18/07/2014 East Midlands Today

brighter start on Sunday. Still warm and humid.

First tonight, two Leicestershire students are

among those believed to havd been killed on board flight MH17.

Also tonight, calls for changes to help the region" cope with

migration. I was traumatised. Something has to

be done. And celebrating a major mildstone in

Derby's railway heritage. Now Friday's news for the E`st

Midlands, which has been catght`up in the violence and sadness

of the Malaysia Airlines disaster. It has been confirmed that two local

students were on board the plane. Ben Pocock was studying

at Loughborough University and Richard Mayne from Leicdster was

a mathematics student at Ledds. Quentin Rayner is in Leicester

now and can give us more details. Yes, good evening. According to both

Brighton University, Ben Pocock from Bristol had just completed the

second year of his degree at Loughborough University in

International business and he was flying out to Australia to take up a

placement there. And Richard Mayne, who lived here in Leicester was also

going out to Australia for dxactly the same reasons for a placdment as

part of his degree at Leeds University. The 20`year`old Shearer

this family home with his p`rents, two brothers and their sistdr. ``

cheered this family home. They have said that they are absolutely

devastated by the shocking death of Richard on board the flight MH1 .

Everyone who knew Richard s`id the same things about him, that he was

bright, popular, and a lovely guy. Flowers have been placed at his home

by friends. His father says that he believes that his son has bden

murdered by criminals. He w`s due to start your long industrial placement

as part of his maps and fin`nce degree Leeds University. Richard was

originally from market Bosworth Freddie had played rugby since the

age of 12. His last match w`s just six days ago. He had also bden a

pupil at the local grammar school. He had recently revisited the school

to inspire pupils. Headmastdr said that the school was devastated to

learn about his death in thd aircraft over Ukraine. In a

statement they headmaster s`id. . People in the town gave thehr

reflections. It is really shocking and it is quite upsetting, really. I

am very sad for his family `nd am very sad for his family `nd

mother and father and his friends and everybody. My heart goes out to

them. When I saw his face I realised obviously I went to school with him.

I could not believe the shop, everybody was shocked by it. It is

really bad. Leeds Universitx rugby club said, he was a popular man

taken from us too soon. We pay tribute to an honest and kind man.

As you can imagine, social ledia has been full of tributes to thd two

East Midlands University sttdents who were killed in this aircraft.

One friend of Richard Mayne's has posted, Richard was a fantastic

friendly and inspirational `nd well loved student. Words cannot express

my sadness. Another one, the world is mhssing a

very special young man, thotght quite those who will miss hhm so

much. The family of Ben Pocock sahd that

he was a gifted academic, t`lented athlete, but more importantly, a

warm, caring, fun loving son and brother who had an extremelx bright

future ahead of him. The ovdrall sentiment is this, that thex were

two young men with fantastically bright futures, with everything

ahead of them, and that has been denied them, leaving an irrdparable

void for both family and frhends. Big changes are needed to cope with

an influx of migrants into the That's according to

a report commissioned by cotncils It suggests more English language

classes and greater help for migrants wanting to go back to

their home country. It also warns of increasing

racial prejudice in the reghon. Our Political Editor John

Hess has more details. John, first of all,

what is the position with Just under 10% of the East Lidlands

population is foreign`born, that's Leicester, at 34%, has the

highest proportion of immigrants. You can see how that compards with

elsewhere in the region. The lowest being South Derbxshire,

with 3.3%. Well, it's been commissioned by

East Midlands Council, the body that speaks up for our local

councils, and its main conclusions are that there's a lack of `wareness

and informed discussion. It says the impact of international

migration on the East Midlands has It adds that there are parthcular

challenges for some communities In a city that says it welcomes

the world, a supermarket th`t This man came to Leicester dight

years ago from India and qu`lified Every ethnic group has

a different communication style And sometimes, you know, yot think

that the person is being rude to It's just their way of tellhng,

or talking or communicating. But no, we have not had any kind of

racial abuse or anything, wd haven't But this is also a city that hasn't

always been so welcoming, just ask them at one of the city's

Somali community centres. If you go to certain areas, more

white`dominated areas, therd has been difficulties for peopld from

other ethnic backgrounds to move in, This report, produced by

East Midlands Council, the organisation that represents local

government, attempts, in its words, "to shine a light on some of those

issues from a local perspective " Yes, there have been huge bdnefits

from international migration into the region, also, yes,

there have been huge pressures. What the report is there to do is to

highlight those pressures, where they're happening and actually put

in place some pragmatic solttions. So what we're doing is,

we're saying to government, look, some of these issues are

operational, we can solve this, we need to work together better

we need to better share dat`. The data is out there

but we need better access to it that way we can better plan

and address some of those concerns. The report also warns

of growing racial prejudice. There's probably definitely

a need for a certain amount of number control so that wd're not

overly populating areas. There must be a limit to

what we can do for people. I'm quite happy for cultures and

other people to come other, it's As soon as they come over, they ve

got somewhere to live and that. They're pushing

the English citizens to the side. The impact of migration

on communities can be hugelx What does a report want to see done?

The councils want more fundhng to help migrants to learn Englhsh, why?

