06/12/2013 Look East - East

the oppression of one by another. The sun shall never set

Hello and welcome to Look East, live tonight from the East Anglian coast.

And, after a night of surging tides, it looks very much like we got away

with it. The dramatic moment when this household could only watch as

it was swept away. We will take you along the coast, county by county,

for reports about how the region was affected. The emergencies Minister

talks to us about the operation to keep communities safe. And I am here

with the other news. Including the day that Nelson Mandela came to

town. Hello and welcome to Great Yarmouth.

You can see the river behind me. As the crow flies, the seaside is a

mile in that direction/ For the people living here, and along the

East Anglian coast, this has been a very worrying 24 hours. The water

was right up here last night. You can see the debris. It was one of

those nights where we all feared the worst. But we did very well. Last

night, they faced the most serious tidal surge since 1953, when coastal

communities were inundated and hundreds perished. We were filling

the villagers of Hemsby in the local pub as they raised funds,

ironically, for new sea defences. We went to the beach and were shocked

by what we saw. This is a seriously high tide. Ferocious. Just look at

the power of the water. It's cutting into the beach. Imagine living up on

the cliff, right on the edge. While we're standing here, the lifeboat

hut is literally tipping into the sea. The high tide has chiselled

away underneath the foundations. It's literally tipping up as we

stand here. Earlier in the day, we'd been filming with Jackie and Steve.

Their house is right on the edge of the Dunes. I went with them to see

if it was OK. Jackie's going in now. Hang on. They're close. The back of

their house has gone... That's very unstable. What are we going to do

now? I can't believe it. What's happened? We don't know. We're not

prepared. Where do you go tonight? Somewhere safe? People have offered

to have us. Heartbreaking. If you want to see the full report

that will be on the One Show later. This report is from Norfolk.

This was home to Stephen and Jackie. Last night, the bungalow to a dive

off the sand dunes into the sea. Before it feel, local people had

formed a human chain to help remove some of the positions. Have you lost

everything? Yes. Everything is invested in the. `` in there. I am

shell`shocked. Another home was engulfed next door. We watched for

half an hour. The sea lifted it up into the water. We couldn't believe

it. The sea carried it away. On the beach, what remains of the old

lifeboat station has now become a tourist attraction. This was the

high tide earlier this morning. The problem is still an over. Last

night, the waves rose above what was expected. This is the main road.

Several shots were flooded. This home received the full force of the

water. The first time in 50 years. We didn't expect it. I know we were

warned that we didn't expect it. `` but we didn't expect it. I've never

known it to come up as high as this. This view a film these pictures of

the sea becoming over Cromer Pier. `` coming over. In King's Lynn the

sea defences struggled. Many places were without power. Workmen are

senior recovering storm defence panels, damaged by last nights

storms. `` last night's. I came across from Suffolk earlier and

there were problems on the roads. Traffic jams. Here's a report from

Suffolk. Water pours through a breach in the river wall at

Southwold after a night few will forget. Among them, Richard Burrell

` exhausted after spending all night on board to save his boat from being

washed away. In the early hours of this morning I saw a haystack going

down the river. Out to sea. At the Harbour Inn, a muddy mess. They'd

cleared the furniture yesterday, but the speed of the surge was still

shocking. We were about five`and`a`half feet under where

we're standing at the moment. It was racing around the back. I thought

enough's enough ` let's get out. Mike Pickles says if it was a few

inches higher, they could have lost everything. It came up very high.

Any higher and it would have been a disaster. A breach in the river wall

shut the A12 at Blythburgh. And near Ipswich, motorists struggled

through. At Felixstowe, the sailing club was left ankle deep in water.

Today they were taking stock of the damage. I thought there would be no

problems. Also flooded, the Felixstowe Ferry Cafe ` built

shortly after the 1953 North Sea surge. This building here was washed

away during the 1953 floods. The existing building replaced it. It

was a pre`fab bungalow. Back at Southwold, the sea is still

menacing. People are still on edge. They know this was a close call.

