24/04/2017 East Midlands Today

It's almost 6:30pm - you're watching East Midlands Today.

Tonight - the bell that's ringing in the changes for cancer patients.

It's a moment over hope and relief for patients like Harris as they

It still focal point of the reception area. When people finish

their treatment, it's something special. Plus it's all a change in

Nottingham not as Graham Allen balance out. Who takes over?

Why the East Midlands is leading the way on the

And seven years in the saddle, a derby man's

round the world adventure comes to an end.

I've never felt so good in myself. With a simple side and writing every

day, I'm in better shape than ever before.

Good evening and welcome to Monday's programme

with Geeta Pendse and me, Dominic Heale.

First tonight - it's a simple bell, but it's ringing in new hope

for hundreds of patients battling against cancer.

That's because people get to ring the bell to mark

the end of their treatment at the Leicester Royal Infirmary.

It's a new addition to the hospital's radiotherapy department -

and as Victoria Hicks reports, it's already having a huge impact.

Harris Wagner hopes this is his last visit to the radiotherapy department

Today marks his 33rd course of treatment.

We sit and talk in the lounge and in the waiting area about,

And, how many treatments do you have?

And, mine is over next week, and, mine is over today,

and everybody looks forward to this day.

After being diagnosed with prostate cancer,

Harris Wagner had his prostate removed in 2009, but when cancer

cells returned, he needed radiotherapy here at the LRI.

And now it's his turn to ring the newly installed bell to mark

Ring the bell three times and we'll all give a big cheer.

And hopefully it's a new life, really.

Hopefully a cancer-free life and it gives you a positive attitude.

It's just the start of, you know, we've been in a tunnel, really.

Been in a bubble and now the bubble has burst and now it's lovely.

The bell's an idea imported from America.

It's the focal point of the reception area and people,

when they finish their treatment, it's something really special.

It isn't easy and to get at the end of the treatment

and say that it's all done, it must be a wonderful feeling.

When there's a lot of people here and they ring the bell,

they cheer and they clap and it's lovely.

That's why I'm hoping there's going to be some people

People here can't praise the staff enough -

this is a happy goodbye - as Harris Wagner leaves feeling

And we certainly wish him the very best. Joining me now is the doctor

from the University trust. Where did the idea come from? It's from the

United States. They have had it for United States. They have had it for

quite some time. Recent in the last few years. Many of the operations

have run this bill. What difference has it made? They think it's an

amazing idea. It gives them a huge sense of achievement. We are very

treatment and get the satisfaction treatment and get the satisfaction

in reaching the goal. Ending on a positive note. Thank you. There are

bills and both -- bells Bells in both hospitals and Leicester but

none in Derby. The charity says that it is willing to provide bells for

hospitals that wanted. Labour Party officials

are drawing up plans to select a new parliamentary candidate

for Nottingham North after Graham Allen's shock

announcement that he won't stand Mr Allen told his local party that

ill health was the main Our general election

reporter John Hess has been A fresh-faced Graham Allen in his

early election campaigning days. The former trade union official has

been the area's MP for 30 years. His political legacy

will be his approach to the deep-seated social problems

of the area, for example the high His thinking to combat

intergenerational deprivation - through the so-called

Early Intervention Programme - On the streets of Bulwell today,

there was genuine sadness He used to come to the

complex quite a lot. Really down to earth, that's

what you want from a politician. He's been fine, we've asked him

to do things and he's been fine. Conservatives might be glad

to see him step down. Labour has an 11,800 majority

in Nottingham North. At the last election,

when Ed Millband's Labour Party was losing seats, there was a 5%

swing to Graham Allen. This constituency is one

of the poorest in the UK. It needs a very strong

and capable MP with a lot This is a prize of a constituency

for any ambitious Labour politician. So does Jeremy Corbyn,

who might want to reward one of his loyalists to represent

the people of Nottingham North. So who will replace Graham Allen

as Labour's candidate? I wouldn't want to predict it.

