04/04/2012 South Today

Good evening from South Today. In tonight's programme: On route to

the Falklands. The Navy's newest destroyer leaves for the South

Atlantic admit to strained relations.

Rock bottom. Claims police morale has been seriously eroded. I have

been a police officer for 25 years and I have never known such

frustration. Bringing home the bacon. The attraction which has

helped to double visitor numbers. These days, in the UK, it is the

way to go. The quick thinking captain who rescued hundreds from

the Titanic. We will find out why Sir Arthur Rostron could not leave

the sea behind. One of the Royal Navy's newest

destroyers set sail on her maiden mission for the Falklands. It was

amid strained relations between Argentina and Britain. Cheering

crowds of family lined the entrance to Portsmouth Harbour as HMS

Dauntless left the base. She will spend six months on deployment. Our

reporter watched the departure. The departure of HMS Dauntless is

one of the top stories in the media in Argentina. The Buenos Aires

Herald says the destroyer will be carrying out patrols in the South

Atlantic high and around what it calls the Malvinas Islands. The

departure has clearly agitated the Argentinian government. On Monday,

the president repeated the claim over the islands. David Cameron

says the UK remains committed to the Falklands in terms of timing.

30 years ago tomorrow, the aircraft carrier Invincible and Hermes left

to recapture the islands. The Navy says the timing is coincidence. I

have been talking to some of the relatives of the sailors.

He has never been away for this long. I hope he will be OK. But

this is the Royal Navy. We are very proud. There are a lot of people

and children upset. Budded is part of what they do. I am proud of him.

-- but it. A hopefully, they will do the deployment and nothing will

come of it. Is this deployment out of the ordinary?

The timing is fascinating. At the Navy are saying this is a routine

deployment. The UK have had a consistent presence in the South

Atlantic since the Falklands. HMS Dauntless is taking over from HMS

Montrose. Nobody from the Navy was doing interviews but in a statement,

the captain says his crew have been preparing for this for the past

year. He also said, we are ready to provide a reassuring presence in

the region and protect British interests. HMS Dauntless is the

second of the new Type 45 destroyers to go on an operational

deployment. Morale amongst police officers in

Sussex is at rock bottom according to the union that represents them.

In an open letter to MPs, at the Sussex Police Federation describes

anger over pay freezes and stoppages of annual leave during

the summer. 1,000 officers say they intend to join a national protest

in London next month. Disgusted, that is how many officers

apparently feel about the government's review of policing.

They have written to all MPs describing a collapse in force

morale and huge anger at the Windsor report into police pay and

conditions. A I have been a police officer for 25 years and I have

never known such frustration. We understand we have to feel the

pinch like everyone else will its seems the service is, at this

important time, on being singled out for special treatment. Officers

are disgusted. They have expressed that anger in a strongly-worded

letter to MPs. It says if the recommendations are ratified, they

will rip a heart and soul from policing and it could be the end of

a police force looking after the community. A life of a police

officers could be summed up, were up when you are told, no choice.

The chief constable told us he realised any changes would have a

significant effect on the force that they would only be implemented

with full consultation. He also said policing is changing and must

continue to change. Public opinion on that those changes is mixed.

does not seem to work out. If you cut them, it will cause more

problems because people will complain to the police.

publicly -- public funded organisation should have prizes is

reviewed regularly. We need the police. -- its processes. We need

more police if anything. federation are urging MPs to ask

the Home Secretary to put a stop to what they describe as this madness.

Ed Miliband has admitted his party faces a big challenge in the South

in the elections. The party runs one council in the region, Reading.

He was on the campaign trail in Southampton, the city which has a

Conservative lead counsel. Ed Miliband said he would not talk

about Labour's targets for the local elections but it is a safer

bet Southampton is high on the list. He was in the city which has the

two remaining Labour MPs. challenges, can we deliver?

focusing on jobs and crime, he claimed his party would improve

living standards. Who runs your council really matters. Labour

councils across the country are showing they can make a difference.

