0:00:04 > 0:00:07Would you buy a ticket for a train that might not turn up?
0:00:07 > 0:00:10That's what Southern Rail passengers have been doing all summer long.
0:00:10 > 0:00:16This is the seventh week of this commuter hell
0:00:16 > 0:00:19that we are all facing.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22I just can't do this any more.
0:00:22 > 0:00:27It is too stressful and upsetting.
0:00:27 > 0:00:28We hear from both sides.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31I think it has been terrible in terms of reputation.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34I think it has been terrible for Southern and the the RMT.
0:00:34 > 0:00:36We can't stand by and watch these people run this
0:00:36 > 0:00:38franchise into the ground, which is what we're doing.
0:00:38 > 0:00:45Also, in Surrey villagers try to save their local pub.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47Such a shame.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49And my attempts to win the Bognor Birdman.
0:00:49 > 0:00:55Welcome to Inside Out.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03First up, Southern Rail.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Two words that will send a shudder through train user's across
0:01:05 > 0:01:06the South.
0:01:06 > 0:01:08Because lives continue to be turned upside down
0:01:08 > 0:01:11by a failing rail service.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14All this as a parent company has just released massive
0:01:14 > 0:01:16profits.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19Passengers are angry and they want answers.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23Here it comes.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25The 19.08 from Clapham Junction down to Portsmouth and Bognor Regis.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38So, it didn't stop.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41The trains are really going late.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44I think it is something to do with the managers.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47I am just one little story of hundreds of thousands of people
0:01:47 > 0:01:50who are being affected by this commuter hell that we are all being
0:01:50 > 0:01:52placed in.
0:01:52 > 0:01:53Just fix it!
0:01:53 > 0:01:57Southern Rail has a seven year contract to
0:01:57 > 0:02:00run trains from London from London to and from Sussex, Hampshire, Kent,
0:02:00 > 0:02:04Milton Keynes, Surry and right along the south coast.
0:02:04 > 0:02:09It is a deal worth ?8.9 billion of taxpayer's money.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11But the service is in disarray.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14In the summer, 341 trains were cut from
0:02:14 > 0:02:16it's timetable.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20Creating chaos across the south.
0:02:20 > 0:02:25This service will not depart you do not step back from
0:02:25 > 0:02:29the train and you will cause delays for yourself and everybody else on
0:02:29 > 0:02:30the platform.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32The company has now reinstated the third of those
0:02:32 > 0:02:37services, but it's still got the worst record in the country for
0:02:37 > 0:02:40significant lateness and has cancelled more trains than all other
0:02:40 > 0:02:43rail operators put together.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45No surprise it's users have nicknamed
0:02:45 > 0:02:46Southern Rail, Southern Fail.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49When I say Southern, you say fail.
0:02:49 > 0:02:50Southern...
0:02:50 > 0:02:53Fail!
0:02:53 > 0:02:55Southern rail is a franchise.
0:02:55 > 0:03:00Part of part of Govia Thameslink Railway or GDR which in
0:03:00 > 0:03:02turn is owned by the multi-billion pound Go-Ahead Group.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04Now, they've just announced yearly profits of
0:03:04 > 0:03:08?100 million.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11Which must be pretty galling for a commuter on Southern
0:03:11 > 0:03:15who has just paid ?5,000 for a season ticket to go nowhere.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19I am stood at Brighton station once again like I do every night.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22I've just got to the train station to get my
0:03:22 > 0:03:23regular train to Southampton and it's cancelled.
0:03:23 > 0:03:24What does this mean?
0:03:24 > 0:03:25I am a new father.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27My little baby boy is seven months old.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31I won't get to see him once again before he goes to bed.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33The commute to London got so bad for Emma, a lawyer from
0:03:33 > 0:03:36Littlehampton, she made the decision to give up her job.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38At that period over the summer, they destroyed my life.
