have that sense of deja vu, it is worth remembering the

industry is prone to going through a cycle of peaks and troughs. There

has been a peak with the work on the carriers and Type 45 destroyers

and Corvettes for Oman. Now, what is next for Portsmouth when work on

the aircraft carriers is completed? There was a ceremony in the

shipyard to commemorate the start of work on HMS Prince of Wales.

These days, they use lasers to cut steel. Huge sections of the first

of the new carriers have already taken shape. When they appear,

there will be a national awakening. The work is providing job security

for 1500 workers in Portsmouth. But the question is what happens after

2014 when the contractors completed. BAE Systems has announced a review

of its UK shipbuilding facilities. No decisions have been made. We

will keep everyone informed. Will the shipyard be here in ten years'

time? Today is a fantastic part of the journey on the aircraft carrier.

We have two years ahead on that programme. With the uncertainty,

workers were nervous about speaking publicly. One manager said that

staff are concentrating on the job in hand. We look to the future for

workload but at the moment we are focused on this delivery. The team

is focused around the dates and the carrying on of the work that will

follow behind it. The first of the ships will enter service in 2016.

It will not be until at least 2020 that the UK again has a fully

operational aircraft carrier with fighter bombers on board.

The company says there is no decision about the Portsmouth yard.

What happens after 2014? A is their work for Portsmouth

after the carriers? That depends on when the Government orders the new

type 26 frigates. They are thought to want 13 in the long run. BAE

Systems would like a decision as soon as possible. But with the

constraint on government spending, it is likely to be several years

until a decision. Will one of the aircraft carriers

be mothballed? Yes, that was the position back

into 1010 at the time of the last defence review. Recently, ministers

indicated they will review the decision in a few years. There is a

possibility both of the new ships could be fully operational in a few

years. The next big check that the Government has to write his for the

fighter-bombers to go on board the new ships and then there will be

several years of training until the aircraft and aircraft carriers

become fully operational. The MP for Eastleigh, Chris Huhne,

and his ex-wife have appeared in court to face charges of perverting

the court of justice. Prosecutors claim the former Energy Secretary

persuaded ex-wife Vicky Pryce to take points for speeding that

should have been put on his driving licence in 2003. When he resigned,

Mr Huhne said he was innocent, but wanted to avoid distraction. They

have been released on bail. The case is expected to resume in March.

A former Cunard worker accused of sexually assaulting a child has

appeared at Swindon Magistrates' Court. Paul Trotter, who worked as

a supervisor in a children's activity area, is also charged with

possessing indecent images of children. The 34-year-old was

arrested while living in Salisbury. He was remanded in custody until

next month. There have been further concerns

expressed about the fitness of an RAF pilot who died in a plane crash

along with his passenger, a teenager from Reading. The plane

with Flight Lieutenant Mike Blee and 15-year-old Nicholas Langley-

Rice collided with a glider in Oxfordshire in 2009. An inquest has

been hearing evidence from another RAF pilot. Caroline Richardson is

with me. She has been following this. It centres on Flight

Lieutenant Mike Blee's spinal condition.

Yes, it meant that some of the bones in his back and neck had

fused. He was 62 and was a reservist. He came back as a

volunteer. Nicholas Langley-Rice was a cadet. They took off on an

air experience flight. It collided with the glider. The jury heard

from another pilot, Vladimir Antonov, who had taken Flight

Lieutenant Mike Blee on a refresher course and he said he was surprised

to see his hunched physique and he had concerns he might not be able

to perform effectively. This was not the first time his

fitness was questioned. The medical officer who cleared him

to be able to fly has been reported to the authorities for a drink

problem. A doctor also filled out the civil aviation form to say that

Flight Lieutenant Mike Blee did not have the spinal problem. When he

was asked if he ticked the box that said no, he said did I? That was on.