We are hoping to do better in May. Labour is rebuilding. We want to

rebuild trust. I hope the election will show us making gains.

political opponents clearly do not share those hopes. The leader of

Southampton council saying Labour cannot make good on their promises.

If they do not have the resources to pay for their promises, they

cannot deliver. That is the thing about Labour. They are over

promising and under delivering. It is easy in the opposition but it is

not the same thing if you are running the country. There is no

collision here. We are independent. We expect to maintain our grip on

key seats, like in Portsmouth. Miliband knows these elections will

be seen as a test of his leadership. He met with a warm reception but

outside one a lifelong Labour voter said he will not support the party

this year because he does not think Ed Miliband image as up. He is a

waste of space. -- measures up. I am not impressed at all. As he

embarks on a month of campaigning, Ed Miliband will hope others are

more convinced. She may be a cartoon but it seems we should not

underestimate the power of Peppa Pig. Peppa Pig World, which is part

of Paultons Park, has helped boost visitor numbers.

This cartoon has given a local attraction national appeal. Bright

and colourful, Peppa Pig World has brought families here in droves.

Last year we had visitors from every postcode in the UK. Also

international visitors. While other parts have not seen an increase,

the numbers here have doubled from 550,000 to 1.1 million in 2011. The

park employs an extra seasonal workers. I would still be a

catering assistant. I would not be a manager. They have promoted a lot

of people because of the volume of people coming in. Thousands of

people coming to the area have helped other businesses. At the

Mortimer Arms, these are not tough economic times. We are all

benefiting from increased trade. A local economy has picked up? I

would say so yes. We have definitely seen an increase. That

will echo throughout the others in the area. How much life has this

pig got in her? When parks have a new fad, they need to know the

characters will bring in enough visitors to make the investment

worthwhile. That is the work of Rick Matthews. His company brings

successful themes to parks all over the country. At branded products

going into theme parks is the future. I really believe it is the

new trend. Disney started it with their own brand, Mickey Mouse.

These days, around Europe and in the UK, it is the way to go.

there will always be a new craze around the corner but for now, the

children here are happy. Paultons Park will be as well if Peppa Pig

still draws a crowd. Still to come: The amazing work being done to

bring a piece of history to life. The hot spring weather has been

great news but it has compounded the problem of water shortages. A

hosepipe ban comes into force in some parts of the South tomorrow.

We will have a special report tomorrow and we will let you know

it affect you and what you can and cannot do.

A man described as a job -- by it a judge as the founding father of

brothels was jailed today. It follows a series of raids by police.

He was responsible for operating a brothels across Surrey.

It got off to a false start with more than a month of delays, but

today traffic finally started flowing across Poole's Twin Sails

bridge. The �37 million structure links Poole Harbour with Hamworthy.

It is hoped it will help cut congestion and bring new investment

to the area. We were there as the first vehicles drove across.

No fanfare, just this lonely vehicle. The first to cross a

bridge that has been talked about for 30 years. As word spread it had

finally opened, others were not far behind. It is exciting. I am on

holiday from Yorkshire so I am honoured! We have not got a bridge

like this in Yorkshire. They were talking about this 40 years ago. I

never thought I would see it in my lifetime. It has taken me a shorter

route. I have gained five minutes. The opening was delayed after part

of the road surface fell off when the bridge was raised in March. You

can see whether tarmac has been relaid. The council says the

contract as well pick up the cost of repairs. The bridge has opened

to allow boats in and out of the harbour watched closely by this

control tower. We just checked to make sure the walkways uglier. Make

sure everything is safe before we left. -- are clear. It is hoped

this investment will be about more than quicker journey times. By

bringing in world-class business, that is going to create more jobs,

more opportunities for local people, as well as more homes. For me, this

marks Poole as open for business. After a false start and a quiet

opening quite -- high hopes for this bridge.

She is one of the most famous ships in the world brought to the surface

in a salvage operation. It is the Mary Rose, flagship to kidnap's

navy which sank with the loss of 700 men during a battle. -- Henry

VIII's Navy. A new project will The Mary Rose as many of us

remember her, seen through a mist of water and preservative. But all

that will soon change. For more than two years, Mary Rose has been

hidden away. While conservation teams and construction experts

press on with a problem - how do you build a museum around the ship,

above a Grade 1 listed dock, while continuing to treat the tempers?

