11/11/2011 Look East - East

Hello and welcome to Look East. In the programme tonight:

The veterans of modern-day conflicts on the day we remember

the end of the Great War. The disabled mother stuck in her

flat for a fortnight because of a broken lift. I have not been able

to work or go to school with my children.

Calls to stop the new rail franchise for East Anglia because

of controversy over the number of seats on trains.

And the story of the charity set up to help the children of the armed

force's mothers and fathers who are no longer worth us. -- with us.

Hello. On Armistice Day the changing face of remembrance as

younger veterans assume the mantle of the old soldiers of the second

world war. Even if they joined up very young the men and women who

served in World War Two are now well into their '80s. But after

years of conflict, from the Falklands to Afghanistan, the Royal

British Legion is very busy with new generations of veterans. On the

anniversary of the day the guns fell silent on the Western Front,

our Defence Reporter has been to meet three veterans.

This man was in Bosnia in 1994. Today, he remembered. That is us.

Trying to keep the peace between warring factions help -- affected

him deeply. Afghanistan is full on fighting. Bosnia was a peacekeeping

operation. In one respect, peacekeeping is probably just as

bad or more difficult than what you are trained to do if. This man

represents a new generation of the veterans. He has seen action in

Iraq and Afghanistan. His first tour was very bloody and has left

him to traumatised. It was hard to see children being blown up by the

Taliban. Very young children. It stayed with me for quite some time.

At this rehabilitation unit, his life may have been transformed. The

Help for heroes charity helped to get it built. Donations from the

Poppy Appeal will keep it running. By next spring, service personnel

can come here to readjust to life inside or outside the military.

bullet went through my shin bone. And at the side. The youngest

veteran shows me his bullet wound from a sniper attack in Afghanistan.

The man who saved his life was killed in an explosion soon after.

When they said he had passed away, there are no words that can

describe that feeling for. It must have been difficult today. It is

one of them things. You can sit there and think about everyone else

on this important day. The men I met are adamant they do not want to

eclipse those who have come before them, but to be fully recognised as

part of the war veteran community. I am joined by the former head of

the British Army. The fact that we have had so many conflicts in the

last 20 years. Has that made a difference to the way that people

Mark Armistice Day? I think it does. Recollections are largely historic

and are passed down from generation to generation. In recent years,

particularly with at Iraq and Afghanistan, these conflicts have

been widely broadcast on television some people have a greater

understanding. I think it is easier for the larger population to

empathise with what hour armed force personnel have been going

through. I think there is more recognition that there are people

who were prepared to do difficult and dangerous things on behalf of

the nation. There were fears a few years ago that the younger

generation didn't appreciate what had gone on. But now the generation

knows somebody who was in the forces and perhaps someone who has

been injured? The younger generation in uniform has stood up

to the plate fantastically in recent years. The young men and

women who come into the armed forces now are every bit as brave

after training as their predecessors were. And the all have

friends from school. Work colleagues. Word gets around. It is

good that people up and down the country can stand and give thanks

and remember. Is it right that we need to sell poppies to look after

our! -- ex servicemen and women? The short answer is yes. It has

always been the British way for the public, private and charitable

sectors to come together in support of our armed forces. I think it is

a wonderful thing that they give money to the Royal British Legion

at this time of year. It is a way that we can show our support and

contribute. Yes we can do sponsored events, or we can just put money in

at 10. Whatever we do, we're saying thank you for doing these difficult

and dangerous things on our behalf. I have no trouble with said. The

Government still has to do a major part, but it is right for her the

public to help at this time of year. Thank you.

A disabled mother has been stuck in her flat for more than two weeks

because no-one repaired a broken lift. Melissa Chaplin from Milton

Keynes uses a wheelchair and can't walk up the stairs to her first

floor flat. She says she was turned into a prisoner in her own home.

I have not been able to take my children to school or to get to

work. It is not just me. Any other parents in the building that have

pushchairs and anyone who is retired. Any movement can dislocate

this woman's joints. Normal life ceased 15 days ago. She has not

been able to leave the flat. Today, on Armistice Day, she realised just

how much she is a must. I don't even have a poppy. I have not been

able to get out and buy one. I would really like to come down now.

