08/10/2013 South Today

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

programme... Shock on the island as the man

behind the Ecoisland company is found dead at home.

Banking in Bavaria — what the Germans can teach us about local

banking and supporting a community. In a small town, a bank must be

friendly. When convenience calls — cafes let

customers use their toilets even if they aren't spending a penny.

From handbags to hit man — the musical that charts murder at the

Gucci fashion house. David Green, the founder of the Ecoisland company

has been found dead at his home on the Isle of Wight. The organisation

was set up to make the island energy self sufficient, but last week the

company went into voluntary liquidation. Hampshire Police have

confirmed that Mr Green was arrested on suspicion of fraud last Thursday.

His death has shocked many on the Island. Our Home Affairs

Correspondent, Alex Forsyth, has been following developments and

joins me now. Mr Green had a vision to make the

Isle of Wight a flagship of sustainability, using green

technology like solar panels and a biomass plant to deliver power. He

founded a community interest company to deliver this project — Ecoisland

— but it ran into financial problems and last week went into voluntary

liquidation. Today police said Mr Green has been found dead at his

home in Gurnard on the Isle of Wight. A postmortem is due to be

carried out, but his death is not being treated as suspicious.

There was a police investigation following the liquidation of

Ecoisland. What more do we know about that?

The Isle of Wight council said last week it appeared approximately

£115,000 of government funding for the Ecoisland project is unaccounted

for and referred the matter to police. Hampshire Police have

confirmed Mr Green was arrested last Thursday on suspicion of fraud. Now

he has been found dead and the police have, as is standard,

referred themselves to the IPCC, the police watchdog, who will examine

events surrounding his death. What's been the initial reaction?

Clearly there are some questions around financial elements of the

Ecoisland project, likely to be answered in time, but right now the

overwhelming response from people on the Island is one of shock and

sadness. On internet sites like the On the Wight blog and Facebook,

people are talking about Mr Green's kindness and commitment to the

Island. He was a local man who before Ecoisland was involved in a

sailing charity based in Cowes for 20 years. Many, including the

Island's MP Andrew White, are saying this is a sad day and that thoughts

are very much with his friends and family. They have paid tribute to

him and offered their condolences. Thank you very much. An inquest in

Dorset has decided that the poor condition of a fishing boat

contributed to its sudden sinking and the deaths of its three crew.

The Purbeck Isle went down off Portland in May last year and today

experts catalogued a string of faults with the vessel, which

included a rotting hull and overloading. The jury ruled that the

deaths were an accident. James Ingham reports.

This was a tragedy that every fishing town dreads, three men

losing their lives on a boat which had been working the waters off

Weymouth for years. But as the inquest in Dorchester heard, it was

the state of that board that contributed to their deaths.

The Purbeck Isle set out on what should have been an ordinary day at

sea. Its crew were moving parts from

winter fishing grounds nearshore to deeper water. Skipper David

McFarlane and his two crew members, Jack Craig and Robert Prowse died

when they were laying pots as the boat sank. Jason Scorer's body has

never been found. Today, the families —— Robert Prowse's family

was never found. Today the families were in court to hear that the board

was in a poor condition and heavily loaded. The Marine Accident

Investigation Branch said parts of the wooden hull were rotted. A

liferaft had been stored incorrectly so it did not automatically inflate

as intended. When the Purbeck Isle sank quickly, the crew stood little

chance of surviving. The accident shocked the tight—knit fishing

community in Weymouth, where the crew were well—known and liked.

Other fishermen are determined to avoid that a tragedy happening

again. We have a lot to learn from this report. I think the industry

has to move forward with better health and safety requirements. It

will upset a lot of people, but if every boat that sets seal comes back

at the end of the day with everyone on board, that is a better job

done. The coroner expressed his sympathies as the jury ruled that

the young men died as a result of a tragic accident.

There were strong emotions in court today as the verdict was read out.