Away from the building work, another task is underway. We are

removing some of these from the treatment solution. More of the

items fight with the ship are emerging from the preservation

tanks. We freeze the object, then we remove the air from the chamber,

so we have low pressure. Under those conditions, the process is

called sublimation. We can safely move water from these object

without changing the shape or size of that object. Eventually, 14,000

items will be on display. Specialist has been cataloguing

them for 20 years. That is a piece of anchor cable, made from hemp.

The tar has remained, and has helped preserve the rope. Wouldn't

it longbows, beer tankards, shoes, and personal belongings. Here we

are some of the net Combs! Some of the units are still in the teeth!

We can see one of the gold coins recovered as well here. One of 32.

This is a gold angel. Hamah will this be worth? Is difficult to put

to values on things, but probably about �50,000 for that 0.4 stop it

is not just the ship. It is life and death, 500 years ago. This is

our country's Pompeii. Been rebuilt museum or reunite Mary Rose with

her contents for the first time. It will breathe new life into the ship

and her crew. It is so exciting! It is almost

like a time capsule of history. When you see the shoes, it is

absolutely fascinating! Everything tells the story.

The GP in rowing squad, we will start with. Today, at the GB rowing

squad for the World Cup has been announced at Caversham. It is the

first indication of where we are likely to seek at the Olympic Games.

Our Olympic rowing reporter has been to meet the squad.

This some rowers, a day of jubilation. The others, their

dreams have sunk. The squad has been unveiled, and names know who

they will be facing. Getting on this team sheet is what all the

hours in the gym, and Mars and the boat, have been about. We need to

work on things. Initially, this squad will compete in three

regattas. Him Caversham, it is the GBH to. Tricky decisions have been

taken over the last few weeks. are all medalists, tried to compete

at the highest level. That is a good thing. So, I think, together

with all my colleagues, coaches, we are confident that we have made the

right selection. With one large and 14 days to go, barring injury or a

dramatic loss of form, we now know who will be rain for Great Britain

at Dorney Lake. Tim Dellor with that report.

Elsewhere, the cricket season starts tomorrow, and Sussex have an

away game against rivals Surrey. The Hove side, who last won the

title in 2007, finished fifth in the table last season. But they

will begin their campaign without wicket keeper Matt Prior and

spinner Monty Panesar, who are both on international duty with England.

The key thing is we will have to use a full squad. We have to use

every one. Everyone has played and performed for the first team, so

that is always pleasing. In football, Crawley have stripped

Pablo Mills of the club's captaincy over his role in last week's brawl

at Bradford. The 27-year-old defender and teamates Claude Davis

and Kyle McFadzean have also been fined two weeks' wages following

the ugly scenes at the end of the League Two match.

The Pompey Supporters Trust has revealed that hundreds of fans have

registered to buy shares in the club over the last five days. The

Trust needs to raise �8 million, and shares are available in �1,000

multiples. Hundreds may have signed up, but the Trust needs thousands

more to make the scheme a success. It's hoped the numbers will build

Now we will find out more about the Titanic. It is 100 years ago today

that the Titanic arrived in Southampton from Belfast. More than

1,000 passengers and crew died when she had an iceberg, and sank on her

maiden voyage. In the second of special reports, Tom looks at Sir

Arthur Rostron, the captain of the Carpathia, which rescued more than

700 people. This is the story of a hero. It is

a story Alison Gray grew up with. It is the story of a quiet,

unassuming family man who did his duty. If he had not done what he

did that night, people would not have survived. Arthur Rostron was

captain of the Carpathia. After midnight, the ship's wireless

operator was preparing to go to bed. He was on tying his shoelaces while

wearing his headset when he picked up a distress call from the Titanic.

