05/03/2012 Inside Out South West

Welcome to Inside Out, south-west. And tonight, the Spielberg diving

Devon artist making waves in her wheelchair.

I had had people say if you can do that, I can do anything. Also

tonight, the pen of business trying to survive bad debt. I have got a

family to feed and bills to pay so it means losing my job is a tough

thing. Plan the Greatest Show on Earth but

how to dress at the Olympics when Cornish pride is at stake. If they

do not fit our need a or fit the Olympic image, we will make our own.

I am Samantha Smith and this is Preparations for the Olympics

gather pace, we have a remarkable story of Devon artist Sue Austin.

She is to set out to perform under water while piloting her propeller-

driven wheelchair. Plymouth University student Sue

Austin lost the full use of her legs after a viral illness. Then

she learnt to dive, and is now taking the plunge to create a

unique performance. Sue is, almost certainly, the world's first

disabled underwater acrobat. The idea came to her after a diving

trip to Egypt. In 2005, I started diving and I realised that the

association's with scuba gear allows you to enable your range of

activity like a wheelchair but the association's four ski bigger are

for adventure and adventure -- for ski but here. So I thought what

would happen if you combined them. You can't get an underwater

wheelchair off the shelf, so Sue's had to design one herself. Plastic

hydrofoils give it lift and helps Sue "fly" it through the water,

like a plane though the air. I've had such a clear idea about it for

so long. Engineers said, You won't be able to do it, it won't work".

But it has - as she proved on her first sea trial last year. Four

years to get to this point, I think but now we have got a underwater

wheelchair and we are about to have our first day of water tests,

should be fun. I think you're absolutely mad!

Back on dry land, they continue to modify the chair to improve its

manoeuvrability. By autumn, it's time to test "Chair Mk II". Sue's

been given use of the pool at Osprey Leisure Centre in Portland

for her trials. This is the propeller unit which will drive the

wheelchair through the water. The Diver Rob Hughes has been with Sue

from the start, helping her build the chair. Now equipped with added

thrust. Originally they were developed for American navy divers.

This is the remote control which Sue will use and are strapped

underneath the handle. She compares it with her lake and when she

presses it, -- with her leg. We tried it with one thruster and

settled on two because one was making it pull one way so the two

thrusters make her go straight through the water and is able to

make her pull a full turn and a backward roll so this is underwater

ballet! We have thrust and movement in the water. Fabulous, a great

experience. Armchair diving at its best!

As part of the Cultural Olympiad, Sue's been commissioned to create a

film of her performance. She's using a special 360-degree camera.

But that's not without its challenges too. Number one is

leaking. Oh, dear. When all the pictures are stitched

together, the film will be shown in Weymouth in a dome like this one.

Dave Hotchkiss from Plymouth University is part of the team

developing the venue. When this is played back, the audience in this

dome structure, the 21 metre dam, the audience is in the same

position where the camera was, the same position where Susan would be

and it is like them being under water as well. With every dive,

Sue's learning how much the chair can do. Because it is a much more

acrobatic version of the chair, it is much harder to control so I have

got the issue that the chair is always kicking up into a loop the

loop which is brilliant for filming but it makes it very difficult to

control and there just managed to collide with a rig earlier. The The

film is just one part of Sue's performance. Here at the Fleet

Lagoon just off Portland, she hopes to stage an underwater first -

disappearing into the water and emerging triumphant on the other

side. It is to create some kind of really dramatic, grand spectacle

that had a really visceral response from people watching. By one of the

elements of the performance was to release red dye and people can

actually see something happening live as well as the film footage

that we would have. The Fleet is shallow but Test stars have shown

that conditions are not ideal. discovered a horrible thought thick

area of mind and if you disturb it, you get a cloud of Mark. And strong

tides to contend with. We had understood that we would have one

hour for a performance but since we have been diving, we have not

managed to find a time when the This is the first time Sue's

launched herself into the Fleet from the shore in her chair.

As Sue begins her descent... Her thrusters are in danger of getting

Sue's not happy about going under. We're in the middle of the Channel.

Within minutes, Sue, Rob and the other divers are being swept out of

Sue decides to abandon the crossing... And get out of her

This hasn't put you off? entirely. It does make me think we

were an hour too late. It was bound to happen. I didn't feel unsafe.

had safety measures in place. It was difficult. It was hard work.