The grandfather of one of the crewmen shouted out that if the boat

had not been at sea then his grandson would still be alive. But

no one has been blamed for this accident, so the best that he and

other family members can hope for is that safety at sea improves as a

result of their deaths. James, thank you.

A new community bank for Hampshire could be opening its doors within

two years. The ambition is to lend money locally to those who need it

and offer a better service than its high street rivals. The UK used to

have local banks but they were lost. They still exists in Germany. ——

they still exist in Germany. Our Business Correspondent, Alastair

Fee, has been to Bavaria with one of the people leading the charge for

new local banks, Southampton University's Professor of Banking,

Richard Werner, to see how they work.

These German businesses have one thing in common — bank they can

trust. In a small town, a bank must be friendly. I think you can really

rely on the bank. This is lower Bavaria, where the beers are bigger

and the economy is strong. Richard Weller, professor of banking at

Southampton University grew up here. —— Richard Werner. These are not for

profit banks that lend locally. During the recession the increased

lending. Germany has a network of local banks built on relationships

with people. We know our customers and they know

as personally, we know the business, we know their history and Fino

hours. This is our success. —— and a zero

hours. Beer has put Bavaria on the map.

This is one of the biggest employers.

For generations, the Count's family has built a relationship with the

bank to ensure a steady flow of money. In the last few years when we

needed money quickly it was no problem to ask our bank,

Raiffeisenbank, to get the money quickly. They knew the family, they

knew the character, they are very conservative and that is why we

could get it without a problem. From start—up to local employer it took

two days for this delegation to get the money needed to go. He is

employing local employees, so everyone is benefiting. You think

this type of business here would have received the same support in

the UK? I think it is clear it would not have.

The Sparkasse Landau are the most well—known of local banks come up

ranch in almost every town and village. —— a branch in almost every

turn. When the big banks stopped lending,

they even increased their lending at that time. During the crisis, we

forced the credit in this time and our business customers could

continue to work. They could invest, there was no trouble. And

the money was available for all, no matter how small the business. I

have a friend on the other side. He helped me. He understands me he is

not a gangster. Banking is actually very simple and the ingredients are

all there in the UK. You just need to set up these local banks that

offer credit for local communities. It seems the Germans have more

reason to celebrate than most Europeans, and it is tradition that

has got them where they are today. This has been going on for

generations and, just like it, the beer is still flowing and the banks

in the towns are still lending. Alistair enjoying his beer there.

Years now in the studio. We've just seen how the local banking network

supports small business. What about customers like you or I?

Today I received an email from Pauline who lives in Northern

Germany, who told me how it works for her. She has an account with her

local Sparkasse bank. As a private customer it's the level of personal

service that appears to be the real strength for her. That means a

representative can be phoned or emailed directly, and customers get

a quick response. Also the attitude to personal debt in Germany is

interesting. Borrowing is much different. The use of credit cards

is much lower, and those bills tend to be fully cleared every month. Of

course, over the credit card bills can roll from month.

Of course, Germany also has big national banks — how do these banks

fit in? —— over here. There are big banks like Deutcherbank and

Commerzbank, but these tend to have much bigger customers, like the big

energy companies and major industrial firms in Germany.

So it's a different focus, which is why the local banks have had such

success. It is important to remember that those big banks in Germany

reduced lending during the downturn, just like they did here, while the

small banks increased their loans. What hurdles would a similar network

of banks here face? That challenge here would be

building up that trust between bank and customer that we saw in Germany

and initially would be missing for a new local bank in Hampshire.

Politicians across all the parties are interested in this subject. Of

course, it is Labour who say they would actively looked at

reintroducing a network of regional banks, should they get into power.

Thank you very much. Still to come in this evening's South Today...