Graham Allen is talking about his successor being appointed by the end

of the week. That indicate it might be a local City Council, for

example. The one thing that the party will not want to see happen,

is Jeremy Corbyn parachuting in their favourite candidate. There was

a lot of ill will win this happened in Ashfield by Gordon Brown. It will

be the same with Graham Allen. Will he be a tough act to follow? It is

to be a conservative hell -- a Conservative state. That was during

the Margaret Thatcher days. The last of him? Possibly not. He might get

elevated to the House of Lords. Still to come - why a Derby man's

round the world cycle ride ended up lasting seven years

instead of three. I'm with hundreds of schoolchildren

ready to spring into science. A woman and two teenagers have been

charged after a man was stabbed It happened on Station Road

in Langley Mill early on Sunday A man was taken to hospital

with injuries - police say 33-year-old Tina Hicking and two

boys aged 16 and 17 have been A 59-year-old man's been charged

with an animal welfare offence after a fox was found

in a building on the day a hunt The animal was filmed and then

released by investigators from the League Against Cruel Sports

in December 2015. Nigel Smith, of Stainby

in Lincolnshire, will appear before The Belvoir Hunt previously said it

had no knowledge of or involvement Nottingham Trent University's

resident peregrine falcons welcomed The two chicks hatched on Sunday

with another two expected It's already been agreed that one

of the chicks will be named George or Georgina in honour

of St George's day. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust

will try to establish the sex of the chicks when they're ringed

in a few weeks. Work's begun on a ?3 million

expansion of a marina This development comes at a time

when interest in canals and rivers Yes, it's estimated

that there are 33,000 boats on our waterways -

that's more than during Well, the redevelopment

of the Mercia Marina near Willington is an example

of this growth. James Roberson is there and can tell

us more about what's planned. Hello. Good evening from a sunny and

were I was standing was just a hole were I was standing was just a hole

in the ground. The owners and developers. That it might be more

successful as a marina. It's tragedies and five metres from the

numerous canal but they connected it and turned it into this marina that

you can see. In 2008, it opened as a marina and that was successful. What

has really taken off is the retail development by. That is set to get

even bigger. -- development behind me.

It's the biggest inland marina in Europe, built

in what was originally a quarry for the giant Toyota factory.

But in recent years it's the retail and shopping that's

turned it into the most popular tourist destination in south

Derbyshire, with around 800,000 visitors a year.

Now another ?3 million is being invested to make

We're building a piazza, which is a 25,000 square foot building.

It will have two storeys of high-quality offices.

We are going to have six shops and a restaurant.

The demand has been extremely strong.

We've got some really interesting tenants coming forward.

And this marina is not the only water-based development doing well.

Ever larger and more elaborately appointed canal boats

At the Redhill Marina in Nottinghamshire,

the Nottingham Boat Company has tripled its profits

They say offering a modern house on water is the key.

There's things and technology that can help you get

much better quality, there's no reason why

you can't have in a boat what you can have in your house.

You can have as much luxury in a boat as you can

We're a strong believer in the strength of Derbyshire

We've had a huge success so far and we think we've got

And where do you see it going from here?

Getting better and better and better.

We are always serving the community and we're going to serve

We're very much part of the community.

This latest expansion work at Mercia Marina is expected to be

completed by December, in time for yet more visitors

And it's not just the visitors by car and coach. The boating community

come here, too. The canal and Rivers trust says that because more and

more people are on the waterways they need more places to drink,

sleep and eat. Local businesses like these behind me are benefiting.

Anyone thinking of setting a Anyone thinking of setting a

business up near the is a strong customer base. We will hear more

from the trust tonight under our late bulletin at 10:25pm. -- on our

late bulletin. Here in the East Midlands we can now

proudly say that this region is home to a man who managed to cycle

around the world. Leigh Timmis from Derby began his

epic journey seven years ago. Leigh returned to his home city

at the weekend and Simon Ward 44,000 miles and seven years

in the saddle later, Leigh Timmis is now back

to the start and into It's been a journey of contrasts,

through 50 countries from very dry, hot conditions,

to well below freezing. Naturally, there's been some

tough times for Leigh. got no energy and after thousands of

metres in the Alps it feels stupid. I just have nothing left.

But there's also been lots of good times.

The plan was to cycle round the globe in two or three

years, but Leigh decided to take more time to discover the world.

Leaving the UK, he went through France

and across the mountain ranges of Europe.

