12/12/2011 Inside Out South East

on at Occupy Brighton. What are you protesting about?

Why are you here? The people in general are not happy

in this country. Why did you want to work in the

funeral business? You're just helping people, aren't you?

How funeral directing is becoming the career choice for young people

in Kent. Flash cars, shining cars, big engines. You drive a very

slowly, but the cars are immaculate. And celebrating 100 years since the

Great British Air Race. You had the British weather to deal

with. It's a challenge for aviators and machines. I'm Natalie Graham

with the untold stories, closer to home.

From all round Kent and Sussex, Hello, I'm in Calverley Park in

Tunbridge Wells. Fear skating towards Christmas on this festive

rise to ring. It's the city's version of the worldwide Occupy

movement. This is it, Occupy in Brighton. Who runs at this. Are you

in charge. Are you an elected spokesperson, how does it work.

made dedicated spokesperson. There are no leaders. What is going on

here? This is tea and coffee area for the general public and the

kitchen. Just manned by a working group of volunteers who were

preparing tasty vegan food. We have a meditation class going on here.

Only a handful of protesters stay here 24/7 but there's a wider

network of supporters who can be called upon to swell their numbers.

It is very organised. For none hierarchical organisation, but it

isn't working. That is testament to the will of the people involved.

What you want me to take away. I'm going to stay here in my little

tent. What you hope I will take a way? Optimism and hope. More than

anything. Conservative MP Mike Weatherly is hopeful and optimistic

that this lot will pack up and leave. He's called the protestors

"lazy campers" and "free-loaders". If they stay put he wants them to

pay Council Tax. What are you protesting about? Are I'm here

because I'm not happy with the state this come -- this country is

in. We have been told to come back and it seems to be very unfair when

we have big organisations like up banks and Government that can

commit criminal offences and get away with it. Why do not set up a

political party and work with the system? To system is broken. The

present political system encourages corruption. What is it broken?

local issues we have agreed a massive problem we have got,

Nationwide and in Brighton is homelessness. We had Sarratt saying

it was the bank's she was annoyed with, this is what people get

confused -- confused with. I'd not think it is just to bangs, just

homeless just parliamentary systems, it is an art -- an amalgamation

that the people are not happy in this country. Whilst a similar

Occupy camp in Bournemouth was moved on by the local council, in

Brighton there seems to be a more relaxed attitude to this form of

protest. I would love to see a different way in the world but I do

not know if their ideas are as wise as they might be when they're older.

It is welcome. I hope it is something that makes local

politicians take note. I asked a local economist to visit the

protest camp, to see if their ideas on the redistribution of wealth

hold water. So what does he make of their Utopian dream? I like it. I'm

very much in support of this movement and in particular the

spirit, pointing at the deficiencies we experience in these

turbulent times. The do any of their policies make sense? Oyez,

they are proposing capital transaction tax, Robin Hood tax, it

is often called to prevent financial turmoil. Then may be you

distribute it to the poor, that is why it is called Robin Hood tax. It

is proposed by most of the European governments but not this one in the

UK. We have ignored a mushroom and a class for generations. We pretend

it does not exist. We have make sure statistically they do not

exist. In my opinion, it is what is driving Occupy. It is why the

occupations are happening. They don't really have much of a

point to make other than they are unhappy with a bunch of issues.

lot of the people on benefits, half of the people are working, half are

not. It is something they like to do. I do not stop anyone doing a

lifestyle they would like to do but not on the public spaces we are

paying for. People gather for most in point of the day. It is a chance

to discuss where the process is going and the issues involved.

Council used empty homes to house homeless people. But, like all

committee meetings, everyone wants to talk about something different.