He described the spine as abnormal and in subsequent examinations

describes them as normal. When asked for an explanation he replied

he did not have one. It continues. A new anti-piracy centre has been

unveiled in Portsmouth today. Manned around the clock, they keep

a watchful eye over seafarers sailing through potentially

dangerous waters. The service costs clients thousands of pounds, but

staff say they would save shipping companies hundreds of thousands of

pounds by weaving them through the dangers and avoiding long

diversions. The story of the Chandlers and

their captivity by pirates is one of the more high-profile examples,

but staff that this new centre in Portsmouth say there are currently

218 seafarers being held hostage in Somalia alone. Probable pirates

operating in this area... Manned by former Royal Navy personnel, they

look at after 80 vessels a day. They monitor the season send out

warnings. And we have a round-the- clock operation sell. Those people

are the brain of the operation. We are lucky because we have a team of

former naval specialists, used to dealing with that level of

information and distributing it to optimise operations. It is hard to

pinpoint where the pirates are. But staff make predictions on where the

trouble spots are likely to be. They take into account factors such

as weather, time of day, and how often pirates have been in an area.

The International Maritime Bureau saying 2011, there were 439

incidents of piracy. After those, 812 people were taken hostage and

eight fatalities. There are different technologies to protect

vessels such as these high pressure water cannon. But this centre is

trying to prevent pirate encounters in the first place. It comes at a

price. It is estimated that the closure of

a section of the A34 yesterday could have cost the economy

millions of pounds. A lorry crash closed the section between the M4

and Chilton interchange for more than seven hours and caused 17

miles of queues. The road haulage association told the BBC such hold-

ups have a financial impact. Stay with us because to come this

evening, we are at Winchester Cathedral.

Join me later in the programme and I will shed light on the latest

fund-raising project at the cathedral.

A man and woman from Weymouth have pleaded guilty to smuggling heroin

into Guernsey. David Iain Shields was sentenced to eight years in

prison and Emma Louise Pring received a six-year sentence. The

pair were stopped and examined after arriving in Guernsey last

July. Condor Ferries is trying to contact

passengers who have bookings for this weekend. Safety concerns about

the port of Weymouth have forced the ferry company to switch

sailings to Poole. Passengers due to sail this weekend are being

asked to contact Condor Ferries or check the company's website for

changes to the schedule. The local councils say the work is running on

time. We had specialist divers down. We are working closely with Condor

Ferries. We expect... We have contractors we are talking to and

we expect to have made a decision as to what we want to do and get

the contractors on site by the end of next week.

Now for the latest in our series Living The Dream. Steven Murphy,

from Bournemouth, was a cage fighter and worked as a pub bouncer

through his twenties. But he had always wanted to be an actor. When

he reached 30, he decided to turn his life around. Roger Finn went to

meet a man who wanted to swap the front door for the stage door.

When I left school I wanted to try out for drama college. Because I

was working full time, I was told I would not be able to vote -- devote

time to the course and so I thought my dreams were over. Then your life

took a different course. It did, like a lost decade. I had a lot of

experience, I joined the Army and had various careers. I worked as a

bouncer when I was 18. You got into dark areas of life at this time.

What about the fighting? The major thing for me was that it gave me

discipline to keep my life clean. Without the training, I do not know

whether darker side would have taken me. I was not sure where I

was heading. Drinking crept up on the Slovene. At first, you think it

is a friend -- it crept up on the slowly. It is a crazy experience. I

try to stop in 2002. I had that tattoo printed on my arm. It has

been an ongoing battle ever since and I expect it always will be.

Something must have happened. You have turned your life around.

I hit 30, I was married and forced to take a look at myself. I went

back to the drama course I had auditioned for. With Paul Murphy

and Winchester university I took a degree course -- Bournemouth

University. When I finish, I waited -- I thought I will not wait for

what other people say I can do, I will start writing myself. His play

is about two bouncers, one has experience and the other turns up

for his first day. If you think he is going to be trouble, keep him

out. It is a tribute to the director who was encouraging. It

was the best experience of my life. My character is very much somebody

who is thinking everybody else is responsible for his downfall. I

have been an idiot in my time but I have never intimidated anyone.

Really he is responsible for his own downfall. That is true in life.

