17/05/2012 Spotlight

Ready to fly the Olympic flame to Cornwall as police here prepare for

their biggest security operation since the eclipse. Could evening.

Hundreds of officers will be involved in a shrink the flames

journey across the region goes smoothly. Also... Day one of the

Devon County Show, there has been an announcement of millions of

pounds of financial help for farmers on Dartmoor. And we will

bring you a real flavour of this fabulous show, where it appears

record numbers have come through the gates. The biggest policing

operation in more than a decade is about to get underway in the south

west, ready for the arrival of the Olympic flame. Hundreds of officers

have been drafted in with a series of high-tech control centres set up

along the torch's route. The operation is the culmination of

almost a year's planning. It's been compared with that used for the

total eclipse of 1999. Simon Hall has been given access to the

preparations for this weekend as the torch passes through Cornwall

and Devon. It's not just a focus upon flames which link the total

eclipse and the operation to police the passage of the Olympic torch

through Devon and Cornwall. The police say they're similar in scale,

in terms of the planning and resources required. The major

incident plan, or Silver Command, will run over the whole of this

weekend. It'll be coordinated from three centres as the flame makes

its journey. County Hall in Truro, Crownhill Police Station in

Plymouth and Heavitree Road Police Station in Exeter. 200 officers

will be drafted in. The police will have their helicopter and armed

units on standby, although there's no intelligence of any potential

attack and the focus will be on low-key, community policing. It is

certainly about being prepared and having resources available but it

is about working with committees. There are people holding and

running with the torch and this is the biggest thing that has happened

for them and my job is to make sure that moment of glory can really

shine and they can enjoy the occasion without being frustrated

with somebody with as single purpose in mind. This is the

command centre. At the weekend all the seats will be full, emergency

services, council officials and others monitoring the progress of

the Olympic flame and ready to react in seconds, should there be

any problems. It's the culmination of nine months of planning, the

setting up of a taskforce and the involvement of around 500 people.

For me, it is amazing, absolutely fantastic and I really hope it is a

wonderful day for everybody. It is a wonderful experience for me and

everybody who has been working with me and it really is going to be a

superb, one of opportunity. It is a privilege to be able to participate

in the planning. Yes, very pleased to be involved. The British

delegation has taken custody of the Olympic flame. It'll arrive in

Cornwall tomorrow. That gives the south west a unique opportunity on

the world stage. But it also presents a unique pressure for

those tasked with making sure the event runs smoothly. The Olympic

organising committee has had an 11th hour change of heart over the

way in which the torch will cross the Tamar Bridge. The flame was due

to be carried across the bridge in a vehicle rather than in the hands

of a torchbearer. Now, LOCOG has decided to bow to local pressure

after a report on BBC Radio Cornwall and Spotlight and allow

the runners to carry it across the bridge. A teenager from Cornwall

has been talking about her pride at being chosen to represent Cornwall

at the Olympic Torch handover ceremony in Athens. Georgia Higgs,

who's 15 and from Helston College, is one of five young people who

have joined dignitaries including the Princess Royal and Sebastian

Coe and the London 2012 Ambassador, David Beckham, at the ceremony in

Greece. They're due to fly from Athens to RNAS Culdrose tomorrow

evening. A decision on her to be chosen and be here, it is amazing.

It is surreal. I just thought, I'll have to go to RNAS Culdrose. I was

overwhelmed. There will be full coverage of the build-up to the

arrival at RNAS Culdrose tomorrow. In the morning, BBC Radio

Cornwall's breakfast programme is coming live from there and there's

a special programme on BBC local radio across the region in the

evening. Spotlight will be live from Culdrose at 6.30pm tomorrow

night and you can follow the news on Twitter, Facebook, and online. A

report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch says the

captain of a giant cargo ship which hit the West Cornwall coast last

summer was sounding increasingly intoxicated before falling asleep

on the bridge. The 9,000 ton Karin Schepers crossed the Land's End

traffic separation zone in a straight line at speed before

grounding near Pendeen lighthouse. She was undamaged and re-floated.

