13/02/2017 Inside Out South

I don't understand how it is a people lost their lives aren't

disabled. Town-mac we want to go to work, it's like getting that help in

young women from Brighton who fought young women from Brighton who fought

hard cancer on a YouTube. She has left her legacy and her videos, as

yet let a resounding impact on me as well. And we turn back the clock as

they take a tour of one of Dorset hidden villages. Welcome to Inside

Out. If you visit the struggle to get

around, your car to be a lifeline. Some people having their Motability

the car is taken away after new assessments decide that they are not

disabled enough to qualify. What's going on? Portsmouth, a popular spot

for petrol heads. Especially if you've had a few modifications.

Becky, Trevor and Adam are all amputees. All three have they cast

thanks to the Government's notability scheme. It hits 40 this

year. -- Motability scheme. They fear the brakes could be slammed on

any moment. And their wheels will be taken away. How you go to carry your

cityscape and yorker the? I have fallen over a few times. Thank you.

GB forgiving father get our free amputees would count as disabled.

Doing slopes and grass, it's a strange sensation. It is lethal. But

it seems they might not be disabled enough for the new personal

independence payment of PIP which has replaced the old disability

benefit. The man who came out to assess said to me, if you had both

legs amputated, you wouldn't have any problems getting PIP, you'd be

classified as disabled. Side got to get both amputated. Before Becky

lost her leg, she had several operations and had been on crutches

for seven years. She qualified for a car to help live independently. But

now, with a prosthetic leg, she could lose her car. If they can

might not be disabled enough, they don't classify a pathetic leg as a

walking aid. Wheelchairs, crutches, there was a classified as walking

aids. Apparently legs aren't. That I've had this car, it has given me

everything, I can get to hospital appointments, not relying on friends

or family, or buses which when possible for me with my scooter. So

this has given me my freedom back. I can get out and about. Becky had to

pay the first ?1800, then the car is funded by a ?55 a week allowance.

it is hand controls, so I have to it is hand controls, so I have to

constantly pool this lever which does the acceleration. For me to

break, I have to lever back. I also break, I have to lever back. I also

have a knob up here because I can't physically tiring a sharp corner. At

the same time as pulling the accelerator. I can't drive a normal

car, so without PIP, I'm gay to be very stuck. -- getting to be. And it

is it about 20 metres unaided highlight that qualify for

Motability. Like Becky says, a prosthetic leg isn't classified as

an eight. As what's more than 20 an eight. As what's more than 20

metres, that means I have to hand the car back. It's terrible. What

today is a good day, Becky says her today is a good day, Becky says her

prosthesis is heavy. She gets in rashes and blisters from wearing it,

, so can't always use it. It doesn't matter that I might have my leg off

tomorrow or Thursday. They are only concerned about the fact I can walk

every so often. That would take my car away. The new PIP asset that is

aimed at saving the public money, but Philip Connolly of Company Mac

says removing peoples Motability is a false economy. Denying them the

opportunity to use the car and that the vehicle has got to be

counter-productive. These people will become more reliant on

statutory services, which is more expensive. They also lose a lots of

choices and control in a lives. Consequence is to put people, make

them prisoners of their properties, putting them under house arrest.

That is a description Leah Debus recognises all too well. Leah lost

her leg any motorbike accident five years ago. She got a pathetic and a

Motability car which allowed her to work full-time. Just feel the weight

of it. Tumours ago, she had her PIP assessment. Their decision is that I

am not entitled to any mobility at all. Her car was taken away so she

can now log work and is now totally relied on benefits. I had to turn

down a new job that I've managed to get, I been for an interview, was

offered the job, was excited to start it, but due to relocation I

couldn't get there without my vehicle. I think the most striking

thing... Sorry, the must be shaking thing is actually how hard I pushed

myself these last five years, how hard I have worked to walk, go back

to work, live my life, and I feel like I've been penalised for that.

