04/07/2014 South Today

When you're next to it, is ht impressive?

She is absolutely cold sore. Almost 1000 feet long. `` colossal. The new

ship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, hs three times bigger than HMS illustrious.

Building the ship has been ` gigantic task, involving people

right around the country. That includes many on the south coast.

Today's naming ceremony was a big event. It was a special cerdmony for

a special ship. Prime Minister was among the guests. The country's

largest ever worship was christened by the Queen. I name this ship Queen

Elizabeth. May God bless her and all who sail in her. For the sahlors

already serving on the carrher, it was a ceremony they will always

remember. It is a privilege to be part of this. It is a

once`in`a`lifetime chance. Ht is a massive project. To be part of it,

I'm very proud. This is the first aircraft carrier we have had any

long time so to be able to do this is a big thing. Already, thd ship's

first captain has been appohnted. He says this ship will be the jewel in

the crown of the UK's milit`ry assets. The Queen Elizabeth coming

into service underlined the importance of maritime history and

strategy and where we must go to ensure our security at home and to

promote and protect our intdrests around the world. The new ahrcraft

carrier is now structurally complete but on`board there is still much to

do to get her ready for her first the trials.

Portsmouth's future as a naval base is bound up with this first carrier

` and parts of the second c`rrier are currently under construction

there. So what was the reaction in what will become HMS Queen

Elizabeth's home port? Frankie Peck is there now.

In just over two and a half years' time, HMS Queen Elizabeth whll enter

the Solent and come to Portsmouth harbour for the first time.

Portsmouth is proud of its naval maritime history and tradithons But

it has been tarnished by job losses in the city. Earlier today, I went

with the people of Portsmouth to take a look. In pro today for

Portsmouth. Hundreds of people turned out to watch the namhng

ceremony, being shown live hn the historic dockyard. Next door, HMS

victory, a reminder of how far the Navy's flagships have developed We

have used our strengths to the best of our ability and I am protd that

we can look at that ship today and think about what it will me`n for

people from Portsmouth and Southampton. Large sections of the

carrier were built in the chty. But with work in the shipyard coming to

an end this summer, the pride of Portsmouth's involvement has been

offset by the loss of 1100 jobs The announcement was made on a dreary

day last November. It is a bittersweet moment. We are

celebrating today but there is a lot of disappointment that people will

be leaving shipbuilding in Portsmouth. That will be thd end of

500 years of building ships. And all question has been brought forward,

should shipbuilding leave Portsmouth? We would very mtch like

to see it kept in Portsmouth. Our students remain in Portsmouth all of

their lives so it is not good for us. A lot of people will lose their

jobs. Hears ex`Navy, so when he was in Portsmouth it was a thriving

naval time. Of course, now ht is nearly all gone. It is good that we

keep up and help around the UK with ship holding. It was a diffdrent

picture six years ago when the contracts were signed in Portsmouth

for the Navy's new aircraft carriers. Portsmouth was getting big

orders for the shipyard. Now, after a turbulent year, Portsmouth is

looking to the future to secure as many jobs as possible looking after

the new chips. `` ships. Wh`t happens next? The next step is for

HMS Queen Elizabeth to get her bottom wet for the first tile when

she is floated out of this dnormous drydock. Then they will completely

fit out the inside and she should arrive in Portsmouth in the early

part of 2017. What about thd second carrier? Large parts of the second

carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, are already here. Those giant blocks

will be moved into this drydock which is currently occupied by HMS

Queen Elizabeth. HMS Prince of Wales will be identical to this ship

behind me. What is the latest on the aircraft deal? There are hints that

the Government is close to ordering the first jets. That may happen in

the next few weeks. We may see that at the Fairford air show or at

Farnborough. You have followed the story from the beginning. How would

you assess the importance of today? It is hugely significant th`t this

project went through a roller`coaster of decision`laking.

Eventually, they decided to go ahead. This ship will be in service

for 50 years. At the Navy s`ys, the last captain of this ship h`s not

yet been born. Thank you very much. He survived the 9/11 terror attacks

in New York. But Courtenay @llan, from Hampshire, was to die `lmost

two years later while at work off the French coast. Today, his family

have spoken of their relief after the Chinese company he was working

for, was convicted of corporate manslaughter. It marks the dnd of

their eleven year fight for justice. We made a pact we would leave no

stone unturned and we could not rest our heads until we got to the truth.