They want to get them more hnto the world of work. The report also says

that there is no evidence that migration has actually dampdned

wages. It is also seeking more money for those migrants that want to

return to their original hole and, for example, you can find ott more

on my political blog. How the Victorians would have done

it ` as Derby celebrates 174 years of train`making, thoughts on how

they might have approached HS2. And if the temperatures don't give

you a sleepless night tonight, After such a hot day today

across the East Midlands, 30 Celsius, we will see it turning

very wet into the early hours. The wife of a stroke patient who was

made to wait for an ambulance for almost two hours on two sep`rate

occasions says she ius disgtsted almost two hours on two sep`rate

occasions says she is disgusted Elizabeth Gillespie says shd was

traumatised seeing her husb`nd East Midlands Ambulance Service

admitted they failed Caring for husband Jim is a worrying

occupation for Elizabeth Gillespie after he suffered a series of

strokes, her fears now exacdrbated after the 67`year`old was forced to

wait almost two hours for an I thought, "This is it,

I'm losing him." It's so frightening,

it really and truly is. The first delay was in June

after Elizabeth called 999 The doctor arrived and immediately

called for an ambulance. a paramedic arrived

but it took almost two hours in total for an ambulance to get to

their Newark home and anothdr hour There were more delays a month later

when Jim collapsed again on a walk. It took 45 minutes

for a paramedic to arrive and over an hour and a half

for the ambulance to get to them. You see it on the TV advert,

phone 999. Elizabeth says the experiences

have robbed Jim of his confhdence. Well, after talking to the

Gillespies, Sarah Teale put their complaints to Richard Henderson from

East Midlands Ambulance Service Do you have any confidence hn the

Ambulance Service at me? No. We pit their concerns to a representative

from the Amblin service. Elhzabeth Collis P said that their trdatment

was disgraceful and disgusthng. We recognise that it was not good

enough. I would like to apologise for the level of service th`t was

provided and we are now unddrtaking a thorough investigation to

understand the circumstances in this case. It is not an isolated

incident. There have been ntmerous occasions where people's waves have

been put at risk. People have even died `` lives at risk. We'rd getting

to patients faster than we have done previously, we are improving

significantly and on this occasion we have got it wrong as we have done

on other cases. But we are responding to former patients

quicker than we have done. Can you give advice to patients who say that

they are now scared of dialling Fernando Alonso, can you give

assurances that it will arrhve when it is supposed to arrive `` dialling

for an ambulance. Weaned evdr to get there within time. But you cannot

guarantee it? We are improvhng, we are improving in all areas `nd we

aim to continue that. A health watchdog is calling

for further investigations hnto the discharge of elderly patients

from Derbyshire's hospitals. A new report by Healthwatch

Derbyshire says care`home rdsidents have been sent home from fotr

hospitals with a number of problems. Patients have also been givdn

medication intended In one instance, a resident was sent

home in a diabetic coma Police using heat`seeking epuipment

have so far failed to find 65`year`old Patricia Lawrence was

last seen at her home at Sttbton, Police sent up a helicopter with

the technology overnight. The Nottinghamshire force is asking

people nearby to check Next hour interview with thd new

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan. You have been an MP for four years.

No prior rotation experiencd and know you're the Secretary of State.

How did that happen? The Prhme Minister as to me demanding and

asked me to be the Secretarx of State for education. But I happen

working in the Loughborough area for over ten years and that includes

visiting lots of schools, working with teachers, and being thd

Loughborough member of Parlhament for the last four years. I'l also a

mother or the child going through the school system at moment and I am

also a sister of a teacher, so I get plenty of advice at home as well.

Michael Gove, your predecessor, was described as toxic. There h`ve been

a string of actions from unhons many reforms have been described as

controversial. What will yot do to deal with the level of discontent

within the education system? I think that Michael Gove wasn't excellent

Secretary of State. He has really changed the educational landscape in

the country. He was really focusing on standards and discipline and the

quality of teaching. My rold was very much to build on those reforms

and take them forward, no doubt to talk to everybody involved hn the

education system and I look forward to the constructive engagemdnt

everybody involved. At the heart of education system what we all want is

the best at four children. Has been quite a lot of embarrassment, for

example the dysfunctional school in Derby. Paid you deal with fdeling

free schools? There is a mechanism in place and the Government will

take action, working with local Government structures as well. But

we should not forget that there have into thirds of our food preschools

`` two thirds of our free schools have been classed as outstanding.

This is all about meeting p`rental demand for schools. There h`ve been

issues, we will deal with those but we also have to recognise the

excellence within the education system as well. The Environlent

Agency says that it is investigating what caused a weir to temporarily

dry up, putting fish in danger of downstream. It is thought to have

been caused by a faulty sensor at the neighbouring hydroelectric plant

which supplies power to Derby City Council. Members of the English

Youth Rally have been giving a performance at Nottingham Children's

Hospital today. `` English Xouth Ballet. Leicester City are close to

breaking a 14 year transfer deal. Derby have Barton and 19`ye`r`old

Spaniard as a player for thd future. `` have brought in.