Lots of us will have seen the famous pictures from 1953. There was

devastation in Jaywick. Yesterday, the police were going round and

asking people to leave their homes for their safety. We saw that some

people did not want to leave their homes. They wanted to stay. As it

happened, it wasn't as bad as people field. `` feared. By the early

hours, the storm surge was lapping at the foot of the sea wall at

Jaywick. It's unprecedented in the time I've been here. Four and a half

years. Even the Chief Constable was urging locals to heed the warnings

and leave the area. All along the East Coast, officers are

recommending you get out. Take their advice. Secure your belongings. The

decision to evacuate Jaywick was taken yesterday afternoon. Many

residents vowed to stay but as evening closed in some decided it

was better to be safe than sorry. They headed to the council's rescue

centre. `` rest centre. 400 was the maximum we got to. Great community

spirit. A few moans as you would expect but we had people from two or

three years old to 103. These five evacuees said they'd had a sleepless

night but been looked after very well. They weren't going home

hungry! They laid on a dinner. Tea and coffee all night. Biscuits and

bacon rolls too. It's a team spirit. Everybody's kind. It's like a home

from home. The sea wall here at Jaywick did its job. You can see

from this line of foam how close the water got to the top. There was

flooding, however, on Mersea Island near Colchester. This morning, this

woman could wade across her living room. It came up from the cellar. I

knew there was nothing I could do. The sea had got me. This afternoon,

another high tide on the road leading to Mersea Island. A reminder

that the danger isn't quite over yet. Later in the programme I'll be

speaking to the Environment Agency about our coastal sea defences. If

you are worried about that we will have the information. The Minister

in charge of the emergency services is Brandon Lewis, who also happens

to be the local MP. It was a busy night for you? All of the emergency

services, and all those who worked around the country, it all came

together. All of the people on the ground deserve massive credit. There

will be some people who are homeless... Their homes have been

ruined. What is your message to them? I was in an evacuation centre

last night. Fortunately we have been able to get some really great

community spirit together. People who have chalets are opening them

up. That is what to do that the community spirit has been fantastic.

`` There is work to do. There has been a lot of money invested since

1953. A paid dividends last night? Yes. Everybody did a fantastic job.

The committee worked really hard. They listen to other advice. ``

community. Can we keep spending money on keeping the sea at bay? We

need to make sure that people are safe. The work that the Environment

Agency are doing next year is helping to protect 50,000 homes in

Great Yarmouth. When we do have this kind of situation we can be safer in

our homes. That is important. Is that happening around the country?

This is specific work in Great Yarmouth. But that is what being

done all over the country. It makes a big difference. Especially when we

have situations like this. Have you seen anything else that has been

going on today? I have been all over. Visiting evacuation centres

and front line areas. There was water coming over just a few hundred

yards from you. But examples all over. But what has been consistent

has been the community spirit. Everybody has worked well together.

They deserve huge credit. Some people will be looking forward to

Christmas but not in the own homes? Unfortunately so. There has to be

worked on to make sure they have somewhere for Christmas. `` work

done. Hopefully everybody else's home as they are in Great Yarmouth.

It is a bitterly cold evening. I am grateful for you talking to us. We

will be back there later. Now back to the studio.

People from around the world have been paying tribute today to the

South African statesman Nelson Mandela. In his lifetime, Mr Mandela

came to our region on several occasions, and wherever he went he

had a warm welcome. Nelson Mandela inspired millions of people around

the world. But he was also inspired by many people from this region,

which is why he visited several times after his release from jail in

South Africa in 1990. In 1997, when he was President of South Africa, he

came to the University of Essex with his friend. She was being given an

Honorary Doctorate by the University for her work in Children's Rights.

`` Children's Human Rights. How has your visit been, Mr President? This

is the person you should ask! A year later, Michelle and Mandela were

married. In 2000, a year after he retired as President, he came to

Bedford. 10,000 people crammed into the town centre to see him. He came

to pay tribute to Archbishop Trevor Huddlestone, who was born in Bedford

and worked in South Africa to support Mandela and the

anti`Apartheid campaign. Mandela said of him, 'no white person has

done more for South Africa than Trevor Huddlestone'. I'm very

honoured to be here today. To pay homage to the memory of a great man.

Since 1995, Magdalene College in Cambridge has awarded scholarships

named after Mandela to graduates from South Africa. In 2001, he was

made an Honorary Fellow of the College. He said he was nervous

about receiving the honour because of his history. I have a bad

criminal record. LAUGHTER... Mandela's magic then

inspired the Cambridge dons in an impromptu dance. A year later, and

looking frail, he returned to England at House in Northamptonshire

` the final resting place for another inspiration for him, because

of her campaigning on landmines and AIDS. Diana, Princess of Wales. When

I got the news that she had died in an accident, I was completely

devastated. So the fact that I've come here now, to say goodbye to

her, is something very significant. Unforgettable. Nelson Mandela ` who

died yesterday. A man has been jailed for ten years

after admitting the rape of a 12`year`old girl he met through

social media. 31`year`old Robert Fulton from Lowestoft admitted using

Facebook to make contact with the victim. He was sentenced today at

Norwich Crown Court. The police said the girl had been left devastated by

the incident. Firefighters in Cambridgeshire are

to go on strike in the run up to Christmas. The Fire Brigades Union

has announced two evening walk`outs in December. It's in a dispute over

pensions and the age of retirement. They'll take action next Friday and

Saturday night, between 6pm and 10pm. An exhibition at the Norfolk

home of masterpieces is being dismantled after attracting its

highest number of visitors. The collection was owned by written's

first Prime Minister. The lengthy process of dismantling a

priceless exhibition. The last five paintings are being carefully

removed and are going to be shipped back to Russia and America this

week. This painting was displayed in the common parlour. These people

have to check for any damage before it is wrapped in film and placed in

a creek. `` crate. It was once the greatest collection in Europe but

had to be sold to save the family home. More than 7000 pieces, mainly

paintings, were released by the State Hermitage of Saint Petersburg.