And your fight for their father Courtenay Allan on board thhs cargo

ship in July 2003. He fell 60 feet down a lift shaft after circuits

were rewired to overwrite the safety mechanism. The company who owned the

ship has been motto "we takd it personally". That is somethhng Mr

Alan's sons can identify with. It has taken more than a decadd to

uncover who was responsible. It was an English person in French water on

the Chinese owned ship soap was always going to be compensated. We

had to push as hard as we c`n. The company have unfortunately put

roadblocks in our way. They tried to wear us down. A French court has

ruled that Courtenay Allan's death was corporate manslaughter `nd the

company have been fined 50,000 euros. Getting this judgement has

cost the family much more. We spent the last 11 years learning lift

mechanics and electronics. So we could actually understand what

happened and pinpoint what happened. Courtenay Allan worked for the

company for 37 years, mainlx from here in Southampton. Tragic`lly his

death happened just two years after he was a survivor of the 910 terror

attacks in New York. In a statement, the company said the

closure of this long`running matter would be in the best interests of

all concerned. Very bittersweet but we can hold our heads up high

because we have done things in a dignified manner, as our father

would expect us to. Ben is now bringing up his own family. This

grandson that Courtenay All`n never met. There is a chance this case

will go to appeal but because of the pact they made, the brothers will

continue to fight in their father's memory.

The inquest into a former Royal Navy sailor who died after drinkhng a

bottle of fruit juice he did not know had been laced with cocaine,

has been adjourned. His famhly wants the coroner to call a jury to

consider the case. Lawyers for relatives of Jerome Lewis s`y

because he was working to hdlp shift a consignment of the importdd drink,

the law says his death should be examined by a jury. They also want

the woman who had asked Mr Lewis for his help moving the bottles at a

Southampton shipping firm to be called to give her evidence in

A woman was rescued from a burning car by a passing motorist after she

crashed in West Sussex. The collision happened shortly before

midnight in Common Hill, West Chiltington. It's been reported that

the driver of the car was dragged to safety by a member of the ptblic,

before the emergency servicds arrived. She sustained a cut to her

Still to come in this evening's South Today: the family fight for a

medal ` sibling rivalry at the Commonwealth Games.

Concerns have been raised about safety standards on a level crossing

in Poole. Network Rail says the pedestrianised High Street has by

far the highest risk crossing in the region. But despite the inchdent

rate, there are no plans to change it. Nor is it on the list of level

crossings to be closed. Paul Clifton reports.

25,000 April a day walk across the railway here. You do not have to

watch for a long to spot people racing the following barriers. ``

people. This is the highest risk crossing in the region. Warning

signs are clear and, for people in a hurry, there is a bridge. The

crossing is controlled by CCTV cameras. There is plenty of footage

like this. It is monitored by a signalman 60 miles away in

Basingstoke. Not an easy task. Network Rail would be happy to close

it given the high risk of the crossing, however, it would not be

feasible without an access for all the rich and would involve

compulsory purchase and a htge time redevelopment. This woman works in

the High Street and was caught last month between closed barriers. The

metal piece of the Gateshead to be on the neck. I carried on and looked

back and a lady with a pushchair was stuck on the white part of the date.

Some zero dragged her out. Recent incidents include people

deliberately lifting the barriers, drunks playing chicken with the

trains and a motorised wheelchair which got stuck on the tracks. It is

our highest area of risk on the railway. We do not have unddr

percent control of it. We rdly on members of the public to listen to

warnings and understand risks and take them seriously. Network Rail

has closed 800 crossings in five years. It plans to close 500 more.

But here, Network Rail says there is little more it can do. People will

be red traffic lights, it s`ys, so why do they not obey the red lights

at level crossings? Now let's get the sport.

The Fletcher family have bedn part of the furniture at Pinewood judo

club in Berkshire for gener`tions. In Glasgow, two siblings will be

going for gold, in the latest of our Commonwealth Games profiles I've

been to meet Ben and Megan Fletcher` on the judo mat.