0:03:38 > 0:03:43Emma's route should have taken an hour and a half each way.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45But when it started taking her to four
0:03:45 > 0:03:48and a half hours each way, she had had enough.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52My son, who was waiting at home for me every time I was in
0:03:52 > 0:03:55London, I couldn't get home on time to see him.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57So, he was put to bed by his nan.
0:03:57 > 0:03:58Usually, at his nan's house.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01So, I didn't get to see him at all in the evening.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04And then of course I didn't get to see him at
0:04:04 > 0:04:05all in the morning.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07So, he would go hours without seeing his mum.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09My mum couldn't put me to bed on time
0:04:09 > 0:04:10because of the trains.
0:04:10 > 0:04:11What was that like?
0:04:11 > 0:04:15Well, it was very upsetting and lonely.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18This is the 17.40 from Clapham Junction.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21It should be going to Southampton to Bognor Regis.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23And the Southampton section of the train has disappeared.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25So, if you're going to Southampton this evening,
0:04:25 > 0:04:29you won't be going on this.
0:04:29 > 0:04:30Southern Rail blames the cancellations on
0:04:30 > 0:04:32staff shortages due to sickness.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35The RMT Union says that is not the case.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38And that the company employs fewer staff than it really needs.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42Relying on them to work overtime.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46We've had, since the franchise was taken over by Go-Ahead, arguments
0:04:46 > 0:04:49with the company about them not having enough staff to run the train
0:04:49 > 0:04:50services.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52It is a franchise from hell as far as we're concerned.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54People's lives have been ruined.
0:04:54 > 0:04:55People have lost jobs.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57Their family lives have been disrupted.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59Because you can't run a rail service.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01At the heart of this problem is our
0:05:01 > 0:05:02disagreement with the RMT.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05We are trying to make some modernisation
0:05:05 > 0:05:06changes to the way we operate the service.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08OK, I'm going to stop you there.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10That's not the heart of the problem, is it?
0:05:10 > 0:05:13The heart of the problem, surely, is that you're
0:05:13 > 0:05:15trying to run your rail service with only 80% of the staff.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17No, that is not the case, no.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19That's what your staff have told us.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21We've got sufficient number of staff to run
0:05:21 > 0:05:22the service.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24We made some assumptions about sickness and rest
0:05:24 > 0:05:26days and some other assumptions as to why staff
0:05:26 > 0:05:27may not be available.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30And certainly with sickness, there is a lot higher level of sickness
0:05:30 > 0:05:31than we had planned.
0:05:31 > 0:05:32That is true.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35If you look at rest days and overtime working,
0:05:35 > 0:05:43overtime working is not compulsory and we don't expect
0:05:43 > 0:05:44people to work that.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47When you add that all into the mix, it has meant
0:05:47 > 0:05:50that there have been more trains cancelled and we would have liked.
0:05:50 > 0:05:51I'm at Horsham this morning.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53They have just announced that the 7.25 is
0:05:53 > 0:05:54an eight car service.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56It is normally 12 cars, so that means that the
0:05:56 > 0:05:57train is a lot shorter.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00I can see there is going to be quite a lot of
0:06:00 > 0:06:02people waiting to get on a very small train.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05The RMT says the Department for Transport is leaning
0:06:05 > 0:06:06on Southern Rail to reduce running costs.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09The Government want to cut the subsidies, but the privatiers
0:06:09 > 0:06:13want to make their money.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16And the meat in the sandwich are the passengers and the staff.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18And we're not going to have that.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20We're trying to defend not only the staff, that the passenger
0:06:20 > 0:06:21services as well.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23Although people might not think that at this moment
0:06:23 > 0:06:24in time.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26The franchise's cost-cutting plan is more driver-operated trains.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28Southern rail has been running driver-only operated
0:06:28 > 0:06:29trains for years.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31Chances are, you've been on one.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33But the majority still have a guard on board.