We contacted the property The company went on to say the left

would be prepared on Monday. We said that we would be filming today.

As we went to leave, engineers arrived. They have phoned to tell

me that there is an engineer working on it just now. My concern

is that the Left might be fixed, but if it were to break down again

and someone were inside it, they would not be able to form out.

Faced with the prospect of a third weekend trapped in her flat, she

has decided to take a chance and use the flat. She says the fight to

ensure the emergency phone line is also fixed goes on.

Still to come tonight: With six months to go to the final, FA Cup

fever kicks off with round one. And the man they call Big C.

Northampton and England forward Courtney Lawes on a disappointing

Rugby World Cup and a huge Heineken Cup clash in Ireland.

The Government has been urged not to sign a deal for the new Greater

Anglia rail franchise. The Colchester MP Bob Russell says

there is growing concern the company taking over the franchise

plans to cut about 4,000 peak hour seats.

After nearly eight years in charge, the days are numbered for National

Express East Anglia. But will their success to do any better?

Passengers are clear what they want. The main thing is punctuality.

Nobody can stand trains being late. Punctuality. And cheaper fares.

franchise will run for just under three years. National Express is

about to finish adding extra carriages to the network. But will

the new company keep them? For this MP says that they could cut the

number of peak-time seat by 4,000. He says, if that is the case, the

franchise should be block. I would be love it. If there is a cut, it

is more likely to be on commuter trains coming through Colchester

and up from the Essex coast. That would be 4,000 fewer seats for

people to sit on. People will be standing on overcrowded trains.

Today, it was confirmed that 36 carriages added by National Express

would be sent back. They insist that overcrowding will not increase.

Passengers will ultimately be the judge of that.

A man has been jailed for his part in a 32-hour siege in Norfolk.

David Cawston was tasered by police after barricading himself inside a

house in New Costessey with a gun. At Norwich Crown Court, he admitted

two offences of possessing an air pistol with intent to cause fear or

violence. He was jailed for three years.

Two men have been jailed for life for the murder of a 45 year-old man

in Ipswich. Martin Edwards was found dead at his flat in Old

Foundry Court last Christmas Day. Timothy Bailey must serve a minimum

of 20 years, and Joseph Heggarty 14 years. Two other defendants were

cleared of murder during the trial last month.

Norfolk County Council will probably go ahead with a

controversial waste incinerator in King's Lynn whether it gets �169

million from the government or not. Yesterday, the Environment

Secretary said money won't be released unless the plan had local

support. If the incinerator makes it off the

drawing board, it will be built in King's Lynn and burn waste to

produce electricity. The county council says the way forward could

be going ahead without the funding. If it represents the best value for

money for Norfolk. It looks at this early stage I could well still be

cheaper to build the plant without the credits than abandon the whole

project altogether after five years of hard work. The incinerator has

been hugely controversial. Campaigners have held protests.

65,000 people signed petitions. They believe it will damage health

I am not surprised the council are saying they will still proceeds.

They have decided still to go ahead even though there is no public

support. What this shows is if the council didn't need a government

funding in the first place, surely this is a reason for Caroline

Spelman not to award it. They still need planning permission. The

council hopes the Government will change their mind over the money.

The latest paintings by a nine- year-old prodigy from Norfolk sold

out in just ten and a half minutes today. 12 landscapes by Kieron

Williamson who lives in Ludham sold for a total of �105,000. One person

working for a collector from Manchester even queued overnight

Fit for Ipswich Hospital has won praise from inspectors six months

after a critical report. Their Care Quality Commission aired concerns

in May, but has carried out a follow-up check and says things are

much improved. Five No one likes to be told they

are failing, and least of all our hospital which has built a fine

reputation down the years, treating just short of 500,000 patients

every year. In May, as the Care Quality Commission came, there was

no hiding place. Clearly, we have not met anything like the standard

we would expect at this hospital. We are very sorry to patients and

their relatives who had been distressed by that. The commission

said they were failing to meet essential standards on things such

as dignity, nutrition. Inspectors came back and found no shortcomings

in those areas. Her I have the utmost respect. What they pointed

out allowed me to correct areas where we were failing. Since they

have visited, our patients are receiving a higher standard of care.