It is one of the world 's oldest museums. It is the first thing that

any museum in the world has led so many pieces. `` lent. It is a first

for Russia. Things from England are going to travel to Russia in the

near future. 115,000 visitors travelled from all over the world to

see this collection. More than they anticipated. The exhibition was

extended by two months. The paintings will make the 1700 mile

journey on to Russia. In climate controlled trucks. It is probably

the last thing we will see this artwork exhibited here in a

lifetime. `` last time. `` our lifetime.

In football, Norwich boss Chris Hughton insists he's working hard to

improve the club's away record. The Canaries have suffered a series of

heavy defeats. Tomorrow, they head to West Brom in the Premier League.

Arsenal set the trend... Ozil has two... Arsenal have four... The

torture continued at Manchester City... It's seven! At this moment

it's hurting. I, as manager, take full responsibility. Liverpool and

Suarez also made them pay. Norwich have lost six or their seven away

games, conceding 21 goals ` more than any other Premier League team.

The statistics speak for themselves. We're on the back of a big defeat in

Manchester. One in Liverpool as well. We have to defend better. Be

organised. Making it tougher for teams away from home. The manager

says he and his team are working hard behind the scenes to address

their frailties. They'll move above West Brom if they can win at the

Hawthorns. I want to see a reaction. We've done that at times this

season. I want to see a performance that gives us a good chance of

winning the game. Mick McCarthy has got Ipswich moving the right way `

three wins in four and the Championship play`offs in sight.

They face Huddersfield tomorrow. We've got consistency now and we're

winning games. We may not be playing pretty football, like Real Madrid,

but winning is all that matters. And for six sides a place in the FA Cup

third round is at stake. Non`league Cambridge United are hoping to cause

an upset against Sheffield United. They're struggling in League One.

This week we've been featuring the candidates short listed for the BBC

East Sports Unsung Hero Award. And we can tell you tonight that the

winner is Gloria Keech from Bedford who runs the Hertfordshire Mavericks

Netball team. Gloria is now up for the National Unsung title at the

annual BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. Gloria received her

trophy at the Hertfordshire Sports Awards last night. You've won the

BBC East Sports Unsung Hero Award! Our Unsung Hero for the East is

Gloria! Well done to her. I'm back with the Look East late news at

10:25pm. Now though, we can re`join Stewart in Great Yarmouth.

Welcome back to Great Yarmouth, where things are returning to normal

after a night of worry about the tidal surge. Steve Hayman is from

the Environment Agency. How did this compare with 1953? In several places

we have seen levels that were higher in 1953 `` than 1953. In Essex it is

a bit lower. We were concerned about high take that it has passed OK? It

didn't come as high as we thought. We are pleased to see that levels

are returning to normal. As far as the Environment Agency is concerned,

everything went to plan? We always learn lessons. We are pleased with

both the accuracy of the warnings that we got out and the timeliness.

Compared with 1953, when there was a terrible loss of life, largely due

to the fact that people had no warning, this time we have seen a

major event and there has been no loss of life CDs injury. `` or

serious injury. Some people have no home to go home to tonight. But it

is better to have taken the precaution to leave? If you have

seen the height of the Tate last night, against the defences, in that

situation you have two error on the side of caution. `` to err on the

side of caution. `` height of the tide. It came very close to this

barrier. It would not have taken much more to come over? No. But our

forecasts are always getting better. You cannot be incredibly precise

about these things. We have two allow a bit of leeway. Very

importantly, the way we worked with the emergency services and the local

authorities was a real team effort. Thank you to everybody for their

hard work. No time for the weather. `` Now time for the weather.

At King 's Lynn, here are the times for the high tides. If you do have

any concerns, you can call the Floodline. In terms of temperatures,

it is going to be quite cold. A week weather front. `` weak. Isolated

showers. Overnight temperatures for some of us, particularly across

Norfolk, maybe below freezing. Possibly some icy patches. For more

of us the temperatures are recovering. We start tomorrow quite

cold. There will be bright spells. Temperatures recovering. Some sunny

spells developing. A lot of cloud. Slightly milder direction for the

wind. In the afternoon, it looks largely dry and the late. `` dry and

bright. Temperatures of around nine Celsius for the start of next week.

High pressure is across the region. That means cloudy conditions

continue. Not a lot going on. Much calmer. With enough cloud around,

most of us should be free from a frost. Back to Stuart. As far as the

Environment Agency is concerned, the tides are back to normal. It has

been a worrying few days but thankfully we have all come through

it alive and well. Goodbye.