0:06:33 > 0:06:40With the responsibility of opening and closing the doors.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Now, Southern Rail wants more drivers to do that
0:06:43 > 0:06:44using a switch in the cab.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46Which means in the future, more services could
0:06:46 > 0:06:48run without a guard.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51This Southern Rail guard doesn't want to be
0:06:51 > 0:06:54identified, but wants to speak out because he believes the move to more
0:06:54 > 0:07:01driver-only operated trains just isn't safe.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04Of the last ten serious incidents of platform train
0:07:04 > 0:07:07interface, where somebody has been trapped in a train and have been
0:07:07 > 0:07:08dragged along the platform.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11Eight out of ten of those incidents have
0:07:11 > 0:07:13involved driver-only operated trains.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15Oh, I have to say, I think that is nonsense.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17The RMT makes this point, they never provide any
0:07:17 > 0:07:19evidence to back up that point.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21At the moment on Southern, around about
0:07:21 > 0:07:2640% of trains already operate in driver-only mode anyway.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28It is a method of working that is
0:07:28 > 0:07:30established all over the country and the safety body
0:07:30 > 0:07:32that is regulating our industry has also said that this
0:07:32 > 0:07:42method of working is a safe method of working.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45We have had incidents at West Wickham, where
0:07:45 > 0:07:46passengers on driver
0:07:46 > 0:07:49only operated trains have been pulled along because they got
0:07:49 > 0:07:50trapped in doors.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52These are indicators to us that there are some
0:07:52 > 0:07:54real safety concerns around how driver only operation is operating
0:07:54 > 0:07:55and whether it is safe.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58Bearing in mind that we have seen the highest
0:07:58 > 0:08:01level of passenger use that we have seen for many, many years.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03Southern Rail says there will be no redundancies and most trains will
0:08:03 > 0:08:04have on-board supervisors.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06Is that a cast-iron guarantee that a train
0:08:06 > 0:08:09won't run unless there are two methods of staff on-board?
0:08:09 > 0:08:10No.
0:08:10 > 0:08:11Not at all.
0:08:11 > 0:08:12That is a different point.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14What we said is that under normal operations,
0:08:14 > 0:08:16there will be a second member of staff on-board.
0:08:16 > 0:08:17That is what we have said.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20But if a second member of staff isn't available, the
0:08:20 > 0:08:21train will still run?
0:08:21 > 0:08:22That's right.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26One of the things we want to do is use the technology we have to allow
0:08:26 > 0:08:29the driver to close the train doors which means that in the unusual
0:08:29 > 0:08:32circumstances that we can't get a second person to a train, that's
0:08:32 > 0:08:35train won't have to be cancelled and can still run for our customers.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39Some of those customers have turned into campaigners.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41The Association of British Commuters is now working to
0:08:41 > 0:08:44a judicial review into the Department for Transport's dealings
0:08:44 > 0:08:48with Southern Rail.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50I would like to thank everybody for being here
0:08:50 > 0:08:52outside the Department for Transport today.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54Remember commuter Alex from Horsham?
0:08:54 > 0:08:57With his season ticket costing ?3,700?
0:08:57 > 0:08:59It is a lot of money.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03And I can't go down the road and do it with the other train company.
0:09:03 > 0:09:04This is a monopoly.
0:09:04 > 0:09:09Worse, it is a monopoly that is run by a
0:09:09 > 0:09:11unelected official within the Government department.
0:09:11 > 0:09:19Worse, it is a monopoly run by an unelected official who blames
0:09:19 > 0:09:21a private company that can't lose any money
0:09:21 > 0:09:22because of the manager contract.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24Their's no accountability anywhere in this situation.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26We did ask the Department for Transport for
0:09:26 > 0:09:27an interview, but they sent us a statement.
0:09:27 > 0:09:28We'll let commuters on
0:09:28 > 0:09:31Southern tell you what rail minister Paul Maynard had to say.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Passengers want a railway that works for them and delivers the timely,
0:09:34 > 0:09:35modern and convenient service they expect.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38They should not have to
0:09:38 > 0:09:43The unions try to prevent the delivery of the modern
0:09:43 > 0:09:44railway. the delivery of the modern
0:09:44 > 0:09:45With additional capacity and improved performance.