It is not just nurses, the whole organisation needs to be vigilant.

The criticism they admit rocked morale, the biggest worry that

patients would lose confidence. But they have made changes, and this

endorsement from the Care Quality Commission would suggest they have

got it right. It has been a difficult few months for the team,

so you can understand their delight over this latest report. But they

say there is no room for complacency, they remain committed

to driving up standards of patient care, striving to ensure they get

There is not much League football on offer because of the

internationals, but it is a big weekend in the FA Cup. It is round

one, which gives some of the smaller teams a chance for some

time in the limelight. In rugby, it is a big weekend for Northampton

Saints in the Heineken Cup. We start with football, and Cambridge

United. The FA Cup starts for real here at

Cambridge United tonight. They play Wrexham, it is the first game of

the first round. All the qualifying is over, and it starts here. I have

to say it is a bitterly cold evening tonight, and it seems a

long way away from this spring date in May when the Wembley final takes

place. There are nine other games taking place tomorrow in the

competition, let's take an look at all the best bits from where you

live. Melbourne Park, home to Chelmsford

City, preparations are in full swing for their home tie with

Telford. They have negotiated three qualifiers, now 1,500 fans are

expected to watch the match. Inside, the chairman is beavering away.

the FA Cup certainly has that magic about it. You are never going to

win it, it is just how far you can go. For a part-time club, chances

to cash in like this do not come around every year. �18,500 for the

winner tomorrow. Four it is very important, it keeps the season

going and takes the worry a way of finding the wages at the end of the

month. I can recall one particular game where we beat them down at the

old ground 5-0, we progressed to their third round and we got

Ipswich Town. Hopefully, a repeat of history. For Colchester ahead to

Crewe. They have become a resilient bunch and are favourites to

progress. There is a confident about the team, especially after

last week at Tranby Europe when we played off a 0-0 game, a great

result -- tram you. Southend are at Preston. Anthony Grant begins at

three match ban after being sent off at Oxford. They could not have

got a harder draw. One of the biggest clubs they could have drawn.

I really difficult game for them. I fancy them to get a draw.

Blues' 12 match unbeaten run is Rugby union, and Northampton Saints.

Chris Ashton has been given a suspended fine of �5,000 and warned

about future conduct after inappropriate comments made to a

female hotel worker during the World Cup in New Zealand. He is

back on the team tomorrow as they begin their Heineken Cup campaign

in Munster. He is joined by Courtney Lawes.

Smita Courtney Lawes, 6 at seven and 18 stone, he is one of the most

agile and destructive players in world rugby. -- that -- 6 that -- 6

at seven. He plays the game on the edge. At

the Rugby World Cup he was suspended for a fortnight. It has

not stopped him packing a good punch. I what to be my own player,

I just want to be me. But better, to be honest. And I'm going to keep

working hard to do everything I can. Like many Saints players, he was

hoping to deliver on the world stage in New Zealand, until it all

went disastrously wrong, both on the pitch and off it. I do not know

how you can be expected to stay in a hotel room for two months. You

have to enjoy your wins and you have to enjoy each other's company.

Is that this feeling of Chris Ashton and many players, they feel

they have been tainted? For it is hard and it was hard for them. All

their families and friends know, and they know what happened. Do you

think the new generation know when to stop? I do not think it has

changed at all. I think it is just because rugby is high-profile now

and everyone is more in the limelight. So we are expected to

act a bit more responsibly. But some of the stuff that was done out

there was taken well out of proportion, all of it was harmless.

Does that play on your mind when you play on the pitch? Probably.