The bad things that happen to me we usually down to me. The future is

looking good with an opportunity in New York. I won a scholarship for

screenwriting at the New York Film Academy. Had just have to save the

money to live there. I decided to perhaps by my own taxi to work and

earn the money. I want to try and then I can look back and be proud I

am trying. People give up on dreams. They talk about stuff but they

don't even try. I want to give it a go. Good luck to him. He has

changed his life. Stephen Murphy told us about his living the dream.

Are you? Have you changed your life and achieved something you thought

was not possible? Why not let us know? We can be telling your story.

You can see previous stories on the website. Let us know your story via

The Weymouth and Portland sailing village was officially handed over

to the London 2012 organising committee today. Millions of pounds

have been spent transforming the site, which will house the

competitors and team officials during the games this summer.

you have trained for four years for one event, the conditions you have

leading up to that are critical. A lot of thought has gone into this

village in Weymouth and also the village in London to ensure the

conditions are absolutely perfect. That should have been Keith Mills.

I just said to you to get in touch with stories about living the dream.

We like you to get in touch, you never know what happens. Our next

story as we go into sport is about that. It is great when people get

in touch. I received an e-mail this week. It led to a fascinating,

almost if first, in terms of acknowledgement that the League got

something wrong. We are talking about Portsmouth.

The Football League has accused Portsmouth's former chairman,

Vladimir Antonov, of misleading them when he took over the club in

2010. The frank comments came in a response to a fan, who wanted

answers as to why his club was facing administration for the

second time in three years. Paul Chalmers Stevens emailed the league

with a series of questions. In the exchange which was sent to us at

South Today, the league said information supplied by Antonov at

the time of his takeover had been "at best misleading and possibly

"at best misleading and possibly fraudulent, with the league not

being alone in accepting the evidence." It was a major departure

from the league's own media policy during the crisis at Fratton Park.

during the crisis at Fratton Park. during the crisis at Fratton Park.

It comes just days after the shadow sports minister voiced similar

concerns about the league's procedures when it comes to

takeovers. Earlier Paul told me what he made of it.

It was a stunning admission. It was not one I'm would receive, I

thought, I thought they would batted back until they had

exhausted me. There seems to be head-scratching when clubs go into

administration. I do not understand why. The system seems to be broken.

Vladimir Antonov was arrested last year and is on bail facing charges

of asset stripping at a Lithuanian bank. He denies the charges. The

BBC has tried to contact Antonov but was unable to reach him.

Meanwhile, Portsmouth's manager gave a stark insight into what life

is like when a club's bank account is frozen when he gave his press

conference today. Midfielder Liam Lawrence needs a scan on an injury.

This is what Michael Appleton said. Liam Lawrence cannot walk properly.

How bad is it? I would like to give you an exact answer but because we

cannot afford to have the scam, we do not know the extent. -- X-ray.

Is that true? Our assets are frozen. Portsmouth are expected to go into

administration tomorrow at at hearing in London. We'll be at the

High Court for that. Tonight we are checking on the progress of two of

the best medal hopes in the Olympics for Great Britain. Tom

Daley and his partner, Peter Waterfield from Southampton, this

week they had a competition star training session. They have told us

about it. When you are a double act, timing

is everything. Tom Daley and Peter Waterfield has not been diving

regularly in the weeks leading up to this practice session, but the

favourites for the ten metres synchronisation event have impress

their coaches. -- impressed. It is a partnership where we dive well

individually and when we are put together it seems to be in time. We

had a three-month break when we were working individually. When we

got back together, it was like we have not been away. It is good to

have that kind of partnership. Waterfield trays in Southampton and

Tom Daley is from Plymouth, and they will dive together and as

individuals if their selection is confirmed. They are at different

stages of their careers. The games are special. We do not go into

competitions to make up the numbers. We want to do as well as we can.

London will be special anyway, but if we can pick up a medal as well,

it will be great in the synchronisation. Tom Daley's media

profile has led to concern about his ability to be at his best in

London. Waterfield alongside him could prove crucial. Great images

there. Guildford Flames have a ten-point

lead at the top of ice hockey's Premier League. They beat

Basingstoke Bison 3-0 last night. A full house at the Spectrum Arena

saw the Flames goal tender Mark Lee make 41 saves, to gain his sixth

clean sheet of the season. Sussex Cricket Club have posted their

accounts with income up by 7%. Overall, the county lost �124,000.

