21/11/2011 Inside Out West Midlands

Hello and welcome to Inside Out, where tonight we are testing the

waters of climate change as we visit the Welsh borders and find

out why the wells have been running dry. These supplies now are very

low and they are the lowest I've ever seen them in my lifetime.

Meet Cis Berry, the Royal Shakespeare Company's legendary

voice coach to the stars, as she discovers the world of

Wolverhampton wrappers. -- rappers. Move! Quicker! With bracelets of

thy hair, rings, golds, conceits And a poignant farewell to Rosie,

whose blogs touched the hearts of thousands of Midlanders. I'm Mary

Rhodes and this is Inside Out for It has been the driest year in the

Midlands for since records began in 1910 with Warwickshire and

Shropshire particularly dry. Along the Welsh border counties of

England the lack of rain through spring, summer and autumn brought

problems to a region not usually short of water. Well, this is my

first attempt at water dowsing, the art of finding water by a method

which I don't understand. Thankfully, I've got a top dowsing

expert to help me. His name is Peter Taylor and he has slipped

over the border from Wales. When you think about water, you

visualise it and the next thing, the rods turn and go over there.

It's telling you that is the direction you go to, you walk that

way. Keep thinking about water all the time and you just watch the

rods and eventually when you hit the edge of the water, the rods

will react and you are thinking about sweet water at the time. And

there we go. That's extraordinary. To those who believe in such things,

Peter Taylor has a big reputation. He is even credited with

discovering gold in Wales. Today though, we've called him into the

Shropshire hills, because there is a problem. The springs which supply

water to thousands of homes here have run dry and some people say it

is a worrying sign of climate change. So, we start doing the

depth count now, a standing depth count. One foot, two feet Peter

believes he has found a source of water. Now he wants to know how

deep it is. Six feet, seven feet, eight. From Hereford and Worcester

to Shropshire, this area is famous for water. For centuries, people

came here for cures, believing that the springs had magical qualities.

At Much Wenlock and elsewhere, legends grew up around the wells. A

passing saint was escaping her enemies but she cut her head and

because there was no water to wash the wound, she commanded their

horse to strike the ground and the water poured out. The Much Wenlock

wells were drained into the sewers to prevent flooding but elsewhere

in Shropshire, local geology means the springs still flow. All these

mountains are just like sponges, aren't they? The rain falls on them

and then these sponges run out in various places and they are the

springs that supply all these areas. More than half a century ago, Brian

Robinson put in the spring water supply that feeds remote homes and

farms in the hills which are too high for mains water to reach.

problem with it is, it has got overloaded in its lifetime. It was

put in for people when there was only an ordinary bathroom and

people have all these things now, don't they? Washing machines and

God knows what. It is always coped alright because it was such a good

spring. These supplies now are very low and they are the lowest I've

ever seen them in my lifetime. Following an almost unprecedented

dry spring and summer and with half the expected rainfall so far this

autumn, people living around here have had to go to extraordinary

lengths to get water. Some helped by a goodwill gesture from Severn

Trent Water. Who took up a browser to one of the local farmyards. Many

drove for miles to fill up containers. We have been fetching

water from wonderful friends from all over the place. We've been to

Knighton and we've been to Birmingham. The Griffiths family

have been farming this area for decades. They know and love their

spring water, which they rely on not just for themselves but for

their livestock. Our neighbours on the whole do not have the sort of

kit we have. They don't necessarily have a husband with generations of

bulging ability built in either. Some people have springs that feed

into little reservoirs so they are putting water into the reservoir so

that it will flow through the system as a spring once would have

done. Some of our neighbours have been doing that for three months

and they are having to go around to their friends, spend an hour

filling all of these containers and lug them back across the field.

fields. Two fields. And pour it into this reservoir. Having

hunkered up the suspension on the back of the car because cars are

not designed for carrying over half eaten of water. -- half a tonne of

water. On a frequent and regular basis. And we know of one lady who

has just decamped to her daughter in Spain and is not coming back

until normal service resumes. asked the Griffiths to keep a video

diary to reveal just one day in the life of coping without their spring.