0:09:45 > 0:09:46And improved performance would have
0:09:46 > 0:09:49saved these guys a 60-mile walk back home to Worthing.
0:09:49 > 0:09:50We are Victoria Station.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52It is 2pm.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55We are about to walk from London to Worthing.
0:09:55 > 0:10:04Because all the trains are shocking.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11There is no end in sight to a dispute which on the face of it
0:10:11 > 0:10:12seems trivial.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14But which is having a profound effect on thousands of
0:10:14 > 0:10:15people's lives.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17Passengers need answers and take this action beyond
0:10:17 > 0:10:19a he said, she said, tit-for-tat industrial disaster.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Coming up, soar like an eagle or sink like a stone.
0:10:22 > 0:10:26It's the, Bognor Birdman.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33And of course, I'd love to hear your experiences of
0:10:33 > 0:10:34Southern Rail.
0:10:34 > 0:10:39You can reach me on e-mail.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42Next, here in the south of England, pubs are closing at an
0:10:42 > 0:10:43alarming rate.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45Being developed into houses, being changed into supermarkets or
0:10:45 > 0:10:46just left to stand empty.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48But as Nick Wallis has been finding out,
0:10:48 > 0:10:52one community in Surrey has been fighting back.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57Blackheath, on the outskirts of Guildford.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01Nestled in the Surrey Hills and surrounded by heath.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04An area of outstanding natural beauty and a site of special
0:11:04 > 0:11:12scientific interest.
0:11:12 > 0:11:13In 1864, Queen Victoria reviewed her volunteer
0:11:13 > 0:11:14troops here.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17And they've been playing cricket on the greens and 1878.
0:11:17 > 0:11:18In 1944, tens of thousands of soldiers camped
0:11:18 > 0:11:20on the Heath ready for D-Day.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22It ticks plenty of boxes as an archetypal English village.
0:11:22 > 0:11:29Except for this one.
0:11:29 > 0:11:29Look at the mess.
0:11:29 > 0:11:30Look at it!
0:11:30 > 0:11:31Terrible state.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34In September 2010, the pub up here finally called last orders.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36And they really were last orders.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38It's very sad to see it.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41It's been like this for about four...
0:11:41 > 0:11:45Six years.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48Hilda's 84 and Billy's 91.
0:11:48 > 0:11:49They were both born in Blackheath.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51And have fond memories of the pub.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54It did have a nice garden where you could sit out.
0:11:54 > 0:11:59It's all gone now.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01Hilda's grandfather ran the villagers in the 1860s.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04And her father was born here.
0:12:04 > 0:12:09It's hardly surprising she doesn't like seeing it like this.
0:12:09 > 0:12:10Dreadful.
0:12:10 > 0:12:11Terrible.
0:12:11 > 0:12:12Such a shame.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Since Billy was born in 1925, Blackheath has
0:12:15 > 0:12:16changed considerably.
0:12:16 > 0:12:21We had two shops, three churches and two pubs.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25We did have.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29Now all we have got is two churches.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32It is sad, isn't it?
0:12:32 > 0:12:36It is going backwards rather than forwards.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39And social scientist Christina who lives in the village
0:12:39 > 0:12:40has a theory.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43You have only got to take one look at the pub sign.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46Three blokes, three old blokes, drinking
0:12:46 > 0:12:50pints out of pewter pots smoking clay pipes.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52That sign encapsulates everything that I think is the old
0:12:52 > 0:12:55model of a pub.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57Where are the women there?
0:12:57 > 0:12:59I suppose they were washing clothes out the back.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02It's time we had something for the people of now
0:13:02 > 0:13:07and the future.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09Not old men of the past.
0:13:09 > 0:13:10A dog.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Spaces for the dogs in the new pubs.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17The Pub's on the market for ?525,000 plus VAT.
0:13:17 > 0:13:26The village has a plan which would enable them to buy
0:13:27 > 0:13:29it and there is not a clay pipe in sight.