People said at the beginning, it is impossible. Wheelchair in the

water? Crazy. But we have proved it can be done. We have done test

before today. It is a new challenge and why not? If we cannot -- if we

can put a man on the moon, why not put a woman under water? I take my

hat off to her. But the strong tides in the Fleet

mean Sue's aim of a grand event will have to be scaled down to

something simpler. But Sue and her team have come up with a bold Plan

B - she's going to perform in the Osprey Swimming Pool, and have an

I woke up on New Year's Day saying I was going to be the first artist

to drown in front of her audience, I am sure it won't happen! For Sue,

a key part of her work is what others get out of it. People get so

excited by it and in spite of working within limitations,

physical exhaustion, mental exhaustion and so on, it is still

possible if you have an absolute passion about something - to

transcend all those issues. I have had people saying "if you can do

that, I can do anything" - that is Plymouth is one of the country's

bankruptcy blackspots and that is bad news not just for those going

bust. It bankruptcy can start a The Joseph Louie has been running

the Astor Hotel in Plymouth Hoe for a few years. The staff love it here.

The because it is just a small hotel, we know each other and we

call Joseph our and Daddy! We all clicked together and Joseph is nice

to work for. He has got an interesting character. It is fun to

All is not well at the Astor. The business is in trouble and the

staff are facing redundancy and Joseph could end up losing his

hotel. I cannot think about it. It is just around the corner. It could

be any moment. Last year, Inside Out revealed how debt owed to

Joseph of �160,000 had brought the business to its knees. I am close

to make or break. The bank is on my back and four months I have been

trying to save the business. followed baliffs as they tried to

recover the debt owed by a former Plymouth Argyle footballer. Hello.

We are looking for Paul Chapman? is not here. They left empty-handed.

The business has gone. Everything is gone. The house is on the market.

The car belongs to the lady inside. A later, Paul Chapman was declared

bankrupt. Unable to get back his money, Joseph has left owning more

than �100,000 to creditors of his own. Beautiful, sunny Plymouth.

is December and Joseph is off to see his accountant to find out just

how bad things are. When you are behind, every time the VAT is late,

be put a surcharge on it. I have paid at least �60,000 more VAT on

surcharges. Back at the hotel, it is business as usual. There is no

shortage of the Kings and when Joseph returns it is with a rescue

plan. If the Bank agrees to support us for the first couple of months

in January and New Year, up to may perhaps, then we have bookings and

we should be OK. However, his optimism is short-lived and the

bank refuses to increase his overdraft. It was declined. There

is no overdraft. They will not come in and close the hotel, but they

will not lend me any more money. One option is for Joseph to clear

his debts by selling up. Today, he showing round a value were. I am

beginning to come to terms with the fact that I may have to walk away.

It is not that easy. It is a worrying prospect for his staff.

have all been it pitching in, cutting our Arras to help our side

of the financial thing. Back we have got family to feed, bills to

pay, so losing my job would be hard. The Joseph is sure that if he could

struggle on until summer he could pull through. One adviser agrees.

Based on historic performance and current bookings, there is a

prospect of a reasonable profit in this company if given protection

from its unsecured creditors. Hamish suggests that the hotel

enters a company phonic the -- voluntary arrangement. It will

clear debts and avoid going under. It will provide a better return for

his unsecured creditors, which normally end up with no money.

Bank endorses the new plan. They listen to me and trusted me and

believed me. I would like to thank them. They gave me three years

initially and now they are giving me five years and I am so pleased

that it will save the hotel. also shares the good news with his

staff. How would like to thank you all for sticking with me and

supporting me. Some of you have gone out of your way and I

appreciated. They are not out of the woods yet. There is in meeting

on the second, an official meeting, with our creditors. That is a make

or break point. Just have's CBA can only proceed with the agreement of

his creditors. His staff are trying to stay upbeat. I do not like to

give up. I know he won't. I am sure that we will get back on form very

soon. It is touch and go and I hope everything goes fine. We have to be

positive. It is the day of reckoning. Creditors turned up to

vote on the rescue plan. If they do not back yet, Joseph will lose his

hotel to and more than 20 staff will lose their jobs. As they get

on with the daily routine, Joseph presents his plan to his creditors.