With so many wanting to talk, it's all about the hands. An intricate

system of gestures used to stop the meeting descending into chaos. This

one means I have a point to make. This shows agreement. This, get out,

the tent's on fire. Throughout the evening volunteers patrol the

perimeter of the camp to keep things in check. And they won't

tolerate any misbehaviour from within their own ranks either.

get one warning and we will call the police, they are 30 seconds up

the road. A few times we have had to call them out, they have been

terrific. I go to bed, my head ringing with "save-the-world"

mantras, and "down with banks" diatribes. But in the cool light of

dawn, as I prepare to leave the camp, I learn that not all is rosy

in this brave new world It does seem a safe sanctuary for the

homeless, and vulnerable who, the protestors claim, are themselves

victims of a failed system But despite all this, there are some

who are in it for the long haul. Occupier Britain, we are suffering

from a lack of directed sober protest, if you like. We put our

tents in the middle of Victoria Gardens which is already an area

full of drug users and rough sleepers. What do we expect? People

will turn up and may be not even know why homeless and vulnerable it

does seem a sanctuary for the homeless and vulnerable. I was

moved into a hostel and a 17 which was designed for recovering drug

addicts. Adults not teenagers. The night before I came down here I was

listening to two guys having an argument who would -- on to who

would get the next hit. It is not good for young person. In lysis

possible sense, I'm still a kid. I should not be in that environment.

We have care in community, there is a lot of homeless and people with

drink and drug issues. We are not qualified to do this. We are trying

to outreach to the working groups. Is it the steam is running out of

the protest? Is it evolving into something else, turning into this

care, almost a drop in centre. It is and not a bad thing that

vulnerable people are getting help? The 80s great, but I wonder if we

should withdraw at some point. Despite all of this, there are some

who were in it for the long haul. For them this park in Brighton will

be home until the bitter end. is the only effective means of

protest that isn't going away. have a ballot box. Millions of

people vote certain ways. You cannot have some people changing

the course because they do not like the way the course is going.

feels right to my heart to be doing this. I'm too young and not

satisfied with the system to keep going on. I want to be part of

Those magnificent men In Their Flying Machines in the first ever

UK air race. Nothing like this had ever been attempted before.

Now, with budget cuts and rising university fees, deciding what

career to choose is becoming ever more important for young people.

But there is a job that's rising in popularity, that's relatively

immune to the ups and downs of the economy, and is one of the last

careers where you're likely to have a job for life. Keir MacKenzie

Meet Joshua Twyman. He's 16-years- old and heading off to work. But

despite wearing a suit and tie, this young man is not doing an

office job. His role requires a very different set of skills.

Joshua needs to be good with people, have strong shoulders, and a

willingness to spend time with the dead, because Joshua Twyman is one

of the country's youngest undertakers. Well why did you want

to work in the funeral business? is to help other people. You are

helping people, aren't you? Joshua isn't alone. Funeral

directors are reporting record levels of enquiries from youngsters

trying to break into the business. And so, as we follow Joshua in one

of his first weeks in the job, we're going to try to find what a

young person needs to succeed in this industry, and some of the

reasons why it's proving so popular. Flash cars, shiny cars, big engines.

You drive slowly, but they are immaculate. Joshua hasn't yet

driven a hearse. Then again, he isn't even old enough to have a

driving licence. But Joshua is growing proof that, generally, age

doesn't matter in this industry. It's all about maturity and the

willingness to learn new skills, like carrying a coffin. Leader with

your left. As you can tell, this isn't the first time Joshua has

done this. He's actually spent the past two years getting work

experience here at his grandfather's firm in Ramsgate, and

as far as carrying the coffin is concerned, these days, he's pretty

confident. Although, initially, he did find it difficult. What was

hard about it? Getting it firm on your shoulder, so no movement, and

foot movement - you have got to be in tune with everyone else. Joshua

is from a family of funeral directors, but more youngsters than

ever, with no connection to the business, are trying to break in.

Young people like Nick Wells. He's been doing work experience at Gore

Brothers here in Margate. Why do you think this job is so appealing

to young people? It is a job for life. If you get a full-time job

out of it. They tend to keep people? Yes, they do. They build up

trust with their staff, and tend to keep them on. So companies keeping

on staff is obviously a draw, but is that still true when there's a

recession? It's a question we put to one of the company's partners,

Phillip Gore. What about job security in a time when we are

facing difficult financial times? Death and taxes are the two most

obvious things in life, and yes, we must look as if we are recession

free. It is perceived as being a secure occupation. For young people,

particularly, there are also some other more superficial attractions,

as we established when we spoke to Phillip's 22-year-son Alex. It is

such a nice job to work for. Carr's appeal to young people, like my age.

