16/01/2012 Inside Out North East and Cumbria

three women before turning the gun on himself. We hear claims that

police objections to Michael Atherton owning his guns were

overruled. We have reliable information that

his initial application was actually recommended for a refusal

by firearms licensing officers. extraordinary search for a song

that so nearly made his Dad famous. It would be amazing if I ever found

it. And can Durham's brain power harness the sun's power to drive

across Australia? You're racing in a car that's powered by less than

you'd use in a kettle or hairdryer. Stories from the heart of the North

Two weeks ago, gunman Michael Atherton killed three women before

taking his own life at his home in Horden. Tonight, a new twist. We've

been told that police officers in Durham recommended that Atherton

should be refused a gun license. But in what became a critical

decision, they were overruled by more senior staff.

The remains of a shattered family, four dead, and another reminder of

the lethal power of guns in the There is still no definitive

account of what happened in this house. We know that Michael

Atherton had been drinking at a club in the village, while his

partner, her sister and his niece had been to Horden Rugby Club. As

they arrived home a row broke out. Atherton left by the back door,

returned with a semi-automatic shot gun from the car and started

A resident at the address was the lawful holder of firearms licences.

The police say it was over in moments rather than minutes. Four

people managed to escape the carnage, two of them leaping

through an upstairs window. What made Michael Atherton snap, turning

him from a polite taxi driver to a triple murderer, may never be known.

But what has become clear since the killings is that there were at

least three opportunities over six years for the police to intervene -

each of which could have prevented Atherton was granted his shotgun

licence back in 2006. He went through the application process to

assess whether he was fit to own a gun. In County Durham there are

just over 6,000 licensed shotgun holders. Across England there are

more than half a million. You have to be of good character and the

police will look into that. They will go quite deeply. You might

have domestic problems, you might have mental problems, you might

have disagreements with your neighbours. All of this is looked

at this when the police look at a shot gun certificate. If a check

throws up any worrying history, shouldn't that be grounds to think

twice? We've spoken to people in the shooting fraternity who say

that Michael Atherton's history of domestic dispute with partner Susan

should have ruled him out of gun ownership. Between 2002 and 2004

the police were called to Atherton's home a total of four

times - the incidents were logged with the domestic violence unit. On

one occasion Atherton was arrested to prevent a breach of the peace

after a row with his partner. On another he received a police

caution after a drunken assault on her. I am very surprised that he

got a license. I would personally, in the circumstances related there,

I think I would have refused it. And according to the BASC, that's

exactly what happened. We have reliable information that Michael

Atherton's initial application for a shotgun certificate was actually

recommended for refusal by a firearms licensing officer. This

could have been the first opportunity to stop this, and what

went on from there is that refusal decision was overturned by somebody

higher up the chain of command. Durham Police have refused to

comment on this, as the case is now in the hands of the Independent

Police Complaints Commission. The IPCC told us their investigation is

at an early stage and speculation does not assist. However, we have

been told by a number of sources that the original officer's

decision to reject Atherton's application was endorsed by a

colleague. But that decision was apparently overruled. When the

final report is published, for some there is now one key question.

to why that decision was overturned, we remain in the dark.

consequence for the police of taking action against someone

against whom there are allegations of instability, is that person

might appeal. That person is then supported by shooting organisations,

there are costs associated in the police having to take this to court,

and they have not tended to be to my mind very pro-active in

scrutinising the licensees to weed out the unsuitable. The next

opportunity to review Atherton's gun ownership came in 2008, when he

wanted to buy more tightly restricted firearms, like rifles or

some semi-automatic shotguns. And to get one of these - you need to

fill out one of these. Atherton had three section one weapons. Applying

his a much harder burden of proof. This was another opportunity for

the police had to take a close and detailed look at Michael Atherton.

But within months of his application to hold a section one

license, Michael Atherton again came to the attention of Durham

Police. According to them, they seized his guns after he threatened

to harm himself. But on the instructions of a senior officer,

Atherton's guns were returned a number of weeks later. So what are

the rules about who can and who can't have a license? After the

Cumbrian shootings and the Raoul Moat killings, a Government

committee admitted, in the words of its chairman, "current gun laws are

a mess". Durham Police lists the reasons not to grant a license on

its own website, including evidence of violence, alcohol abuse, and

domestic disputes. Those guidelines are taken from the Home Office.

Although they refer to firearms, according to the Association of

Chief Police officers they should apply to shotguns. The police have

a duty to put public safety and keeping the peace ahead of an

individual's right to own a gun. But even those in the shooting

world say the rules are confusing. Although there are national

guidelines about how the law should be interpreted, there are 34

different pieces of legislation which cover firearms, and there are

more than 50 constabularies in the UK, and each constabulary can apply

their own interpretation of those laws. Even when you compare our

systems to country's like America, which people think is lax on gun

laws, you find that people with history to do with domestic

violence, any allegation of domestic violence arrests for

domestic violence, not even not even necessarily a conviction, in

some states precludes them from having a fire arm license.