We have struck price, come at once. Speaking in 1957, Harold Cottam

told the BBC what happened next. knocked on the captain's cabin. I

rushed in when I saw Allied. He said, who the hell?! I said, the

Titanic has struck ice and she is in distress. He said, give it to me,

and put a dressing-down on and left. The Carpathia was 60 miles away.

Arthur Rostron turned her around, and set off at full speed into

those strictures, rising waters. Cath -- captain Rostron ordered

necessities. Canvas ash bags were place near the gangways to haul up

children and the injured. An extra watch went to work in the engine

room. They knew that speed was of the essence. The Carpathia arrived

just under two hours after the Titanic sank. More than 700 people

were rescued. Tremendously proud. Not many people can have a member

of the family who has done this feat. He said, it was not me, it

was the hand of God guided me that night. He was a religious man as

well. Captain Rostron was showered with awards. He retired in 1931,

and lived in this house in west then there Southampton. But he took

a little bit of the sea with him. Follow me. He has left it marks a

met, principally this bay window we are end, which was not originally

to the house. He had it belts in the hope of making it through the

bridge of one of his ships, and if we look out the window, we can see

there is a power they ship and the garden rolls away like rolling

waves. Steve and Johnson brought this house because it belonged to

Sir Arthur Rostron. Next week, it will get a blue plaque. Do you fill

his ghost in a house? Sometimes, especially in this room. I like to

feel he is looking down on us sometimes. So are the rostrum died

of pneumonia in 1940. His grave is still tended, and beat Western

historical Society pays tribute to his bravery. We are proud he chose

to live in the West End, and the mix all the difference. He chose

us! People travel from all over the world to visit this little museum

only open on a Saturday. It is fitting that the captain's memory

is being kept alive in the old fire station. The crews saved camera

slides over the years, and now, it tells the story of one of the most

courageous rescued in history. There will be a short service, and

wreaths will be laid at Sir Arthur's grave, at the old burial

ground in a West End, on the Sunday after next at 11am. Nearly 600

people from Southampton were lost. It went -- it hit one family

particularly hard. Tom will have their story tomorrow night for you.

Can I mentioned we have a special programme, South Today, coming from

DC city museum, it opening on Tuesday next, after the Easter

weekend. We will be there light on We are not getting a snow, are we?

Not as we have see up. Just above 200 metres. A touch of it. But

200 metres. A touch of it. But nothing too dramatic. This is one

of my favourite views. The wind near Basingstoke. The sheep grazing

in Dorset had a very different view in Dorset had a very different view

in Dorset had a very different view Huge variation in our temperatures.

Tonight, that patchy rain with some sleep. That'll be only for some

places. For many of us, it will stay as rain. That or bring us a

little bit of patchy rain by the end of the night. It will be

fragmented, a little but they have rain for higher ground. Perhaps

even some snow. Temperatures - three Celsius. A cloudy, grey

beginning, but it should be dry. Today, that cloud should break-up

to give us sunshine. Better than today. The winds a fairly strong

tonight, but on Thursday, they will ease. As we head towards the

evening, a ridge of high pressure will give us clearing skies. A

widespread frost. Him temperatures down to freezing. In the

countryside, minus two Celsius. A very chilly, a frosty start on Good

Friday. It will be dry on the day as well. Through this evening, some

patchy rain, which gives Saturday a grey beginning. But it will be the

best of a lot - want Easter, the winds ball beat breezy. There would

be a lot of cloud. By Sunday, we are expecting rain. So, it is

looking like we will see some sunshine, although mainly very

cloudy throughout the weekend with some rain by the end of Sunday.

Further outbreaks on Monday as well. It will be dry and bright on

Thursday. Cloudy but dry on Sunday, Thursday. Cloudy but dry on Sunday,

and rainy. Of course, it's a big year for the

Queen as she celebrates her Diamond Jubilee. And we'd like to hear from

you if you've met the Queen or if you have any footage of one of her

many visits to the region. Here's some pictures we found from 1962

Do you recognise yourself in this film? Perhaps you are Pat Reynolds,

or maybe you know her? If so, we'd like to hear from you. We'd also