We are actually going to fill the empty bowser up to my father-in-

law's house in Ludlow. I cannot tell you how grateful I am to be

married to a farmer who can bodge anything, given half a chance. It

is amazing how much time is actually spent thinking about water,

doing things about water and indeed how many checks are written out and

how much money is spent on doing things about water and thinking

about water. And we have water again. And some sunshine which is

actually very nice. So is this year's lack of rain a one-off or a

sign of climate change? Dr Ken Addison of Oxford University

believes it is the latter. If we look at two key time periods which

I used internationally for forecasting climate change, 2050 is

one, a time when most of the people alive today will still be alive,

although I will be pushing it. 2080 when most of the very young

children today are likely to be alive. Those are two key dates. The

scientific committee uses the term likely to say that there is a two

in three chance that their predictions will happen. When they

use the term very likely there is a 90% or more chance that their

forecasts will take place. So here we go. There is a 90% or very

likely forecast that summer rainfall by 2015 will be reduced by

at least 5% to 10% on where it is now. And by 2080 it maybe 15% to

20%. That sounds pretty significant. That's pretty serious. Well, it

gets worse. If we look at no or insufficient international action

to mitigate climate change, we are looking at 15% to 20% reductions in

most of our lifetimes and we're talking about a massive 50% to 60%,

that is losing more than half our summer rainfall, by the later part

of this century. That creates huge problems of water supply and

management. At what stage can you say that this is really serious?

Now. How that presses on a world scale with the level of rainfall in

Shropshire of 25 inches a year in this area, that would put us on a

global map that you would call officially dry land to semidesert.

That's extraordinary. With climate change, more rain is predicted for

the winters and the authorities are having to work hard on strategies

to prevent flooding like that which struck Worcester in 2007. But wet

winters cannot compensate for long, dry summers which are equally a

problem. This year, streams dried up, fish had to be moved and water

was taken from the ground to top-up rivers. There is talk that long-

term, another reservoir will be needed in Wales to serve the

Midlands. For now though, people in the hill country are hoping for a

long, wet winter weather forecasters are not so far

predicting it. It may be getting colder in early December but rain

is expected to stay below average. What we need is 1000 millimetres of

rain between now and February. millimetres, give me an idea of how

many days that might be. It is water that did. Right. I mean, that

would be weeks of rain. We want a very wet autumn if we can have it.

With climate change happening in my lifetime, I've come to the

conclusion that dousing could be a useful skill for the future but

will it work for me? And that's extraordinary. And I promise I was

Now, it is not often that we get to meet a legend but Cisely Berry is

one. The Royal Shakespeare Company's focus director agreed to

take up a challenge that took to the tower blocks of Wolverhampton.

Joe Mapp travelled with her. Cis Berry is voice coach to the

stars. Do it one more time and try to give that thought going, lifting

through. This time, can you repeat the last word that is said For 40

years, she has transformed actors into Shakespearean masters but she

is about to meet him much. -- her Charan is a 16-year-old rapper from

Wolverhampton. He loves writing lyrics but Shakespeare, he says,

has got me beat. -- no beat. don't think we have ever used

Shakespearean language on the street. It stays at school, your

GCSEs and stuff. It's something you want to get out of the way to get

your grade. As Stratford-upon-Avon gears up for next year's World

Shakespeare Festival, we've given Cis Berry a challenge, can she

convince Charan that the words of a 16th century playwright are still

important? I'm totally confident but I just need some time with them,

Cis Berry has been voice director at the Royal Shakespeare Company

since 1970. She has worked with the likes of Sean Connery and Dame Judi

Dench. Their role is to help them understand Shakespeare and deliver

his words clearly and correctly. And her techniques are often

surprising. A crash helmet usually handy in a session with Cis. As you

can see from the chess, they sometimes get thrown around. You

answer with an idle tongue. You question with a wicked tongue. Why?