The report says the owners have reviewed safety. A former Sea

Harrier pilot who flew in the Falklands War 30 years ago has said

the Argentinians would be mad to consider another invasion. In the

third of our special series on the anniversary of the Falklands, Simon

Hargreaves told the BBC's Clinton Rogers that the islands are now

much better defended. Looking back, quite excited. Looking forward to

it in many ways. That is an absurd thing to say, but am not sure we

ever really thought it was going to get as serious. Simon Hargreaves is

unique. The only Falklands Sea Harrier pilot still flying jets.

Ironically, Israel today actually harks back to the Falklands War 30

years ago. One of our primary roles is to use these as Exocet missiles

to train NATO warships during their flight Officer Sea Training periods.

Clearly, that was a big thing in the Falklands and that is still a

very potent threat. So, we get lodged and pretend to be missiles

while going as fast as we can and as low as we can. Two or three

times a week, which is a very good way to make a living! Time for the

Harriers to join the offence of... They were the iconic aircraft of

the Falklands war. 30 years ago, San'a Hargreaves was one of the

pilots from the naval air base who helped give the British air

supremacy in the war. But it was not without cost. Only a few days

into the fighting, a pilot was shot down. Argentinian television showed

pictures of the wreckage. And then... The funeral of a pilot,

Lieutenant Nick Taylor. For Simon Hargreaves, that was really the

point at which he realised the war was real. Three days later, Ted was

one of the Air Force exchange guys and he said that make did not make

it and it did not sink in. Where is he? He was a good friend? Yes.

did you feel? Pretty bad. But the human spirit is amazingly resilient.

I flew that day. And he still flies. So, how does this veteran of the

Falklands conflict the view today's tensions over the islands? Can he

foresee another invasion? amount of resources we have their

and the infrastructure in place, and the supply chain, I do not see

this as a viable option for any sane person and any politician in

Argentina to think that for one moment they could get away with it.

It's a big night for Torquay United. They try to overturn a two-goal

deficit against Cheltenham Town in the League Two playoffs semi final

second leg with the prize of a trip to Wembley at stake. Spotlight's

Dave Gibbins has been at Plainmoor this afternoon to gauge the mood

there. Here we are, just one hour before kick-off with Torquay United

and their second leg of the play- off against Cheltenham Town.

Excitement is building, the question is, can they overturn that

death is it? Let's find out from the chairman and manager. Simon

Baker, thanks for joining us. If you do get to Wembley, how much

would it be worth to a club? It is know how many people we would have

on the Sunday, which is better than previously. Around about �100,000,

I reckon. That is if you get there. And you have a big job? Martin Ling

knows that fairly well. After losing in the first leg. He came so

close, Ryan Jarvis had a couple of occasions. How heartbreaking was

that? Disappointing at the time. Two great chances. The first goal

was a massive chance and that would have made a difference. He should

have scored, to be honest. But we cannot go on about that, we have

done our training to make sure that we can get the result tonight.

would you be telling a players? are 90 minutes away from the

Wembley final and there are not many people who get that

opportunity. Back in October, after we got beaten 4 - 1 at Southend,

but we thought we would be playing one game to get to the Wembley

final, it would be amazing. It has been a great season. It can be

really great if we can get out of this league. We have accepted has

so far but we want more. I hope you do. Best of luck. More on the late

bulletin at 10:25pm. A couple who feared they would have to cancel

their wedding after their venue in Cornwall was destroyed by fire have

finally tied the knot. Michelle and Chris Gould were left devastated

when fire swept through the Falmouth Beach Resort Hotel.

Eleanor Parkinson reports. Michelle and Chris Gould spent 15 months

planning the wedding and Joseph Falmouth Beach Resort Hotel because

it was close to the beach. But days before the big day, the hotel was

destroyed by fire. I heard it on the radio when Michelle was going

to pay for the flowers for the church and she came back to the car

and I told her. She thought I was joking. We were completely stunned.

We just listened to the reports on the radio. We were completely stand,

we could not believe it. Nobody was hurt in a huge fire but many people

lost their holidays and the hotel had more than 30 weddings planned

this year. The shell suffers from a serious error condition and the

stress began to affect your health. The couple thought it might be

better to postpone the wedding altogether but then another hotel

five miles up the road stepped in and offered to replicate their day

by down to the wedding menu. In the end, the sun was shining and they

even got to the beach. We had some lovely photographs on the beach.

They it was absolutely brilliant. Some people made it into the water?