You are helping people, and dressing smartly, which nowadays is

not the done thing for my generation, but going to work and

having a good job and dressing smartly shows you are growing up

and have majority. But it was quite clear it was the cars that Alex was

most excited about. So you feel you are a bit blink? As billing as you

can be in a hearse! So, the job is appealing for many reasons, but as

we were discovering during one of Joshua's first few weeks, the

skills needed are extensive and don't necessarily come easily to a

young person. Skills like dealing with human grief. Joshua is

training with us. Yesterday, we went through the arrangements.

Joshua watches intently as Grant talks the family through the

details. This part of the job he won't do alone for a few more years.

But he's already picking up tips. He did not stutter or make it hard

for me. Have you, I can do that. Grant is quite a bit colder than

you. He has got live experience. Do you think you will face the

challenge is because you are so young, and I am assuming you have

not dealt with a loss and a family, have you? No, I have not had to do

with that it. I still have things to learn. That is all part of it,

isn't it? Learning. 19-year-old Holly Wells, from Ramsgate, has

decided she'd like to learn a little before she gets a job as an

undertaker, so she's studying for a degree in Thelogy. She doesn't

believe in God, but hopes her degree will give her a better

understanding of death and people's way of coping with it. She has

wanted to work in this industry since she was 11. What was your

family's reaction when you said this is what he wanted to do?

were very supportive. They founded a bit strange, but very supportive.

They encouraged me to look into it. And that's exactly what Holly is

doing today. She's come to Sittingbourne to see John Weir, a

funeral director and spokesman for the National Society of Allied and

Independent Funeral Directors. expensive is it to their own a

business? It is very expensive. If you take the refrigeration unit,

this has got a capacity to hold six human remains. This chamber holds

three, and it would cost �38,000. It is an essential piece of

equipment for any funeral director. John's organisation has seen an

increase in enquiries from youngsters wanting to know more

about the funeral business, and he has his own theory as to why that

is. Death has always been a taboo subject, and now that is changing.

When I was a young man, I would never tell girls What I Did For

living a tall! We went to the nightclubs, and said I was working

in a dockyard as a plumber or electrician because I thought that

was more socially acceptable as saying I work as a funeral director.

And that's what John wants Holly to really understand before she

decides to pursue this as a career the harsh realities of the job.

you could think about how someone can possibly die, on point, a few

non director will do with those circumstances. And it can be

unpleasant. And so we come to probably the toughest part of the

job: Dealing with the dead. And today, that's what Joshua is doing

preparing a dead body for burial. Do you think many young people

could do what you are doing? No, a lot of people look at me and think,

be couldn't do what I do. But it is because they have not been brought

up with it, but I have. Do you use any kind of tricks on yourself to

cope? In the end, you are standing here with what was a person.

still see them as a person. That is why you have got to look after them

well, and address them nicely, and make sure they look really good.

Over the week, we had seen that, as a young undertaker, Joshua needs a

range of skills, both practical and emotional. And as he prepared for

the final and most public part of his job, a funeral, we caught up

with his grandfather to find out how he thinks Joshua is really

getting on. I think Joshua is beginning to prove that when a

young people come into the business, they are capable of carrying out

these duties but we do. We are getting good young people, and they

are staying. They are not coming for a couple of months, they are

here, they are staying, and doing a good job. Do you find seeing people

dealing with grief difficult? at first I did, because the

emotions may cure emotional, but you take on board, and it takes the

pressure off you. And you feel better, because the pressure is off.

So you don't full emotional any more? I still do, sometimes. You

feel sad for them, but we take the pressure off for them and make them

feel better about themselves. Now, 100 years ago, all eyes were

turned skywards as one of the wonders of the Edwardian age

captivated the nation. The aeroplane had been around for less

than a decade, but already, a group of pioneering aviators were

preparing to race each other around the country. David Whiteley has

been finding out about the Circuit of Britain Race of 1911.