0:13:29 > 0:13:34The proposal is to convert the old pub into a much smaller pub
0:13:34 > 0:13:36here and then have two cottages either side,
0:13:36 > 0:13:41which we would sell.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43To pay for the purchase of the pub and to
0:13:43 > 0:13:44refurbish it.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46Without the pub, the cricket pavilion is the hub.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48They can serve beer, but it is only open
0:13:48 > 0:13:51one evening a week and only in summer.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54Yes, one night a week is not enough.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57The pub means everything to me because it was such a hub of the
0:13:57 > 0:13:58village.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01I only live like 100-metres away, so it would be perfect.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04I go to other pubs which are further out
0:14:04 > 0:14:06and much less convenient at the moment to meet up
0:14:06 > 0:14:09with friends and it would be ideal to have it here
0:14:09 > 0:14:11and have it for everyone.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13It would be absolutely great.
0:14:13 > 0:14:17We should open the pub.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20Blackheath's cricket team have been squaring up to opponents
0:14:20 > 0:14:29on the green here since the 1800s.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32But team Save Our Pub might find winning back the villagers a bit
0:14:32 > 0:14:33more tricky.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36A lot of the problem is that it is owned ultimately
0:14:36 > 0:14:38by a very big corporation and inevitably, the
0:14:38 > 0:14:44top brass don't know the ins and outs of their each individual pub.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46That big corporation is the Wellington pub company.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49Owned by two of the richest men in the country.
0:14:49 > 0:14:50The Reuben brothers.
0:14:50 > 0:14:56Hoping they may be sympathetic to a village losing
0:14:56 > 0:14:59it's pub, the Lord of the Manor try to contact them.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01I did write to them personally myself.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04Reply came from halfway up the chain.
0:15:04 > 0:15:05They couldn't commit themselves, wouldn't commit themselves.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08I don't believe the Reuben brothers got anywhere near
0:15:08 > 0:15:09the letter.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12The villagers have had The Villagers listed
0:15:12 > 0:15:14as an asset of community value.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16That makes change of use harder, which they hope will
0:15:16 > 0:15:20put other people.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23They pledged money and put an offer in with the estate
0:15:23 > 0:15:24agents, but they are not alone.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26They have definitely got two other offers
0:15:26 > 0:15:27that I know of.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31One below us and one higher.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34And I know at least two other people who want to put offers
0:15:34 > 0:15:35in as well.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38According to Paul, the Wellington pub company won't accept
0:15:38 > 0:15:40their offer unless the money is already in place.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44They want ?5,000 on the nail.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46Then they want to exchange within 14 days and then
0:15:46 > 0:15:49complete 14 days thereafter.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51Well, it would take us probably three to
0:15:51 > 0:15:53four months to find that money.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56It is the sort of heart and soul of the
0:15:56 > 0:15:58village really.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01It makes the difference between community
0:16:01 > 0:16:03and a dormitory.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07It is important.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10A snoop around the overgrown garden reveals an old entrance well worth
0:16:10 > 0:16:15salvaging.
0:16:19 > 0:16:26So, if we get the pub back, this will take pride of place.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29Sweat and hard work we put into bringing our old pub back again.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31This will epitomise it for me.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34Right across the south, communities have
0:16:34 > 0:16:37been fighting back to save their local.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39Over on Cranborne Chase in
0:16:39 > 0:16:41Dorset, villages in Gussage All Saints have just
0:16:41 > 0:16:43rescued The Drovers.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45The pub was suddenly closed and boarded
0:16:45 > 0:16:47in November.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50And we had thought it was going to be sold as a public
0:16:50 > 0:16:53house, but then after that there was a planning application going in to
0:16:53 > 0:16:55change the use to residential.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58At that time, we called a village meeting and we had standing room
0:16:58 > 0:17:08only.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10Everybody felt really strong about it.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13And we decided that we would do everything in our power to
0:17:13 > 0:17:14stop it.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16So, the village put the business plan together and raise
0:17:16 > 0:17:18?160,000 by selling shares.