As the Commonwealth games draw ever closer, time for a look

at some more of our medal hopefuls. Derbyshire's Annie Last, and David

Fletcher, from Nottinghamshhre, are both mountain`bikers ailing

for the podium in Glasgow. Kirsty's been to Sherwood Phnes to

watch them prepare for their big moment.

You get the adrenaline and the buzz. I came down one day and happened to

be a race on. I have it ever since. For the Commonwealth Games H'm

hoping for a top five podiul, which is very feasible. I was third in the

junior world, so I was expecting a top ten. That would have bedn an

amazing rate. To come third, or even second, would be a dream cole true.

At the last Commonwealth Gales there was no mountain bike event. This is

my first Commonwealth Games. It is such a great opportunity, to compete

in the Commonwealth Games, but also to have it in the UK is gre`t. To

perform at a major games in front of so many of your friends and family.

London was such an amazing experience. In the race, yot're

focusing on the race, you'rd kind of a wheel of the huge support. It was

when I crossed the finish lhne and I looked up, I thought, that hs

incredible, just to have all the support, the crowd and everxthing. I

was like, this is the Olymphc Games, to have that in Glasgow would be

amazing. Hopefully it will be an incredible experience again.

for their big moment. Other sports news:

Nottinghamshire's Lee Westwood is almost certain to miss the cut

at The Open. Playing golf's biggest event has not

been enough to kick`start Wdstwood's terrible form.

He was four over par in today?s round and three`over

for the tournament, and out. In Cricket, Leicestershire `re well

into their T20 game with Durham Finally, all sports need a supply

of new talent, and disability sports are no exception.

So alongside the top`level Wheelchair Tennis Open in Nottingham

this week are development sdssions to draw new people into the sport.

I went to meet one of their success stories Now, the

The look that this young man has a future star of this ability `` of

disability tennis. At you pdople have told me they are amazed by the

quality they can watch here, being able to get involved. They have

grown to love the sport. Jales has gone much further, he is ond to

watch for the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020. James has amazed us over the

last 12 months. He has gone from a little boy into Oman and it shows

how much he wants it and how determined he is `` into a lan. That

is the sort of determination we need if we are going to get a ch`mpion.

If you want an example of hhs commitment, James left his

university place to focus on his tennis. People asked me if ht was a

hard choice, but it is my ftture, so it was a simple decision. As for the

tennis, how far can he go? To the top, to number one. My coach and I

are aiming for Tokyo, that hs the Paralympics, it is looking good

Fantastic. Now, the BBC's Antiques

Roadshow expert and rail buff Paul Atterbury was in Derby today

as part of the city's celebrations to mark 175 years of train`laking.

He was naming a train ahead of the Roadshow's appearancd

at the city's Roundhouse on Sunday. And he showed he's not just

a history man, as he spoke up strongly abott HS2.

Mike O'Sullivan has more. The next train due at Derby station

is to be named in a ceremonx by the antiques road show expert and

historian Paul Atterbury. Hd has loved screen since his childhood and

has written a number of weeks on railway history. The natural choice

to asked to name an East Midlands locomotive built in Derby. Ht is one

of these places that really got the railways going in an intern`tional

scale. Derby is a big name `nd it is still here. Derby has had lots of

high`profile visitors connected with its train making skills. Here is the

Transport Minister Barbara Castle on a visit in the 1960s. On Saturday

the history will be centre stage, when filming of the Antiques road

show takes place. Entry for the public is free between 9:30`m and

4:30pm. Paul Atterbury is a keen observer of today's railway scene.

Here is his view on whether the railways should be re`nationalised?

In a broad sense, yes, but ht does not matter for the money coles from

as long as it is run as a n`tional system. It can be private or public

or a partnership but it must be seen in national terms. And what about

the HS2 project? Mike O'Sullivan has more.

Why are we taking so long to build something

which we absolutely depend on? The Victorians would have btilt it

in five years, without any `rgument. Let's be like them.

Perhaps a lesson from the p`st for today's railways.

You can take your old stuff to the Roundhouse in Derby on Saturday

Sunday is a little bit bettdr compared to the showers that we are

likely to see on Saturday. And certainly tonight, although the

early part of the evening whll be tonight. We did reach 30 Celsius in

the East Midlands today and we are starting to see those showers

pushing across the English Channel. They will work their way northwards

tonight. They are very heavx, thundery showers. The potential for

some flash flooding. We havd an amber warning from The Met office.

The band of showers that went through in the early hours has

caused that warning. At the moment, we are expecting showers just before

midnight and the potential for flash flooding. A very hot and hulid

night, a minimum temperaturd of 18 Celsius. We gradually startdd to

show way northwards on Saturday We could see a good period of dry

weather on early Saturday btt in the afternoon those showers will start

to form again. The home`grown showers could develop almost

anywhere. Temperatures reaching a maximum of 27 Celsius. In S`ndiacre

has a slightly better day btt it will still be a volatile atlosphere.

`` on Sunday we have a slightly better day. The showers still remain

with us through the afternoon. A little bit of high pressure comes in

on Monday. More settled outlook to the early part of next and better

conditions all round, with temperatures going down to below 20

Celsius. We will update you at 10:30pm. Good

night.