They spent �8 million redeveloping the County Ground. Always get in

touch. If you want to tell me anything.

Anything? OK! A group of celebrities is getting

together to shine a light on Winchester Cathedral. The

Chronicles of Light has been designed to tell the story of the

city's cathedral. Visitors will be able to experience the event this

autumn, but work has begun today to bring the story to life. Things are

happening behind you in the cathedral.

They are indeed. As if Winchester Cathedral is not grand enough, look

at this. This is a taster of the light and sound experience bringing

Cathedral history to life. Images of treasures of the cathedral will

be beamed across the pillars. There will be recordings of tales of

people of its past. The scheme is to help raise money for a new sound

and lighting system. Organisers had to think big. And they brought in

big names to help them raise the money.

Winchester Cathedral, standing proud and reminding us of our

history and heritage. Dating back more than 1,000 years, it has tales

to tell. Soon we will be able to hear the stories courtesy of

familiar faces and voices. Bernard Griffin's and Wendy Craig are two

of the performers creating characters of the cathedral's past.

Bernard is known from children's television. Wendy start in numerous

situation comedies. In the Chronicles Of Light, Bernard plays

a fishermen of the 1600s. He came up with a lot of good ideas, some

of which are in use I am sure, especially about the study to be

quiet. There were noisy fishermen about. That is what you go out for,

to be quiet in the countryside and get away from your jaw and catch

fish. -- from your job. So many great people from history are

involved in the cathedral. Their faith grew and it glowed in this

magnificent place. They will be joined by a host of celebrities

including Dame Judi Dench. They will be part of the next chapter of

the cathedral's history. People have been around this Christian

site for 1400 years and the building has been around for

roughly 1,000 years. There is an enormous quantity of history and

stories to be told. Winchester Cathedral have pulled

out all of the stops to bring history to life. If you want to

share the experience, performances take place between the 12th and

28th October, so a little while to wait. It is set to be a sensation

on your senses. Thank you. It looks wonderful. And

it is just starting today, work has begun. If you want to know more,

BBC Radio Solent on Sunday morning. BBC Radio Solent on Sunday morning.

BBC Radio Solent on Sunday morning. The weather. It is like spring.

It will be fairly nice tomorrow, although a lot of cloud. Mild

temperatures, but it changes at the weekend.

Alexis looked close -- looked cold when I saw her at this morning, I

drove past her! Sue Austin captured a bee

collecting the nectar from a snowdrop at Kingston Lacy House in

snowdrop at Kingston Lacy House in snowdrop at Kingston Lacy House in

Dorset. John Home took this photo of a frog at The Secret Garden

nature reserve in Bursledon near Southampton. Jane Robinson, from

Portsmouth, captured a robin Portsmouth, captured a robin

nesting at the bottom of her garden. The cold weather will return on

Sunday. Rain on Saturday. The cold air will then make a return.

Briefly, before it turns milder next week. Tonight, staying very

mild. Above the seasonal average for temperatures. There will be

light rain and drizzle. More so in northern part such as

Buckinghamshire. There will be a lot of cloud tomorrow. Limited

brightness. We could have light rain and drizzle in places.

Temperatures are one degree up on today despite there being a lack of

sunshine. Tomorrow night, we do it again. Cloudy, light rain and

drizzle is a possibility. Mild temperatures, possibly one degree

higher than tonight. The winds will be light, but they pick up speed on

Saturday. That is because of the cold front coming in. The rain will

rattle through. Brisk winds. And then high pressure will build from

Sunday. A frosty start on Sunday, but a decent day. Police skies will

stop but it will be a cold day -- blue-sky is. Monday starts on a

bright note and then rain. Another weather front arriving. It will

linger for the rest of the day on Tuesday. It will be a wet week next

week, but staying miles over the next few days. A cloudy day

tomorrow. On Saturday, we start on a bright note and a dry one.

Brighter by the end of the day, Brighter by the end of the day,

Brighter by the end of the day, frosty on Sunday.

Tomorrow, you might be interested, if you grow fruit and vegetables,