So once again events in the North East and Cumbria are at the heart

of a debate about who should and shouldn't hold a firearms license.

And once again difficult questions are being asked of Durham

Constabulary. Back in 2010, two firearms licensing officers were

convicted of selling guns handed in for destruction, and the licensing

unit's procedures were described as by the presiding judge as

"extremely lax if not chaotic". This was the response at the time.

We are saying to the public, we have let you down what we have

fixed it. -- but we have fixed it. The two corrupt officers were

dismissed, though the rest of the Durham's firearms licensing staff

remained in post. Meanwhile, back in Horden, the local MP hopes some

good can come from the recent traumatic events. It's a terrible

tragedy and four people have lost their lives, and I'm very keen that

we can try and learn some lessons from this. Now is an appropriate

time to consult on how we can consult and improve things to

prevent this sort of tragedy ever Our next two stories have a sunny

disposition. When you've got that one chance in life of a big break,

you've got to take it. But what happens when destiny gets in the

way? BBC Tees presenter John Foster came across the amazing story of

one Teesside band who could so easily have become world-famous.

Fate intervened and it wasn't to be. But now they're about to help

This man has travelled from America on a quest. His Dad recorded one of

the world's most famous songs, years before it topped the charts.

It was fated that he'd never know his father. And it was fated that

the recording would be lost forever. The song I've been searching for

was the recording of 'Seasons in the Sun'. It would be absolutely

Canadian Terry Jacks released Seasons in the Sun in 1973. It went

into the stratosphere. The record ultimately sold over 10 million

singles. It's one of the 30 biggest hits of all time, it was number one

in Britain, America and around the But what hardly anyone knows is

that song might have become synonymous with Teesside. Way

before Terry Jacks made 'Seasons in the Sun' famous, it could have

catapulted a Middlesbrough band to It was the sixties, Teesside was

buzzing, and some of the best musicians in the area were forming

a super group. We were to have solved very successful bands in the

Curia. And leading the band was, the man dubbed the John Lennon of

Teesside, singer Alan Ludley. was a really, really good frontman.

He was outgoing, flamboyant in a lot of ways. Good stage presence,

came over as a lovely bloke. So the band had all the ingredients for

success, and Rivers Invitation were about to be given their big break,

This was the very first version of the song that became known as

'Seasons in the Sun'. Written by Belgian Jacques Brel, it was called

'Le Moribond', or 'The Dying Man'. This dying man is rather cynical

about his dying wife, who has had many affairs. He knows that his

wife will continue to have lovers after his death. He says, "Be

careful - I'll be watching." It was reworked in English by Rod McKuen.

Then in 1968, fate brought the song to a Middlesbrough band. Rivers

Invitation had been signed to giant label Polydor Records. 'Seasons in

the Sun' would be their first hit. I remember going to Polydor studios

and setting equipment up. We did the take in about two hours. They

were talking about putting strings on it, augmenting it, and we're

thinking, "That's it, here we go, this is looking good." The band was

just so happy, absolutely enjoying it, enjoying the music, enjoying

the travel, and then smack. It was late afternoon. We were coming back

to Middlesbrough. The band's lead singer Alan Ludley was in that

crash. Allen did not make it. His wife was seriously injured. I sad

day. It was fate. The band never made it big. 'Seasons in the Sun'

never saw the light of day. And there was more. Alan had a son,

Adrian, and unfortunately he was never going to know his father.

More than 40 years later, Adrian has come back, from America where

And I have a lot of memories of this house. I would be dropped off

here by my grandparents. What have you been told about the music?

had no ever experienced any of the music. Since the accident, since I

was a child, I would search. Nothing came of it. I could only

imagine what his boys must have sounded like, almost 40 years later,

I finally heard his voice. That was true the radio station. That

because, four years ago, Adrian contacted me and, with help from

listeners, we found a handful of his father's songs. Was it like

hearing his voice for the first time? Had I could not believe it.

lot of people had told me he had a wonderful voice and I realise

The band did a for a full sued here. You stood almost on the same spot

your father did. You had never been here before? It was the first time.

The first time I was told about Seasons In The Sun, I do not

believe it. Because of the magnitude of that song and how

everyone knew it. It was the first record I ever bought and I listen

to it in my bedroom. I imagined how he would sing it. It would be

amazing to get that song, because that is what triggered it all and

that is what has motivated me. We contacted the record company, the

archive, the promotions people, and there was nothing. I knew it was in

the house. I had a very strong feeling it was there, very strange.