They've taken it away from me. They've made it impossible nearly to

live that life. I just don't understand how they can say that I

don't have enough of a disability to warrant Motability. I don't

understand how they can say people who have lost their limbs aren't

disabled. And lost his leg a year ago after an illness he had since

childhood. It's hard to get your head around this sort of thing when

it happens. You don't think it will happen to you. Until a member of

Parliament is in this situation, nothing will get done. My name is

Trevor Jones, used to drive trucks. It got worse and worse, I had to be

taken off in February last year. We taken off in February last year. We

have paid our taxes and paid it, we need help. Go to is in the gutter.

-- don't throw us in the gutter. Travellers entitlement to PIP is

worked out after a medical assessment with a task, the company

and Pensions. This is the D-Day, and Pensions. This is the D-Day,

this is where I'm going into the effort I'll be assessed. Whether I

can cope, and that. I'm a bit nervous. Every time I been in there,

this is the fourth time, every time it is not the right answer. You've

got to fight. He will find out in the next few weeks if he believes

his car. In the meantime, he is keen to show just how tough it will be to

get around if it has to go. It is even worse getting out, because your

leg will twist. You can get caught under the pedal. I have done. It's

not nice when you follow via. -- fall over. People think you're

cars are currently being handed back cars are currently being handed back

at an unprecedented rate of roughly 800 a week. Here's the... This is

the early when around the area, otherwise I got to go all the way

around, which has two time and effort. I got a go slow because if

my front wheel 's catch, as you go. And I've done that twice. Trevor

wanted to find out from the Government why so many people are

losing their cars after a PIP assessment. The Department for Work

and Pensions pensions with only give a statement. Having lost her car,

Leah was keen to see it. This is what they say. Decisions are made

after considering evidence from the claimant and GP, anyone who

disagrees can appeal, and in most cases any mind leaving a Motability

scheme is eligible for a one off payment of up to ?2000 to help meet

their needs. Green but you make of that? As I was like, have some

money, pat you on the back. It's ridiculous. Leah plans to appeal the

decision. Motability says more than half of those who do I get any cars

back. Just one more battle thousands of disabled people could do without.

Ever since I've become disabled, I've had to fight, and now it's

getting to the stage where they are just taking cars from people,

because you can walk. Yeah, I can walk, but I give everything to have

my leg and back, to have a normal life. We want to go to work and get

back, we don't want to feel sorry for ourselves, that's not what this

is about. It's about getting that help to get on with life. And be

part of society, not feel like an outcast or, you know,... I think of

a high chance of losing my car. They have early initiative in saving

money. -- they are only interested. Still to come, it is man versus van

in one of Dorset 's hidden villages. A teenager with cancer tried to help

others in a situation. Charlotte died last year but 11 inspirational

legacy, some of which has only just been discovered by her family.

I'm just like any other typical teenage girl but I have a twist.

16-year-old Charlotte had been diagnosed with

But rather than hide away, she decided she was going to use

the power of social media to tell the world what was

But I found when I had cancer and wanted some advice videos,

In June she said, "I think I'm going to start a YouTube

channel," and I said "What are you going to talk about?"

and she said "My journey, my cancer," and it

I've had purple hair, no hair, long dark and shiny hair.

Black lips, red lips, dry cracked from chemo lips.

So I had finished my exams and then I was planning to go on to college.

It was actually on the day of prom that I was diagnosed,

Charlotte posted more than 100 videos in the two

The early ones were watched a few hundred times.

By the time Charlotte lost her battle with cancer,

people all over the country ? indeed from around the world ?

So yeah, sorry for these random snippets.

I don't know, maybe this is the way I vlog, literally

picking up the camera, up and down, up and down.

Her videos were nominated for a prestigious online

video award, and then, remarkably, Charlotte's family

found dozens of unedited, unseen video files on her camera.

I inherited her DSLR camera which was very special to her,

it was her window onto the world, and I went through her stuff

and I've had this memory card for months, and I found a new folder

I think most poignant for me is how frank they are, how honest.

When it came to wearing them, this one was definitely more comfortable.

This is the way that I am, this is how I look and there

Hi guys, I wanted to make a video today...

But with the type of tumour Charlotte had, her condition

Nothing is really working or happening.