Through Asia and and down the coast of Australia and into New Zealand.

He crossed the Pacific by boat, cycled up the coast of South

America, across the United States, sailed across the Atlantic,

through North Africa and back to Derby.

So far he's raised more than ?10,000 for Derbyshire Childrens Holiday

Leigh's bike called Dolly was hand-made in Derby and she's

carried him on the adventure of a lifetime.

Seven years cycling around the world.

It was meant to be two or three years when I left but the

adventure that I left on, the idea of just a man

against the mountains and the desert,

it turned into a much more intimate experience, the

way that I travelled slowly was much more important and I was meeting

and then the evenings in their

houses, so to meet these people and share their lives, it became

more important than just a two-year adventure on my own.

And it wasn't just people that you met, because I

understand you had some hairy encounters, including one with a

I didn't know that there were lions in Alaska.

I'm camping in a tent one day, there's a rustle

outside under the food that is in the tree.

I look outside expecting a bear, but there's this

Well, smaller than a bear but it's out there.

Weeks later, I'm talking to somebody, describing this

big dog-shaped creature that's got a cat's face and big paws,

oh, it's a mountain lion outside your tent!

Now, there's been much bigger challenges.

That was probably the most scary but to cycle

across Tibet was incredibly difficult.

-40 degrees at night, camping in a tent in a place

where I shouldn't probably have been at that time, to

It's very difficult just to move, you find

yourself pushing the bike a lot of the time.

Well, you've returned now, seven years on back in Derby.

What can you even begin to be doing next?

I think I'll have to redefine what is normal for me.

I can't imagine it's working in an office again.

I'd like to be writing a book, I'd like to help

children to fulfil their dreams and I'd like to work

with the Derbyshire Children's Holiday Centre some more

Yeah, it's going to be hard to take the cyclist out of me now, yes.

It's making me want to cycle. At least for a day.

Perhaps seven overs. Here is the sport.

Coming up, some big news for all those who follow Notts County.

But we're going to tease you and round up the rest

Starting with Nottingham Forest who took a massive step

towards Championship safety with a three two win over

I was there on one of those afternoons that

When it gets to this time of year, the sun comes out and you want to be

in a position of relaxing and enjoying comfortable mid-table or

Instead, here, it's a battle between the pessimists and the optimists.

I tell you what, it is really, really nervous today.

If he'd known what was coming, he wouldn't have wanted to get away.

Forest battered Reading and should have scored early and often.

It was pure relief when they finally cut their way through.

The man who scored that, Britt Assombalonga, was on hand

again early in the second half to nod in a second.

And Forest's dominance was emphasised by the superb

That's a lovely finish to a top performance.

Somehow Reading were allowed back into the match,

but they never deserved those goals and as the sun battled with dark

skies over the City ground, the brightness won out.

made our week, month and your! We are staying up! Just the manager has

made us feel like we are good players. It's sold that we have

helped each other out. My voice has gone because I have been screaming.

Today was vitally important. It usually intelligent games to come.

week. -- to next week. -- two hugely week. -- to next week. -- two hugely

important games to come. These fans have more

to go through yet. It's been a roller-coaster. We are

born out. Staying in the Championship

Derby County's season has rather petered out -

well adrift now of the It could be the last chance to see

some of the players. They took the lead at

Sheffield Wednesday, with Darren Bent scoring his 13th

goal of the season. But they failed to build on it

and Wednesday struck back. Steve Fletcher got the first

of two in six minutes. Derby's defeat was eventually sealed

by this goal from Gary Hooper. But in League Two, Mansfield

are still well in the play-off hunt. They played another top seven

contender, Stevenage, and Danny Rose's goal just before

half time was enough to give This is how astonishingly

tight it leaves things. Stags just one point off seventh -

the last play-off spot. But fifth to twelfth is actually

covered by just five points. There are realistically three

of the four play-off places left available

and perhaps ten teams England's longest serving radio

reporter has just announced he's Colin Slater is known

as Mr Notts County. And has covered the club

for nearly 60 seasons. He's reported on more than 2500

Notts County matches. Their latest was Saturday's game at

Lytham. Since the ball into the wide area.