My exercises are all to do with trying to take the language away

from the mind and making the actor feel of the language in their body.

Is it sport? I think it is. here is the result. Long before

appearing in the Harry Potter films and sitcom my family, Zoe Wanamaker

spent 10 years with the RSC. And it was Cis Berry who helps give her

the confidence to deliver speeches like this one in fellow. Desires

She would distract us with hacks moving chairs or running up against

the wall or walking slowly, so that it actually became part of the

language The language becomes part of you, rather than something scary.

That is what I remember. I remember the joy of that. And the release of

Revenge, ain't always the best way. But this is Shakespeare with a

difference. In downtown Wolverhampton, Charan wraps his way

to the Merchant of Venice. Eyes is an organisation which uses drama to

help keep kids out of trouble. One or two are ex-gang members. A few

enjoy having a go at Shakespeare's but for others, it's just too tough.

The language used is to compensated and like it is constant reading and

To give Charan some inspiration, says has invited him to the Bard's

backyard to see how the professionals do it. Fellow group

members Monique and Jason have also come along to see the RSC's version

of the Merchant of Venice. Wolverhampton, everything is in a

rush, rush hour time, but everything here, it almost feels

like you are about to act or right. Three hours later, the performance

comes to an end and Sir Patrick Stewart takes his bow. But Cis has

a surprise for her guests. She's arranged for them to meet some of

the cast. It was amazing. I was just like, oh, you lot are so

amazing. So, has its done the trick? Or was a full-length

Shakespeare play simply too much for Charan? Three hours is a long

time and I did understand most of it, I got the storyline, but I

really enjoyed it. I never thought Hello, hi. Nice to meet you.

Confident she can now win Charan ever, Cis has come to meet both him

and Monique. The RSC's voice director has never been to

innocently Wolverhampton before. From around here, it is a case of

you are either part of a gang, you are involved in crime or have

something to do with drugs. It is hard living around here. I am sure,

I can understand. I really can. Tell me, why do you find

Shakespeare difficult? Difficult as in like to say and speak it and to

get all of that thy, art and everything like that is too complex.

In the group's rehearsal room, challenge shows us how he likes to

do Shakespeare, in his own words. It is rather different to what she

is used to but she seems to enjoy it. The thing though is for him to

take on Shakespeare's original language and she offers to do a

workshop. Oh, I think they can manage the language. I think they

want the courage and encouragement to do it. I might like it, you

never know. Murderous, bloody, full of blame. Cis begins with a sonnet

but Sharon seems to find it all a bit dull. And he struggles with the

language. Anything else you don't understand? Um... Wains. Gets

smaller. When the moon gets smaller. In desperation, Charan reverts back

to what he knows. And raps the Undeterred, Cis decides to get

tough. Move! Quicker! Can you begin to feel the movement in that

language? Great, sit down. And it is beginning to work. I could

actually feel it. Understanding Shakespeare is feeling the emotion

and feeling the words. I really I've learnt a few things and

techniques of how to work with Shakespeare. I'm really happy. I

like the Shakespeare language now. It is not too hard it is just hard

to understand at first. To put them in touch with Shakespeare will

enrich them and still they will want to wrap and that is wonderful

but it will enrich their enjoyment of language and words. -- rap. All

right, that's good. I think we've done a lot tonight really, don't

Finally, we 've been following the blogs of a teenager determined to

demystify the subject of cancer. Sadly, a few weeks ago, Rosie died.

This is the film her family wanted From the start of the year, Rosie

was beginning to get physically weaker. She responded by organising

Three hours of Zumba. I think people will come. I just have no

idea how many. That is all. I 13th April, the doctors are

discussing the next course of action after Rosie suffered twice

from severe internal bleeding. needed 11 units of blood which is

over a body's worth of new blood in like a day. If I had gone to

hospital a day later, I would have died. Today, they could be telling

us anything from they are going to do nothing, through two they are

going to do major surgery. We have no idea what they are going to

suggest. But the news today isn't drastic. He said I could go on

holiday. Yay! That is all I can remember. More of the same for a

few months or years. Yeah. Much better than it was half an hour ago.