For at least now he has a Heineken Cup, six months ago since fell

agonisingly short. It was very tough to take. But you

learn from games like that, tough games where you start well and they

come back, it is very hard to describe it. But you learn from

them. We have a very strong team. Players have been rested, given a

chance to get some more game time. I am happy about that and I'm ready

to go. That is on BBC Radio Northampton

tomorrow. Jez George is in charge at

Cambridge United. You took the job reluctantly, but you are making it

look easy. It does not feel easy. But the players are working very

hard, and we are making decent progress. We changed the team

around a lot over the summer, there are a lot of young players in the

system and their working very hard and progressing as a team. And we

have some points on the board. will show a few pictures of the

glory days in the early 1990s when they got to two quarter-finals. Is

it possible to get back to those days? I remember those games, I

stood on the terraces watching. I think things are cyclical. And you

hope that if you work the club can get back to that level at some

point in the future. The support we have here is unbelievable. The fans

are passionate and we want to repay them by giving them a team they can

be proud of. For best of luck tonight against Wrexham. If there

is a commentary on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

We have already seen the way we marked Armistice Day across the

region. Now, a personal story. When Corporal Lee Scott was killed in

Afghanistan, it had a devastating effect on everybody she knew him.

But his widow Nikki decided she wanted something good to come out

of the tragedy. She found at the Trout -- charity, Scotty's Little

Soldiers. It helps the children of soldiers who have died in conflict.

It has just raised its first Nikki Scott is having a cup of tea

made for her. And whether she likes it or not, bread, jam and sausages

are involved. This child was just eight months old when her father,

Corporal Lee Scott, was killed in Afghanistan. His duel was in King's

Lynn. Her big brother were an army uniform that day. A year later,

Nikki started Scotty's Little Soldiers. I had the thought quite

early on, a few months after he was killed. But obviously I was not

capable of coping that well back then. So I just put it to the back

of my mind. And it was when I went on a family holiday with some

cousins and I saw my son and laughing in the pool and playing, I

realised I had not seen him laugh like that in months. The charity

has already raised �100,000 to help pay for special trips and presence

on birthdays, and at Christmas time. But Nikki does not want to stop

their. The bingo hall is to be able to raise around �450,000 so that we

can buy holiday homes around the UK, so that people can ring up and

asked for them and the next week. Toys are there, bedding is there

and they can just get away and have a break. The success of the charity

has helped the family a lot. But their son is struggling the most.

He was close to his father. He has good days and bad days. One day he

is happy and the cellist -- he will be chatting, and talking about his

dad. The next day he might be in bed sleeping with a picture of him.

Where his daddy now? For in heaven. Is he was here now, and you could

say something to him, what would you say? I love my daddy. The other

really important thing that I have realised since he has gone is just

how involved he was with the children, and how lucky, to be

honest, I was to have such a good husband. I think he would be very

pleased with what we are doing. Children were his life, and I think

this charity is helping them and he Let's take a look at the weather.

It has been a bit chilly today. But I will show you some video first.

It has been above average for the last few weeks, these swimmers were

enjoying a swim in the river yesterday evening. A full moon as

well over the river, that made for some nice winning. Water

temperatures above average. As we go through the next couple of days

we will see the temperatures rise again, after this chilly day. Low-

pressure is pushing up front in our direction. A lot of cloud around.

That brought a little patchy light rain and drizzle to areas. It was

quite chilly. As the goes three tonight, cloud thinning and the

drizzle continuing, somewhat it may turn more persistent across western

parts of the region overnight. It will slowly work its way east. With

that low cloud around and the rain, temperatures will not go very far

from where they were today, around 10 or 11 degrees Celsius at the

lowest. Light to moderate south- easterly winds. Over the weekend,

cloudy but it will brighten up. We start the day on Saturday with

patchy light rain and drizzle, but otherwise mainly dry. And with a

bit of sunshine as well in the South and west of the region. 14 or

15 degrees Celsius, about four degrees where we are a -- word

today. Light southerly winds through the afternoon. On Saturday,

staying dry, and mixture of sunshine and cloud. A bit of rain

around towards the evening. High- pressure off to the east over the

next couple of days, that will keep us fine and dry. Temperatures will

not be that bad, I ran for 18 degrees Celsius on Sunday during

the day, but coming down at it as we go into the week. We will

continue to secrecy -- East or South easterly winds. We could be