I thought, I will check the box. I have not seen or been into this for

five or six years. What is this? I knew it was that as soon as I saw

it. It is a couple of tracks that the band recorded it. Seasons In

The Sun as well. After 43 years, it is time to break the news. Worst of

all, to the lead singer's brother, Tom. You've got it! Poll, you have

had it all the time! You have got me there! If Adrian hears this...

He will be over the moon! It is time to come clean.

It has taken six months of cajoling Adrian to get in across to the UK.

He does not know that we have found a song and he will hear it for the

first time after 40 years of searching. Am going to play you

something. I want you to listen to When you listen to the lyrics now,

things like, a good buy my trusted friend, the whole story is very

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 49 seconds

alive -- riot -- relevant to Alan # We had joy, we had fun... #

We have had it pressed on to vinyl for you. Whoa! How did you keep

that from me all day? That is not all, we have got the band back

Thank you all so much. Nothing can top this in my life. This is just

amazing. It is the best experience ever. Definitely, I have found a

connection now. It is incredible. It is the perfect end to my search.

With fuel prices I walk to in Lehar I, you're probably wondering if

there is not a cheaper way of driving a long distance. Some

students at Durham University have been putting their solar power card

to the test. They are racing across Australia. Can they compete with

the world's top universities and survive the rigours of the outback?

Hidden away in Durham University, University students have been

perfecting a way to use only the Sun's rays to power car across an

entire continent. We are racing a car or using less power than you

would you for your kettle or hairdryer. It is tough to fuel it,

let alone complete the race. many people can say they have

camped in the Australian desert? It is going to be amazing. They are up

against another top British university, Cambridge. They have

competed in a previous Australian Solar Challenge. Durham were

novices. The two teams met in a trial run. Under cloudy British

skies, it was never going to be a land speed record but could be have

begun the sole equivalent of the University Boat race? Who would end

up squeezing more energy out of the scare son? They have beaten

Cambridge, but what about the other competitors. Could solar panels

give them the edge? We use glass fibre and cure them in an oven. We

do not know what they might have obviously. Offaly they do not know

what we have a power sleeve. -- hopefully they do not know our

secrets. We have to build a car in the North of England which will

perform in Australia, in some of the hottest conditions in the world.

Ahead lies a 3,000 kilometre road race in which the teams need to be

self-sufficient to survive everything the outback can throw at

them. We gave the Durham team some cameras to make a video diary.

Although the car road arrived in Darwin in one piece, the

immediately took chunks out of it to shed weight. All the teams

seemed to be making last minute changes to make every ray of

sunshine count. The Durham car still works and stands up in a test

run. But they have not perfected the dismount yet. All the teams are

pushing their cars, their brains and their own bodies to the limits.

We had to get up at 7 o'clock in If drivers weigh less than 80

kilograms, the car has to carry extra weight. The Japanese have a

tactic. In an emergency, they must be able to get out within 15

seconds. Remember their previous I have been weighed and I am now an

official driver. The car is being examined. We're going to practise

getting out on the track. Darwin, we have a problem! Have you got any

we have a problem! Have you got any more speed and this? Are you going

full-out. Something is horribly wrong. Could it be their secret

weapon? Is their race over before it has even begun? And over

excitable safety device is forced Next up, we have a car from the

The saw cars are pretty vulnerable to other traffic on what is only

the major highway from north to south. -- the solar-powered cars.

south. -- the solar-powered cars. Keep an eye a on this short and

watch to the slipstream of the lorry and what it does to one of

the competitors. You need nerves of steel. As long as the sun is up,

keep your eyes fixed on the road. We're only allowed to drive between

80 in the morning and 5:00pm. -- 8 o'clock in the morning. Allied is

painted to show where we got to at attacked by huge grass Hopper last

There are tell-tale signs that bush fires have been flaring up. Or so

they think. With the road closed, everyone is being held back. The

competition is hotting up and so was one of the cars. By a battery

from a car of the future catches fire, a shovel seems to be the only

answer. While the bush fires continue to burn, the competitor's

book the solar-powered panels into the sun to charge up their entry.

The competitors can only wonder at what the Australian desert has in

We drove about 70 kilometres and we have put the car on the trailer and

we are - and to make a stop. -- and from Japan. More than a day behind,

Durham University are determined to make a last race to the finish.

Durham have had to find �25,000 in sponsorship and quite a bit of

Sellotape. Compared to the leading teams, their budget is small. We

might all reap the rewards of events like this. As we worry more

about the cars we buy and if you'll be used, we find that the

technology used at this event is more significant than it has ever

been. Durham University reach Adelaide. Their 33rd out of 42

entries. Cambridge University made it to 25th place. A was awesome! It

was a long way. We have finally made it! That was really good fun.

I think we will come back in two years' time and do it again. After

everything they have faced, just finishing as a success. Not bad for

a first attempt. That is it for this week. Next week, Middlesbrough,