Today I got some very bad news - it has grown from three or four

millimetres to three centimetres, which is obviously,

Her right hand side went paralysed, she couldn't move her leg,

she couldn't move her hand, her arm, and then slowly by slowly it

Unfortunatel,y things have taken a turn for the worse,

as in the medication I was on isn't working very well, so yeah, I'm

We went to see our consultant afterwards and he more or less

had his head in his hands, and he said it's very, very, very bad

The tumour is virtually all over the place now.

And we cried, and I think it was disbelief.

And she just looked at me and said, "Does that mean I'll never get

And I said I think it does, and she went back

to see her consultant, and I read on the notes, she said,

He said it seems the most likely outcome.

Charlotte was a phenomenal individual who, despite being faced

with certain death from her tumour, did not say "Oh well,"

She raised funds, she raised awareness, she pushed and pushed

and pushed right to the end, and what an amazing and humbling

experience it is for me, an adult and a neurosurgeon,

to see someone so young grasp the enormity of their diagnosis.

A celebration of beauty, life, positivity, bravery, generosity.

She was blogging, making videos on YouTube,

while she was describing her experience in an attempt to help

others who were going through the same thing.

And she was doing it in a very stylish way,

in a way I am certain has been very helpful for many, many, many

Many of Charlotte's friends before her diagnosis couldn't

cope with her illness, something she reflected on in her videos.

I've had 60's eyes, red eyes, dancing until dawn eyes.

Boy friends, me friends, never seen again friends.

But Charlotte made new friends online ? friends like Emily.

I met Charlotte through YouTube - I myself am a YouTuber,

and I went over to her channel and I looked at some of her videos,

and I loved what she created and I loved her personality,

I will probably get back to you guys when I see Emily.

I'm meeting her at Brighton station and she should be

I've still got all her texts, I've not deleted one single one.

I never will and she just said thank you so much,

I really value our friendship and I'm so grateful that

you are here for me, and that was the last text

She is still here in a way, she has left her legacy,

she's left her channel, her videos and she has left

a resounding impact on me as well that I am going to carry

That legacy and that impact now extend to the charity Charlotte's

They are raising money to raise awareness and fund research

into glioplastomas ? the type of brain tumour that Charlotte had.

My family have been there with me 110% and I just love

We're always going to come together as a sort of team

if you like, and I have just been incredibly blessed to

So I don't really know what else to say.

Anything else exciting happens, I will grab the camera again.

What a truly remarkable young women Charlotte was. Don't forget, if you

want to get in touch with the show, you can drop me an e-mail.

TRANSLATION: You'd be forgiven if you'd never heard of east Charlton.

You've probably never heard of East Chaldon,

Chaldon, but every year people travel thousands of miles

to visit one of Dorset's most hidden villages.

God once drove to East Chaldon in a delivery van like this one.

Although his was a Ford, and possibly more comfortable.

It took place in a novel called Mr Weston's Good Wine'

which was one of 70 books written in the village by nine

Throughout the 1920s and 30s Chaldon became

a magnet for famous authors, poets, sculptors and artists.

It began with the arrival of an impoverished hermit.

Theodore Francis Powys moved here for a quieter life.

At least that's what his brother Llewelyn tells us.

He took his stick from his chimney-corner and set out to find

some unpretentious village, where he would be altogether

Eventually he arrived at East Chaldon, which very possibly

is the most hidden village in Dorset.

Theodore lived here and used to hide behind bushes

when he was out walking, hoping not to bump into the locals.

He also planted onions in his garden to give the weeping ash

Despite his odd manner, he still proved quite popular.

I managed to meet some people who actually remembered

what it was like in the 1920s and 30s and they remembered Theodore

very fondly being rather hermit like he was more or less fully

accepted, although I think they thought he was probably

a little odd as he was so withdrawn and given to solitary walks.

He did observe the villagers and he did use them in his writing

but fortunately since most of them didn't read his books he got

away with it because not all the descriptions were very kind.

Although Theodore was a private man, celebrities from New York,

London and the South Coast wanted to meet him, some enjoying Chaldon

It was a hive of creative activity, which also attracted visits

from the famous adventurer and author Lawrence of Arabia.