Finally, they give the thumbs-up. The it was not easy. I have no

doubt that it would happen. They have been very supportive. It is

nice to be trusted. I am hoping that lessons will be learned from

it. I do not want to see all these empty hotels and restaurants in the

City, times are hard and we all have problems and if I can do it,

so can everyone else. At last, Joseph can look forward. Bookings

are good for the summer and he has five years to clear his debts. His

creditors may have to be patient, but Joseph says he is determined

not to turn his back on them. And next tonight, the story of the

young Dorset designer for a chance to go for Korea ago. Her work for

the Olympics could be seen by a huge global audience. Success is by

no means so on up. Sarah Dicks puts the finishing touches on the most

challenging task of her life, making costumes that show of the

best of the South West when the Olympics are right this summer.

could not believe I had it. I am a new designer and it is a fantastic

opportunity. I am daunted by it all. Sarah's work will take centre stage

at Weymouth's Opening Ceremony. Some of those taking part need

convincing her costumes will match the occasion. We will produce a

world-class piece of theatre. If the costumes either are not

brilliant, or do not quite fit our needs, we will make our own.

will never happen again. It is the biggest thing I will probably ever

do. It is extremely scary. I have to pinch myself quite often to

believe I am doing such an incredible event. Success could

make Sarah's career. Will her designs make the cut or will they

fall apart at the scenes? Ticket is January. Work on the costumes is

under way. Sarah and her team of students helping her are doing

preliminary fittings. The costumes need to be ready by March, but

first they have to be approved by the different directors of all

seven or of the counties involved in the show. A tough task RECs and

designer, but Sarah only graduated last summer. The it is in the back

of my mind that it was to break, but when we had the first meeting,

there was the shock of how much work it was. Hopefully I am doing a

good job so far. Sarah's early work has caught the eye of one of the

project's leaders, a Bristol-based theatre director Billy Alwen.

can spot the costumes from Sarah's designs. It is great to see them in

scale. It is very exciting, bringing it to life. It is not an

elite who has the final say. Back comes down to the seven local

directors. Without their approval, Sarah's project is going nowhere.

200 miles away in Penzance, one of them is in full flow. Back in the

mists of mythic time, but the world have explored... Will Coleman has a

clear idea of how he once Cornwall to be represented at Weymouth's

event. We have been uncovering stories and characters and they

will form the core of the peace that we take to Weymouth. What I do

not want to happen is that at Weymouth there is some phenomenon

that occurs, purporting to represent Cornwall, but actually

has no connection with the place, the people, the Culture, the

identity and yet another token representation of Cornwall but we

do not understand or buy into. He is not mincing his words when it

comes to Sarah's design. If the costumes do not meet our needs, and

I hope they do and are brilliant, but if they are not brilliant work

do not quite fit our needs, we will make our own. Today, Sarah is in

Exeter presenting her initial ideas to the League directors from all of

the seven counties. The overall World that we're thinking of

creating is set in the Edwardian period. The amount of people but I

am working with, I feel really privileged to spend time with them.

The best thing about it is that they have treated me as an equal

right, rather than a student. That is fantastic. With the presentation

over, Sarah shows the drawings to Will for the first time. Things do

not quite go to Plan. I thought that the ideas were finished, but

we have had different feedback and realised it is not quite what we

thought it would be. With much to think about, Sarah and her team of

students are in Bristol for another key test of the designs. Acrobats

will play a major part in the Weymouth ceremony and they will

expect the costumes to be stylish and also practical. We were

discussing the designs to make sure there were no issues, that they

would interfere or with what equipment they are using to fly. It

has to be safe. The at the costumes will have to withstand hours of

rigorous movement. It must not tear. It is good news for Sarah. The

scenes hold. It should not hinder me in any way. I have up to a cot -

- confidence. The acrobats are happy. Sarah knows it will be even

tougher to please the other performers. It is always at the

back of your mind if you trip up, this will not be very good for me

or the event. You have to hold your nerve and hope that everything will

work out. It is late February and the moment of truth for Sarah.

Having done the changes Will requested, she is in Cornwall to

show in the finished product. worried about how he will react,

because he is probably one of the artists I spend the least amount of

time with. It is always a worry because you do not know how they

will react. Will will decide if he wants to use the creations or make

his own. The we have all the costumes for you. The trousers here.

The jacket. Are you implying there is not enough there? You know that

Becky is here? Bheki! I like in the black and gold and vertical stripes.

The early signs are good, but Will has some suggestions. Unfortunately,

it looks a bit dated. It is a bit like a china at Shepherd S. It

should be much shorter. I am pleased with what I saw today. I

know they are not finished and we need more tweaks. What we have seen

hangs together well, has a good feel and I am happy. If a fantastic.

Costumes are really good. We will look forward to wearing them in

Weymouth. Having convinced her toughest critic, Sarah heads off to

show her work to the other directors. When it comes to July,

it will be everywhere. It is really exciting. I love this job. With