0:17:18 > 0:17:19The smallest share holder holds ?300 and
0:17:19 > 0:17:21the biggest one is ?10,000.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23As an individual.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25And all amounts of money in between.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29We have got over 160 shareholders now.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31The village committee finally bought the pub in
0:17:31 > 0:17:34March this year.
0:17:34 > 0:17:39Sally and I have both been living this dream for
0:17:39 > 0:17:41about 16, 17 months now.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44It will be nice one morning to wake up and not
0:17:44 > 0:17:47have the first thought in your mind being what have I got to do?
0:17:47 > 0:17:50But relief as well.
0:17:50 > 0:17:59That we can get our village life back together.
0:18:02 > 0:18:07So, whilst The Drovers are happily pulling
0:18:07 > 0:18:09pints again, here in Blackheath, they still don't know if they're pub
0:18:09 > 0:18:11will ever reopen.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13To me, it is like I've lost a very good friend.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15The pub is not necessarily just a
0:18:15 > 0:18:16drinking den for goodness sake.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18Is a where people can meet and converse
0:18:18 > 0:18:19and put the world to rights.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22I think it's taken so long to get this far,
0:18:22 > 0:18:24I'm about 30% hopeful that something will happen.
0:18:24 > 0:18:25I am more hopeful.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28Not 100%, but more than 30%.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30I think just a small village pub would be
0:18:30 > 0:18:32ideal.
0:18:32 > 0:18:37I suggested a nursing home too.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39Then we wouldn't have far to go.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41I want a pint with my mates in the local.
0:18:41 > 0:18:42That is all I'm asking.
0:18:42 > 0:18:47Nothing greater than that.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49Well, it's going to happen.
0:18:49 > 0:18:50Nick Wallis there.
0:18:50 > 0:18:55Now, don't forget we are on Twitter.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58Finally, here in the south we have a tremendously rich
0:18:58 > 0:19:01history when it comes to aviation.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04Of course, it is 80 years before Spitfire took to the skies.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06It was designed and built by some of the
0:19:06 > 0:19:06finest minds.
0:19:16 > 0:19:25The Bognor Birdman contest has been around since the 70s.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28Every year, dozens of wannabe Wright
0:19:28 > 0:19:31brothers take the plunge from the top of Bognor or Worthing Pier.
0:19:31 > 0:19:32The furthest flyer wins a cash prize.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36This year, the production team has decided it's a good idea for me to
0:19:36 > 0:19:38do it.
0:19:38 > 0:19:45A multiplied by B squared.
0:19:45 > 0:19:46Knowing nothing about aircraft design, I've snuck
0:19:46 > 0:19:47into an aerodynamics
0:19:47 > 0:19:51lecture at the University of Southampton.
0:19:51 > 0:19:52B prime over a prime.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55How nice of Doctor Alex Forrester to help me out.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58That is what it is equal to.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02Classic Newton's law is that every force has an equal
0:20:02 > 0:20:03and opposite reaction.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06So, you need to push down on the air as much as it
0:20:06 > 0:20:08is pushing up on you.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10The most important part of my design will be
0:20:10 > 0:20:11the wings.
0:20:11 > 0:20:19Get this wrong and it will be a very short flight.
0:20:19 > 0:20:19The hypotenuse is the weight.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22You need to make sure that the ribs are strong enough
0:20:22 > 0:20:26and you have got is a sufficient of them the pressure on all of this
0:20:26 > 0:20:28area going to cause that bit to snap.
0:20:28 > 0:20:29I think you'll do well.
0:20:29 > 0:20:30I have faith.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32Well, that makes one of us at least.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34There are three classes you can enter for the bird man.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37Kingfisher is for those who just want to jump.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39Hang gliders enter the Condor class.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41And there's me in the da Vinci class.
0:20:41 > 0:20:42For inventors only.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46This year, there are three of us.