Judo returns to the Commonwdalth Games in Glasgow and these two

siblings are ready to go for glory. Then and Megan Fletcher havd judo in

their blood. In the latest of a long line of stars to emerge frol the

Pinewood judo club in Berkshire Then is 22 and a recent gold

medallist. His sister, Megan, funds are training by working part`time.

Then competes in the under 000 kilo class and Megan in the under 70s.

The pair bounce off each other while on the roads during competitions.

Being family helps. It is great Especially more recently as we are

going away together it is good to have someone, obviously all your

team`mates are with you, but I never get as nervous with anybody else. If

somebody is also a good judo player and goes away with you and watches

how you fight, it is like lhving with your coach, almost. Thhs club

has produced champions like this one in 1992. Overseeing them was the

club sends a until his death earlier this year. `` teacher. He w`s a man

of not many words. There was a lot of stuff we did at the club that is

ingrained in you as a Pinewood player. He always expected xou to do

your best and train hard. Those are the things ingrained in you. He

didn't need to say anything. He would be proud of us. They light not

say it, but he would be protd and want us to do well and reprdsent the

club. The siblings are aiming high in Glasgow. I want to be on the top

the podium and it will not be easy. But I believe I can do it. We both

could. We could both get medals Very good luck to them.

Southampton have turned down an offer from Liverpool for defender

Dejan Lovren. The offer falls well short of the 20 million pounds which

has been reported. Meanwhild Saints fans were handed a small boost today

amid unsettling times the tdam unveiled its new first team shirt

today, which revealed a rettrn to the traditional red and white

striped shirt design. Jay Rodriguez, James Ward`Prowse and Jose Fonte

were chosen to model the shhrts which go on sale on the 19th July.

They respect elation that C`llum Wilson might move a step closer

Three T20 games are in play now including Sussex, Surrey and

Hampshire. Follow them on local radio. Meanwhile Michael Carberry

has signed a new three year contract extension at Hampshire. The 33 year

old has committed his futurd at the Ageas Bowl until 2017 and s`id he

hopes to add more silverward to his collection of achievements `t the

county. Hampshire said they were delighted Carberry would be around

Mention the artist Vincent Van Gogh and you'll probably think of

sunflowers and the French countryside, but probably not

Reading. In a roundabout wax, though, the town may have granted

one of the artist's last wishes With his talents largely

unrecognised, just before hhs death in 1890, Van Gogh said he w`nted to

see his work hung in a cafe. Fast forward 124 years and that's what

happened to a painting thought to be by Van Gogh. Nikki Mitchell has the

With little pomp and ceremony, what we are told is Bangkok's hotses is

hung on the wall of a humbld cafe. `` Vincent van Gogh. It is `n

incredible thing to happen here It is great to see these great works of

art. This display is alreadx proving controversial as the painting is

part of a huge private colldction and has yet to be authentic`ted The

owner says it was bought by his great`grandfather in the 1920s and

is adamant it is genuine. Hd hopes it will hang in a permanent gallery

when premises can be found. We have been trying to enhance what the town

can offer in terms of art. Ht is bringing my family collection to the

time. Even with the painting close enough to touch, no one day. It is

an unusual situation to sit with the copy next to the painting. Such a

big artist and four to be jtst across the road from my own artwork

is amazing. This morning's breakfast with a van Gogh mark the beginning

of the Festival opener at. We are filling open space with arthsts

People don't often see at. Sadly, this painting has had to be locked

away again to keep it safe. Amazing. Good to a cafe and see a

van Gogh. Onto the weather. Goodbye warmth, hello rain. Good for

farmers. Seagulls in the sunshine at Milford

on Sea, by Suzanne O'Connell. We're already seeing rain in some

western parts. That will spread its weak Easter. It could be he`vy at

times. `` eastwards. We will see some

the showers but there will be some heavy showers. Tomorrow night, it

turns quiet and the showers will die away. It will be a lot cooldr

MUSIC PLAYS sleeping. Sunday is

MUSIC PLAYS It is our 40th year. We are proud we

can claim the title of the longest`running speed arts festival

in the UK. `` Street. We have people from all over the world comhng to

perform here this weekend in Winchester. You do not have to pay a

penny! I love a Hat Fair. There is so much going on there. Go to

Winchester and fine out! Th`t is all from us. Have a great weekend. Good

night.