They certainly dead. The younger, more lively members of the family!

The happy couple are planning their honeymoon and they are keeping

their fingers well and truly crossed. That's all from the in the

studio because it is time to visit the Devon County Show, officially

opened by the Secretary of State for the environment. She also

announced �13 million of funding to support hill farmers on Dartmoor

and enable them to create new wildlife habitats. It was an early

highlight for the show which this year also boasts the Royal Canadian

Mounted Police. Victoria is at the showground. Have you had a good

day? A really good day, you have been nest and although we're not

together, and co-ordinating with this purple scarf. But it is

freezing at the moment. The crowds have died down. But thousands of

people have come to this 117th Devon County Show, it was a real

celebration and, together of the farming community, everything

agricultural, arts, crafts and food. It has once more been absolutely

amazing. I was talking to one ad earlier on who said that she always

comes to the show and she has hardly missed one of them because

it falls at the same time as a birthday and she was 60 this week

and she comes to celebrate and what better way? She is also carrying

the Olympic flame next Friday in Cardiff. Caroline Spelman opened

the show officially the spawning and she had ago denounced -- good

announcement for the hill farmers and our political editor Martyn

Oates caught up with her earlier... The Environment Secretary is here

today as part of the Royal roadshow, wanting to hear first hand about

issues affecting people in countryside communities. There is

no better distillation of rural life in Devon and this event? This

morning you announced funding for one specific part, hill farmers on

dark work and you will know that they feel they need some more

fundamental help. Is it not possible through the reading

position of the agricultural policy to get them a bigger chunk of

European funding? So certainly the Government recognises how tough it

is for hill farmers but I will have those hill farmers in mind when we

did it the less favoured areas of the United Kingdom. There are lots

of them and hill farmers would benefit from measures proposed to

help areas that are ecologically disadvantaged. You cannot say much

about the details of the proposed pilot badger cull because it is

subject to review but if the judge rules in the government favour, can

you confirm your stick to the timetable and begin in October?

anticipated that there would be a legal challenge and we build that

into the timetable. We are surrounded by fabulous artist today.

Food producers will be pleased that the Government has brought forward

plans to introduce the groceries cold adjudicator to make sure they

get a fair deal from supermarkets. Some feel that the adjudicator will

not have the teeth that it needs to do the job? The Bill as it went to

Parliament has an opportunity for everybody to get involved in making

sure that this adjudicator has the tools to take a very tough line and

it is important in the food industry that people here loudly

that people can hear that the Government supports the food and

farming industry to produce more food for home consumption and the

export market but that is to be down in a very fair way. Thank you

very much. I will let the Secretary of State enjoy the rest of the show.

I might investigate the ice-cream! Martin not reporting. To be chosen

to be President of this fabulous show, it always goes to someone

very important within the local farming and food committee and that

person this year is nearly quick. What a huge honour this must be?

Absolutely fantastic. I could never have imagined this. It would never

have crossed my mind, it is a fabulous honour and it is lovely to

be able to bring a really distinctive feel to the show.

are restored. You have been here for many years. What does this mean

to you? It is the best party in Devon. It showcases farming to

other farmers, it showcases farming for the general public. This is

what we get our food from and it is a showcase for Devon. It is

wonderful to be her once again. It is a chance for the food and

farming committee to come together and chat? Good fellowship. And just

recently, the general public has woken up to the idea that farming

is a very important thing. We need the food that farming produces and

that gives an extra special excitement to this, for the first

time farming is something that people appreciate and that gives a

lovely sense an acknowledgement to the whole show. There is a real

sense of excitement this year? is really fun days to see the

weather farming is felt at the heart of the show. Farmers with

grass plots, lots of lovely machinery. That wonderful teepee,

showing how food gets from the farm to people's minds. The whole thing

is perfect. Wonderful to talk to you. Thank you. The show has so

much to offer, as well as the animals and the food and farming,

there is always something very special here every year. This year,

the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are here. Some people were lucky

enough to meet them, including Andrea Ormsby... 10 am. Just two

hours until a short time and there is a lot to do. A line in a

cerebral feat. I have been doing this for one year. She is a 16

year-old mare and we have bonded quite well. It takes a lot of

preparation because the horse must be Immaculate, you have to polish

all your stuff, top-notch. Especially for the last performance,

for the Queen at Windsor. For the Queen and was very nervous. Ryan

Constable Brent Edwards. I had been here for five years, my horse, what

is different, is he lost sight in his right eye when he was five. He

is perfectly capable of doing all the nurses and he isn't one of the

more important positions. He is as sound as any other horse. We

practise for over six months every day for up to four hours each day

riding. We know what and the horse has not, as long as everything

stays status quo, we are pretty good. 11 o'clock, and the mounted

police are off, ready for a short warm-up before the first big show.