0:20:46 > 0:20:47Enough talking, more thinking,
0:20:47 > 0:20:54more drawing.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56This baby is going to win me ?1,000.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59But before I start building it, I need to check out my
0:20:59 > 0:21:00opposition.
0:21:00 > 0:21:08I have arrived on bin day, it seems.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11Sam Penny from the Acton is a tad more experienced than me.
0:21:11 > 0:21:12He's an aircraft engineer.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14His design is pedal powered.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17And needs an enormous wingspan and propeller.
0:21:17 > 0:21:18Look at this!
0:21:18 > 0:21:21Yeah, it is coming on a bit.
0:21:21 > 0:21:22It is four metres across.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25Four metres!
0:21:25 > 0:21:27Your propeller is the length of one of my wings.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29Yes, it is.
0:21:29 > 0:21:35Does it work?
0:21:35 > 0:21:36Yeah.
0:21:36 > 0:21:37Can we see?
0:21:37 > 0:21:3822 metre wingspan.
0:21:38 > 0:21:39It should only weigh 40 kilos.
0:21:39 > 0:21:49And it should fly at 70 mph.
0:21:50 > 0:21:51--17 mph.
0:21:51 > 0:21:52Hopefully.
0:21:52 > 0:21:53So, how fast we have to pedal?
0:21:53 > 0:21:55Pedal as fast as you think you will.
0:21:55 > 0:21:56That fast?
0:21:56 > 0:22:03Bodily about that.
0:22:03 > 0:22:04110 rpm, I reckon.
0:22:04 > 0:22:05While samples like relying on pedal power,
0:22:05 > 0:22:07I'm going for a more straightforward glider design.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10Which is starting to take shape here in the bowels of BBC
0:22:10 > 0:22:11south.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14Over in Bognor, the other rivals in my class are also hard at
0:22:14 > 0:22:15work.
0:22:15 > 0:22:16That is your next bar.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18That gets glued there.
0:22:18 > 0:22:26Simon Smith is a special effects designer.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28His mate Kelvin Hickmore will be piloting
0:22:28 > 0:22:29the craft.
0:22:29 > 0:22:30I trust you.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32We have spent a whole lives creating and
0:22:32 > 0:22:33building weird and wonderful objects.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35This is going to be just another one of those objects.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37This one, hopefully, is going to do a
0:22:37 > 0:22:38little bit better.
0:22:38 > 0:22:39Lightweight, carbon fibre.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42Big wing.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45And to be honest, I'm just going to make it up.
0:22:45 > 0:22:46So you're just going to...
0:22:46 > 0:22:47Yes.
0:22:47 > 0:22:53Literally just going to run and go for it.
0:22:53 > 0:22:54Down.
0:22:54 > 0:22:55Nosedive the waves?
0:22:55 > 0:22:56Yes.
0:22:56 > 0:23:01Back at Southampton Uni, Doctor Forrester is testing a 20th
0:23:01 > 0:23:03scale model of my design in a
0:23:03 > 0:23:03state-of-the-art wind tunnel.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05This is great.
0:23:05 > 0:23:15Lovely level flight.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18You start to dive a bit and the tail is giving some negative lift.
0:23:18 > 0:23:19This is great.
0:23:19 > 0:23:20This is a flyer.
0:23:20 > 0:23:21No way!
0:23:21 > 0:23:23All great news, but will my full-size
0:23:23 > 0:23:24matchup to the model?
0:23:24 > 0:23:30It's all getting a bit real now.
0:23:30 > 0:23:31It's been surreal up to this moment,
0:23:31 > 0:23:35but reality is dawning that soon I'm going to be under that throwing
0:23:35 > 0:23:36myself of that.
0:23:36 > 0:23:37What am I doing?
0:23:37 > 0:23:42Early morning on the day of the contest.
0:23:42 > 0:23:49And the air reeks of anticipation in Bognor.