It was surprising how well they took it and really.

T E Lawrence when he visited, he visited on his motorbike

which was called boanerges and it made a terrific racket

and they didn't like the racket it made through the lanes,

They pretty well accepted it but they didn't know it was a little

strange I think that it wasn't happening elsewhere,

It wasn't long before Theodore's younger brother Llewelyn

followed to East Chaldon, dragging his wife Alyse Gregory

He'd been diagnosed with TB and spent much of his time writing

essays about Dorset, outdoors in shelters like this one.

Well I think he slept in here although...

It's not exactly hotel standards, is it?

He did sleep outdoors a lot and when he was up at the White Nose

he used to sleep in what would have been an upturned boat.

What's it like living in a place with such a strong link to the past

in as much as you must get people coming up and having

Yes I have people knocking on the door and asking you know

Do you sit here and admire the view or you're probably working too hard.

I sit here occasionally but my cat sits in it more than anything.

Now he's remembered in the village not just for his writing

or odd sleeping habits, but also for a rather generous

Upon my death, ?100 shall be used to establish a trust

and the interest paid to the nearest public house for free drinks after

That actually could have produced 50 or 60 pints of beer which in a small

place like Chaldon would actually have been a very good night out.

Every year a society named the Friends of Llewelyn Powys meet

It's just so much fun to meet all the people and learn the history

and you really feel like you're back in time to a certain extent and it's

You only see these people once a year so the relationship

the association becomes something very special, they're

I always say at this point that we're here to remember

Llewelyn Powys and toast his health, but his health is rather

beside the point these days and that it's his memory

So if everybody could raise their glasses and remember

Llewelyn Powys and thank him for all the many years of pleasure

he's given us here in the Sailor's Return.

Llewelyn loved the Dorset landscape, which heavily influenced his essays

This is what it's all about really isn't it?

It makes you feel alive up here It's gorgeous yeah just

You feel so special to actually be able to live and work

in this landscape and yeah, just feel very lucky really.

Do you enjoy it more because it's part of literature,

Yes I do, because it's like two layers you're seeing.

You're seeing the layer that's there which in itself is very

beautiful and then you've got a layer of how people have observed

Just looking at the landscape you can't, you can completely

understand why it inspired them and I think that literature written

about this area it, I think it adds a depth

appreciated this landscape as much as you or I have here at the moment

and it's just an absolute pleasure to be able to do that really.

Back in the 20s the landscape was not just beautiful,

Llewelyn wrote about his friend Walter Franzen, who whilst visiting

from New York fell to his death near the cliffs.

of desperate consciousness, where the herring gulls

never cease from crying, better in such a place than in

Nowadays the walk across the cliffs is a little less perilous,

and after a few swift pints at the pub, the friends

of Llewelyn Powys make their way to his grave on the coast

It's set completely in the landscape from which he himself is derived,

and you can't be in this area without hearing the echo

The most famous Powys brother was John Cowper,

nominated three times for a Nobel prize.

He spent much of his life in the states, where some

But it's Dorset where the Powys legacy lives on,

and where Llewellyn's wife Alyse buried him on the cliffs.

I feel I'm walking in the footsteps of my great aunt, she just did

things that other people didn't do.

you know she was an inspiration to me because well I'm a feminist

too, and maybe behind every great woman is a great man.

Llewelyn's grave sits on his beloved Dorset coastline,

Llewelyn himself, now a permanent part of the landscape.

It's very humbling, really and it's always,

and yet any great artist really just enriches the world and to know that

I'm part of that tradition is a very humbling thing.

that is all for now, we're back in two weeks' time because of the

football. Until then, goodbye. So, FA Cup next Monday, but we're back

on the 27th, when historian Greg Henderson will be exploring some in

the south 's lesser-known castles. Number you can't get inside the

castle, but this is about to change hands again so we've been granted

special access. Hello, I'm Alex Bushill

with your 90 second update. Drug abuse, violence

and faulty alarms. Just some of the major

security failings a BBC investigation has uncovered

at a Northumberland prison. Stay tuned for Panorama

after Eastenders.