And whilst he'll carry on offering punditry and analysis,

At 83 - he's scaling back a little - having enjoyed and endured the ups

Sometimes it hasn't been easy. It's not been easy when the club has been

in the doldrums. It's always easier when Notts are playing well. Has

integrity, honesty... Colin Slater

has many honours - radio's version of an

Oscar - a Sony Award, an MBE and countless accolades

at the club. I've seen them flirt with

relegation. I've seen them in some desperate straits. Apart from that,

a great day out at Chelsea, May 1991 going back into the First Division

for the first time in 55 years. Well, he's seen 47

changes in his time. This week and's defeat means two

games left. Colin's final Meadow Lane

commentary will be this Saturday against Blackpool -

but he'll be back in August for his In gymnastics, Nottingham's Ellie

Downie took not one, not two, but three European Champion

medals over the weekend.She overcame a truly-punishing schedule

to win two silvers - this one in the vault coming

on Saturday before another second A bronze on the uneven

bars completed the set. All only adding to the glory of

Friday's historic all-around gold. Ellie says its sheer hard work that

has made the difference. I think I've just really knuckle

down after real. It was disappointing and I was ready to go

again. I've worked so hard. Pushed my fitness, my rehab and works on

the injuries. I couldn't be happier. In cricket, a two-day win for Notts,

a three-day defeat for Derbyshire and today it looked

for a while like Leicestershire Finally in ice hockey,

Nottingham Panthers' David Clarke was among the goal-scorers

as Great Britain's World Championship campaign got off

to the best possible start This rocket his contribution

to a 4-2 win over Croatia. The team go again tonight

against Estonia in the second The 500 school

children getting wired for sound as they

spring into science. They've been hearing

the buzz on vibrations and how And they've been able to pick some

of our top scientific brains at the University

of Nottingham. As Jo Healey reports,

it's all about getting more young people, and especially girls,

to study science. Only a 35 mph wind is blowing but

disappointingly... How did the wind do this

to the suspension bridge? One thing they learnt today,

but they had plenty Why is lightening ins exacts? Can

sound levitate heavy objects? If energy cannot be created and

destroyed, how it is created in the first place? That is a tough one.

But engineers were on hand to help out. I love science. I love all

aspects of it. I love everything about it. I've learned a lot about

how science and maths and bees at all join together. That's really

sound in electricity converts and sound in electricity converts and

vice versa. It allowed them to go home and think, actually that was

fun. Actually, I understood what was going on and I'm interested. That

might be enough to get a small rubber of you're in and designs. You

never know, the next marriage we might have been here in the

audience. -- the next we QB. Employers say they want young people

with qualifications in science. Over the next ten years, they expect the

industry will create 6000 jobs. Another good reason for these guys

to spring into science. What did happen to the suspension bridge?

Finally, the swinging Rob and suspension bridge gives away and

plunges into the water role. Is that when science goes bad?

Docking of science, the science of serology.

A cool spell of weather over the next few days. Temperatures are

struggling in the single figures. Sample might. The chance for some

frost. Some atresia was the cover. As is the nature of shovels, not

everybody will see one. What is going on in the bigger picture? High

pressure. We are dragging in the cooler from the north. The cold

front is thinking self words -- is sinking Southbridge. As through the

evening and into the next few days, looking at a cool picture. First of

all, through the evening, some late bills of sunshine. One occasion

Bristol couple. Clear spells and one or two shall restrict night. They

could be wintry and they could be cool. Overnight lows of two Celsius.

Plenty of practice tomorrow first Plenty of practice tomorrow first

thing. Some sunny spells and scattered showers. They could be

wintry. They could be literally anywhere. Temperatures reaching a

maximum of 9 degrees. North-westerly breeze will take the edge off. Sunny

spells and scattered showers on witnessing. Over the next few days,

looking at some cool temperatures. You will definitely want a warm

blanket that because it will be chilly.

I think it is time for it the central heating again.

I was gardening on Saturday and a gratuity Forest fans.

Do you want is to tell them to keep it down?

We will be back at 10:45pm. There are times in the life

of a nation when the choices we make define

the character of our country, times when people stand up

and demand real, significant change. we have the chance to shape

a brighter future for Britain