She's paralysed from the shoulders down and training to raise money for

a spinal injuries charity. A man has been jailed for life for the murder

of a mother of three from Berkshire. She was found strangled

in Robin Hood cops on June the 3rd. She was a Nepalese national whose

husband was part of the Royal Gurkha Rifles regiment. Today, 30—year—old

Glen John Elson from the area pleaded guilty to murder and

attempted rape. Vandals are thought to have caused

£6—700,000 worth of damage, writing off three light aircraft that were

rammed repeatedly with a stolen 4x4. Joe Campbell reports. Former British

Airways jumbo jet pilot Peter Ford was removing anything of value that

remained in his pride and joy — this vintage 1950s Cessna aeroplane as it

was vandalised overnight. The aim was obviously right. They came with

a four—wheel drive, pushed the aircraft into the back of the barn

here and then came again and, as you can see, this wing strut which keeps

the wing on normally, has completely broken and snapped the wing off,

then pushed it further into the building, which the wing tip in. It

is a write—off. Other pilots were today dropping in to see the damage

and offer sympathy to beat and the owners of the other two planes

smashed up here. Staff here on the estate were

alerted shortly before 7am this morning. After reports that a number

of animals had escaped onto the nearby Afour. When the team to

investigate, they found a gate had been forced open and further down

the track on the airfield they found this.

We're pretty sure they were in after hours after us —— after here is, not

just coursing but driving the animals over, running them over.

That is what it started as and it has turned into this damage we have

here. 29—year—old man is tonight under arrest in Abingdon after being

detained by Valley police. A bit of a personal question for

you. How many times have you been caught

short when out and about, only to be told your not allowed to use a pub,

or a shop's toilet because you're not a paying customer? In

Portsmouth, many premises are opening up their loos to all and

sundry. It is part of a scheme to make up for the closure of

council—run toilets to save money. Rob Powell has more.

Welcome to the people's pretty. This is a community toilet inside a

Southsea cafe, but anyone can use it, not just paying customers. It is

good for us, they come in and use the toilet, they will usually buy

your drink something, take a can or whatever, but even if they don't, it

is fine. It is good to have the community with all the toilets

shouting. 12 of these community toilets have opened in Portsmouth

and they all have this sign in the window. Community toilets are part

of the council pushed to save money on spending a penny. 12 facilities

across the community will close, 12 and stay open and two will start

charging 20p a visit. The council say it will shave 20,000 bones of

the public toilet budget but not everyone is happy. We used to sit

here and people come here all day long trying to get into those

toilets. I see men at my age who need the toilet. I think it will get

people started to weep behind trees and do things anywhere, because

there are no toilets. I am not concerned, but with baby changing

iamb, sometimes you have to — in there. If it means paying 20p and

getting a clean toilet it better than having them not closed down.

But the council says some closures are unavoidable. The council cannot

afford all the services we had in the past but what we can do is to

work with those other places, shops, pubs, community centres, that

are happy for people to use their toilets. The hope is that more

businesses will join the community toilet scheme, saving the council a

pretty penny in the process. Not related to that, here is Tony

husband, fresh from his holiday. From pilots to sport!

I got a text saying we are in the championship! We have had such a

good end to the season. Few would bet

it is all set up beautifully here at Wimborne Road.

The fans might not have lifted a trophy for a change last night, but

they may have seen the pivotal race at this grand final. Signs of nerves

were unsure even in heat one. Jason Doyle burst through the tapes and

eliminated from the race. It in a bold pool to set out into an early

lead from which they would never be caught. —— it enabled Poole. Greg

Hancock as wowed speedway fans over the years. The advantage reached 14

point after seven heats, when Birmingham rider Dani Keane turned

over. The experience of Hancock in the Poole line—up is confident it by

these daredevil spirit of Darcy Ward, providing a maximum return on

the night. Poole rammed home the advantage late on, a final score of

57—36 giving them a huge lead going into next Monday's second leg. They

are odds—on for what would have been considered as a prized title win

earlier in the season. Yes, all being well I will go up to

Birmingham next Monday for the second leg. Good luck to the Isle of

Wight riders as they raced the second league of their —— second leg

of their national league knockout Kofi on the island. They have to

overcome a ten point deficit against the Suffolk side Mildenhall Fen

Tigers. Portsmouth and Oxford do battle

tonight in the latest round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. BBC Radio

Oxford and Radio Solent will have live commentary. Swindon and MK dons

in action as well. Kris will be here with the goals tomorrow night.