0:23:49 > 0:23:55But things aren't going so well for me back at base.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57My eight-metre wings won't fit in the van.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59We are doing the international Bognor Birdman event.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03In desperation, I take to begging live on the radio.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05So, if anybody is listening and can take pity with
0:24:05 > 0:24:07something like a Luton van.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09And just like that, one hour later...
0:24:12 > 0:24:14Peter and Lenny from a local removals firm
0:24:14 > 0:24:16arrived to save my bacon.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18Thank you so much!
0:24:18 > 0:24:22That is all right.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24With a little bit of jiggling, my baby is
0:24:24 > 0:24:34finally in and we are good to go.
0:24:34 > 0:24:38A couple of hours later, we arrive at Bognor.
0:24:38 > 0:24:47The Condor class is already underway.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49Mr Birdman takes to the air.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52Whilst they wowed the crowd, my motley road crew get me into
0:24:52 > 0:24:53position.
0:24:53 > 0:24:54We are ready to go.
0:24:54 > 0:24:55I think.
0:24:55 > 0:24:56You are flying, aren't you?
0:24:56 > 0:24:58No.
0:24:58 > 0:25:04You said that it will only take 80 kilos.
0:25:04 > 0:25:12Remember, there are only three of us on my class.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Me and my bird, Sam with his propeller pedals and up
0:25:15 > 0:25:16first I Kelvin and Simon.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18My knees knocking and away we go but...
0:25:18 > 0:25:19I do have nappies.
0:25:19 > 0:25:20Thank you.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22But the south east summer is in full swing.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25If the wind reaches 20 knots, they'll call the whole thing off.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27I have got to aim down.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29Because I don't want to get lifted back up.
0:25:29 > 0:25:30That would be bad.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32You can come to the edge, if you like.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34I'm all right here.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38Without further ado, Kelvin is ready for the off.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42But the wind is not dying down.
0:25:54 > 0:25:55Well done, Kevin!
0:25:55 > 0:25:56The wind is so strong.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58It is so hard to get off the pier.
0:25:58 > 0:26:08But he did well!
0:26:08 > 0:26:10He sort of got off the pier, didn't he?
0:26:10 > 0:26:11He has landed.
0:26:11 > 0:26:12He has gone the furthest yet.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14Next up, is an aircraft engineer, Sam Penny.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16Good luck.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19Thank you very much.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21His pedal powered plane has a wingspan of more
0:26:21 > 0:26:22than 20 metres.
0:26:22 > 0:26:27And this craft is enormous.
0:26:36 > 0:26:37Amazing!
0:26:37 > 0:26:47Wow.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49Sam just flew a whopping 35.5 metres.
0:26:49 > 0:26:54With everything to play for, it's my turn on the platform.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57Despite near gale force winds, I'm sticking to my plan.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59Dive, dive, dive.
0:27:05 > 0:27:14Maybe not that much.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16And the craft's spun and went upside down.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19Well done, John.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21He's safe, he's sound.
0:27:26 > 0:27:270.5 metres.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29I have seen better.
0:27:29 > 0:27:34I will be honest, that could have been better.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37Distance 0.5 metres.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40I could have actually fallen further.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43To be honest, I didn't even fly the distance of me.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45Did I?
0:27:55 > 0:27:57So, Sam takes the ?1,000.
0:27:57 > 0:28:03Kelvin is second and I definitely come last.
0:28:03 > 0:28:13Same time next year, boys?
0:28:18 > 0:28:19How was Daddy's plane?
0:28:19 > 0:28:20No good.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22What has happened to daddy's plain?
0:28:22 > 0:28:23Crashed.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29I'm still picking seaweed out of my teeth.
0:28:29 > 0:28:30That is it for now.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33I will see you next week.
0:28:40 > 0:28:50Just to let you know, thanks to my prize money
0:28:52 > 0:28:54for coming last and a kind donation
0:28:54 > 0:28:55from the removals company, we raised
0:28:55 > 0:28:56?500 for children in need.
0:28:56 > 0:29:00Not bad for falling off a pier.
0:29:00 > 0:29:01Not bad for falling off a pier.