These days, we'd take flying very much for granted. But 100 years ago,

the skies were a new frontier. The aircraft had only been around for a

few years, and pilots were still working out the best way to take-

off, land, and stop falling out of the sky. Then, the stakes were

raised even higher. In 1911, the Daily Mail invited aviators to race

around the entire country with the winner of the circuit of Britain

taking home a �10,000 prize. This was the biggest challenge for early

aviators. You had a very long race, the longest yet, and you had the

British weather to do with! We went into Scotland, mountain's,

terrain... An enormous challenge for a -- early aviators. Their

aircraft had only been invented eight years previously, and the

longest race stood at just 185 miles, from London to Manchester.

And the 1911 circuit of Britain would be next. And this was a

challenge that would test the pilots and machines to the limit,

starting in Surrey, to undertake a journey of more than 1,000 miles.

Nothing like this had ever been attempted before. Indeed, back in

1911, many people had never even seen a car, let alone a plain! But

the early aviators were determined to prove the aircraft was safe,

fast and reliable. Before long, 30 pilots had signed up for the race,

with an incredible collection of flying machines. They were all the

been to be the first to cross the finishing line, or, at least,

complete the epic journey. Today, the collection in Bedfordshire has

more airworthy examples of the type of aircraft that flew dent anywhere

else in the world. They really are a real mixture of design. In those

days, the conventional aeroplane was not conventional! It was very

experimental. On Saturday 22nd July, 1911, an extraordinary collection

of aircraft and pilots gathered for the first leg, from Surrey to

Hendon. It caused a sensation. Thousands of people turned out to

see these extraordinary flying machines take to there. From Hendon,

the second leg would take their aircraft north. Labour three would

see them through Glasgow, Carlisle, Manchester, and Bristol. Them, it

was West, to Exeter, back across Salisbury Plain, and down to

Brighton, before the final to the end. Some competitors did not even

make it past the start line. main challenges would have been

reliability of the engines and aircraft, per weather was tough,

and the abilities of the pilot. is said the circuit of prison race

was the inspiration behind the film, Those magnificent men In Their

Flying Machine. This aircraft was 100 years ago, pilots had little

experience of flight. Today, only the most experienced can take these

machines into their. This chief pilot spent a career with the RAF

before tackling the Edwardian planes. It must have been a very

risky. And dangerous. It was genuine pioneering because of all

these uncertainties, but the aeroplane, engine and weather. The

first concern, with this aeroplane, is its climb rate. It doesn't climb

well. I am very conscious of the wind and trees and so on. The early

pilots may still have had a lot to learn, but the French are catching

on fast. Beaumont, like many of the pioneer aviators, was from a

wealthy background, and it was a sport. He was a bit of a glory

hunter. He was probably less interested in the prize, and more

interested in the celebrity! Nevertheless, he was a pioneer. And

a pretty experienced aviator. The nation was gripped with aviation

prefer. Thousands of people turned out all over the country to get a

glimpse of Cody, who was still in the running, but suffering problems

with his machine. And now, 100 years later, the crowds are

gathering again - every summer, a series of flying displays a put-on,

and every now and again, the Edwardian aircraft take to the

skies once more. And, included in today's line-up, two original

aeroplanes, it virtually identical to the ones that would have flown

The circuit of Britain race ended just a week after it had begun. It

was won by it on-trade Beaumont, who completed the course meant a

total flying time of just under 22 hours. A fellow Frenchman was just

over, and how well behind. As for Cody, he finished fourth, 10 days

after the winning French machine, but his plane was the only British-

built aircraft to finish the race. It was a major advancement in

science. It had courage and challenge. Yes, it had everything.

It was a great event. If they hadn't tried, if they had given up,

then, where would we be? Where would aviation be now? That is a

good question. Now, if you want any more

information on tonight's show, you can visit our local Kent or Sussex

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