Another of Britain's Olympic sailing pairs have announced they are to end

their partnership on the water. Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes

finished fifth at the Olympic Games in London in the 49er class. They

have decided not to pursue a place in Rio and will concentrate on high

performance sailing. The pinnacle of their career together was winning

the World Championships in 2007. Time is running out if you want to

nominate someone for this year's BBC South Sports Unsung Hero award. This

is the prize which recognises a person or a pair who have made a

special contribution to sport in our region. A contribution which sees

them go the extra mile to help people in communities and sports

clubs. The winner goes into the running for the national award at

the BBC Sports personality show in december.

running for the national award at the For more details go online to

bbc.co.uk/unsunghero, where you can download a nomination form. If you

don't have internet access there is a phone number you can ring to have

one posted. It is 0845 308 8000. We have had some fantastic unsung

heroes over the years and I am sure we will find another one this year.

Let us hope so. Jan Crispin was left paralysed from

the shoulders down after she broke her neck in a car crash in 2010. Now

Jan, from Winchester, is in training for a sponsored swim to raise money

for the Southern Spinal Injuries Trust. It funded the spinal unit

that cared for her for six months after the accident.

Jan's aiming to swim a mile and a half — a big challenge with her

limited movement. Frankie Peck went to meet her at her training.

I love being in the water, it is the closest I can get to flying, really,

because it is the only time I don't have someone or something touching

me. Every Monday evening, Jan comes to this hydro sped —— hydrotherapy

spy, but her efforts to strengthen her models are being used to give

something back to the charity she says saved her life. I want to try

and raise money for the trust and also come if I can, raise a bit of

awareness about spinal injuries and what a devastating injury it is that

can really happen to anyone, you know, in a split second. Jan

suffered life changing injuries in a car crash on the A303, three years

ago. I broke my neck in two places and I had a fracture of the hip. I

broke several ribs and had a collapsed lung and I broke my left

wrist, as well. With no movement in her hands, legs or torso, every

stroke is an achievement. Jan is able to do around 115 eight —— she

was able to do 115 lengths per hour, no she is up to 160. Although the

training is going well, I won and a half—mile swim will push Jan to her

limits. She needs to do 200 lengths, so it will be an extra 40 in a

similar space of time, so she will have to work really hard. For name

—— Jan all the hard work is about to pay off as she is well on her way of

reaching her goal. And very Best of luck, Jan.

Evita, Les Miserables and Fiddler on the Roof. They are famous musicals

which were inspired by real events. There may soon be another to add to

the list — a production based on the contract killing of the head of a

powerful Italian family. Its not the Mafia but the Gucci fashion house

and the 1995 murder of Maurizio Gucci arranged by his ex—wife.

There's a premiere of the work this weekend in London and it's by

Hampshire composer Marcos D'Cruze, who joins me now.

We have a glamorous couple, divorce, hit man, murder, a psychic adviser —

it is all there, but how did you find out about the story? I had a

very good friend who said to me, you are standing on the spot where

Maurizio Gucci was shot. I said, you are confused, that is verse actually

in Miami. He said, no, right here, I googled it, formed by co—writer and

said, I have a great idea for a musical. The murder of Maurizio

Gucci. He said that is either the best idea I have heard or the worst.