16 people have saved my life because they donated blood. You

donate blood today. You'll save It's just death. I don't see why

everyone is so scared of talking about death because everyone dies.

Yeah? It's not a unique thing, I'm Just to say that I spent today in

hospital. Yeah, it was only a day but still in hospital, not

fantastic. Just because I had really, really, really bad neck and

shoulder pain. Dosed up on medicine now so it doesn't hurt any more. Oh,

Can you move that table to here? 28th May, the day of Rosie's three

hour fundraising extravaganza. pounds. If there is an extra one,

it's five pounds. The doctors have said she mustn't dance herself but

Rosie never lets cancer get in the way of a good party. I was worried

no one would turn up and look at many people are here! Hundreds of

knock-on effect supporters strut their stuff, raising money for the

Maggie's Cancer Care Centre in Cheltenham. It's an estimate but

we've made about �1,500. I am less tired than I thought I would be. I

feel like I won't have to write tomorrow off, just spend all day in

bed. I feel like I'll be all right So, I'm just checking in to say and

going on holiday tomorrow. Yay! was determined we were going to go.

We were not so sure it was a good idea. We had plans about what we

were going to do if we had to get it back but she had a brilliant

I guess because Rosie was always so positive about everything, it was a

massive shock for everybody and it was silly saying it was a shock

because it is at the back of your mind. But it was. Towards the end

of that day, Rose said I have to write a blog. We just sat with her

and watched this absolute explosion of comments from people all over

the world. It was the most phenomenal feeling and we had gone

from feeling indescribable sadness into suddenly feeling so supported

Rosie's health faded significantly over the summer. Her hospital bed

and medical equipment were installed in her bedroom at home.

She kept writing but found her video diary too much. Until early

September, when she filmed her thoughts for the last time. OK, ooh.

I might get a bit breathless but I will carry on. Tuesday night, I had

a terrible night. Oh, you would not believe. You would not believe it.

The days before and after, she was fine, so although it looks like she

is on her way out almost because she sounded and looked quite rough,

the medication at the time was what the story was. You know, if you

have a bad day, you have a bad day. Monday, 12th September, cutting

straight to the chase, our beautiful, feisty, annoying,

It was very, very peaceful. I don't know whether she knew whether she

was dying or not but she wasn't distressed and she knew, absolutely

knew that she was surrounded by people that love to have cared for

her. She felt safe and I think she probably felt it was time to go.

26th September, Rosie's funeral. The day when hundreds of people

who'd followed her story online came to mourn and to celebrate 19

years of life lived to the fold. -- to the full. I think the thing that

stood out to me is people that knew her well but others who said I

never met your daughter but I felt as though I knew her. What a

testimony to leave behind really. I just loved the procession down the

church because Rose really liked spectacle and stuff and that was a

spectacle. It was lovely but it was I think she would be proud to know

that more people than she would ever know about have said she has

changed their attitude to life. really believed in avoiding

euphemism and platitude. She very much did not pass away after a

serious element bravely born. She died of cancer and that is very

much how she wanted to approach Rosie's family and friends have

resolved that the blog and the fundraising will continue in her

# And when you smile. # The whole world stops and stairs

for a while. # Because girl, you are amazing

A remarkable teenager. And if you've been affected by Rosie's

story, there are details of support groups on our Facebook page. If

you've got thoughts on any of tonight's programme, why not drop

me an e-mail? That is it for tonight. Join us again next Monday

On next week's programme, actress Anna Karen goes back on the buses

to find out who is behind the cuts to rural services. I'm travelling

around in this beautiful old bus and I'm taking some of these people