This is my 5th time here, I cannot tell you about the reception, it

has been just amazing. The people that have had parents who live in

Canada, and we are very privileged. And so to the main arena to see

these mounted police performing They have been a real attraction.

There has been so much to do. Doc herding, there has been a horse

Whisperer, cider making. So much to here and see. Emma Thomasson has

been sampling the sights and sounds of the show. It is dusty, hard work.

Even the nuts are tied by hand. We need to shed the image of the

overworked, underpaid farmer and make farming sexy and exciting,

because it is and there are lots of people who say that. Agricultural

colleges are full and lots of people want to be farmers and times

We use a product called soft soap and a human version -- bovine

version of hair gel and that makes him look bigger everywhere and

really shows them off. It is like having a shower after a hard day's

work. The food tent has been absolutely packed. The weather has

been changeable so everybody has been crowding in there. It was a

chance for viewers to meet us from the BBC been our tent. But the

majority of questions have been for David about the weather. People

were not sure whether it was supposed to be raining. Can he

You have a red nose, is that the cold or the sadder?! Some showers

in the forecast and that does coincide with the torch relay. Lots

of cloud and the satellite picture from the earlier rain, and there is

now some clearance, there is a whole developing, just off the

north coast of France and that will gradually spill northwards. Some

clear skies developing overnight and some dry conditions, not just

at the Showground. However, there is a weather front around this area

of low pressure and that will bring persistent rain tomorrow and I

think after some bad weather in the morning, it is cloudy with patchy

rain beginning to show as we move through the afternoon and into the

early evening. Some of that rain will get into Cornwall and not much

into the far west, particularly for RNAS Culdrose and Land's End. By

the time we get to Saturday, we are between weather systems, one line

towards southern Ireland and another for the Channel Islands and

between, cloudy but mainly dry for the start of the torch relay. This

is the picture from earlier. You can see that hole in the cloud

developing. That continues to go northwards this evening so showers

will die away. Perhaps turning misty tomorrow as we start to see

more cloud developing and low cloud appearing through the early hours

of tomorrow morning. Overnight temperatures down to around five

degrees, most places holding up at nine or 10 degrees and tomorrow,

all that cloud, for the South which eventually starts to produce patchy

rain. Initially lied but theatre in the day some moderate bursts

possible and it becomes extensive into the afternoon and the early

evening. Temperatures getting up to around 13 or 14 degrees, not as

many as today so perhaps not feeling quite as cold and the wind

for much of the Day tomorrow will be north-easterly. This is the

forecast for the Devon County Show, rather cloudy with the risk of

showers throughout. But the breeze not as strong as it has been. The

And the forecast for coastal waters. The risk of showers and generally

good visibility. Let's look further ahead. The weekend, very important

for the south-west and on Saturday we can expect some showers, any

some brightness down and again but a lot of cloud with the risk of

showers and that risk continues into Sunday although the lion's

share will be across eastern parts of Devon and mainly into Dorset and

Somerset. By Monday, it should be largely fine and dry. Let's look at

the all-important torch relay forecast, it starts at Land's End

and travels right through Cornwall and ends up in Devon and Plymouth

by the evening. The forecast for the start is rather cloudy and

those conditions continue through to the end of the day. Every now

and then, the chance of seeing one or two sharp showers. For most of

the day it is dry and I must stress that became a lot of cloud. But

turn a warm, it could be warmer for the relay. Temperatures up to

perhaps 12 or 13 degrees. Possibly 14. And, of course, the BBC will be

covering that event right the way through the weekend. Not just

Saturday but also Sunday. You can find out more information on the

website... Updates through the weekend and following that torch

relay, right through the next few Thank you. The Spotlight team will