Here we are. It has all the drama of what I would say is an opera. Yes,

old school. It is of the —— female Othello, Carmen, all those great

stories and it was a great opportunity to write some passionate

music. You have is composed some music, haven't you? That is my take,

Flamenco is my job and I wrote most of it on the guitar. We should say

US is using a net, you are not singing in it, are you? You have the

stars doing that. Let's listen and see what this is all about.

Oh, Mrs Gucci. You excelled as Mrs Gucci you amazed

us all. Oh, Mrs Gucci.

How you blazed, Mrs Gucci. We are just waiting for the sound.

View crashing the ground. A little taste of it there. It is

interesting how you raised the money for this, you did what we called

crowdfunding. How did this work? We developed the platform that we

raised the money on. We have done everything from the ground. It was

done at a studio was that was a converted tractor shed. We rehearsed

the whole thing there. The crowdfunding idea is that people

give money because they like the idea and presumably they will get a

ticket to the event? They have is that, but then we also have some

very gifted actors who have a fan following. Julia Thurston, who plays

Patricia, brings a fan base. It is because of the loyal followers be

managed to attract people. We should explain that on Sunday it is a

concert, not a musical. You are hoping for something big from this

concert, ardent you? What we want to be able to do is present the show

and its best form, and that is a concert at the moment because we

don't have the budget for a full—blown production. We would like

a producer to come along. An impresario.

Do you think you will get someone on Sunday?

I don't know about Sunday, but we already have people sniffing.

We have someone on Broadway and someone on the West End. I cannot

say, but they are there already. We are talking millions of pounds, are

we not? Millions. Fingers crossed we could

see Mrs Gucci. Thank you for coming. We can tell you very quickly it will

be premiered on Sunday at the arts Theatre in London. Good luck with

that. We might go to the West End! Onto the weather, Alexis is here.

It has been lovely to be. Yes, the last of the warm weather

today. We have some pictures for you. Toadstools photographed on

Chapel Common in West Sussex by David Kimberlin—Wyer.

Susie Gouveia captured Poole Grammar School playing fields in the fog

this morning. Susie Gouveia captured Poole Grammar

School playing fields in I cannot even see the playing fields!

And Raymond Slack took this photo of Bembridge life boat station on the

Isle of Wight under the sunny skies. We have been spoiled with the

temperatures recently but today is the last of the one temperatures

before the slide back to the seasonal average. We will see patchy

rain tonight, showers or rein in the initial forecast but it will become

drier through the second part of the night with clear spells, as well.

Temperatures will fall to around 12 or 13 Celsius, the last of the mild

nights to come. Tomorrow we may see showers initially in amongst sunny

spells, the best of any brightness during the morning before the cloud

increases in the afternoon. Temperatures will only rise to

around 15 or 16 Celsius. These are average temperatures for the time of

year, a three or four degrees drop on today where we saw a high of 20

Celsius. A dry end tomorrow afternoon but tomorrow evening there

could be some showers at times before it becomes dry with clear

spells overnight tomorrow night. That will allow temperatures to

follow rapidly. A plunging temperatures, five or eight Celsius

below, temperatures may be in the countryside dropping to around three

or four Celsius. —— 548 Celsius is the law. There is a risk of some

pockets of frost but the wind should keep that I'd be in most places.

High pressure is in charge at the moment and the wind school clockwise

around high pressure. That means they are coming from the North

Thursday onwards, called air, the squeeze on the isobars meaning the

winds will be brisk, as well. —— Calder air. You can see the winds on

this chart, temperatures up to 14 Celsius on Friday, dry until the end

of the day when rain creeps in from the near continent. A little

uncertainty about the rain, it may last through Saturday and Sunday and

with it the winds will be brisk. Stay tuned for the forecast latest

it should stay dry over the next few days, Calder on Thursday.

We have a sneak preview tomorrow are some extraordinary artefacts that

have been uncovered out of an Elizabethan house showing life on

the property in the 1920s and 1930s. Be with us tomorrow for that at

6:30pm, that is it for us this evening. More at 8pm and 10:25pm.