08/03/2012 Look North (Yorkshire)

Good evening. The war in Afghanistan has hit home hard today

in the heart of our county. Especially here in Huddersfield.

Three Huddersfield lads aged 20 and 21, and a 19-year-old from Bradford

were killed along with two others in the same explosion.

As the families friends struggle to take in their tragic news - they

also find time for tributes. He was a legend tours, and everyone that

knew him in. We are heartbroken. Meanwhile - after so many deaths,

there are calls for a fresh debate on the war. Some MPs want it back

on the political agenda. The British Legion say they just want

to help the soldiers. And we have the five-day forecast

The news came through yesterday, but the reality is only just

sinking in. The photographs of the six soldiers that died working

together as a unit in an armoured vehicle in the most dangerous place

on Earth showed us the cost of four. Three came from Huddersfield,

Corporal Jake Hartley aged 20, private Ashley front and aged 20,

private Daniel Woodford, 21, private Christopher Kershaw, 19

from Bradford, and Daniel Wade, 20 from Warrington. Their Sergeant was

Nigel Coupe, a member of the Duke of Lancaster is. We have reported

on losses before, but never five from the same area. Tonight, we

hear from Bradford, we go to the regiment barracks in Warminster and

urine Huddersfield as well. This is Greenhead Park, this is the war

memorial, it is a focal point for many people. One lady said this

morning if that she had no particular connection with the army

but a total connection with the young men that died.

Proud of their regiment, three young men from Huddersfield who

signed up to serve their country. Weber killed when their Warrior

armoured vehicle detonated a roadside bomb between Lashkar Gar

and Kandahar on Tuesday. They had been in Afghanistan less than one

month. At Anthony front and's passing Out Parade, his mother

decided as the best day of her life. -- at Anthony front and's passing

out at the ceremony. He was a legend to us and all that knew him.

We are heartbroken. Corporal Hartley is said to be named best

recruit after 20 weeks in the army and would have been 21 on Saturday.

This guy that collapse. He would just walk into the room. The whole

room that would light up. He could turn anything until party. Private

Daniel Wilford joined up after leaving school but he left to work

in a supermarket, but he missed it and went back again. He is a hero

in our lives and will be sorely missed. Today, his friends

struggled with the loss. I cannot believe it, even though his and he

has told me, I cannot believe it. - - his and has told me. He was a

best mate. At Private Anthony Frampton's form at school, his head

teacher described him as very popular. He was very popular and

had long lasting friendships that have gone on into the future and he

would be very sadly missed. Afghanistan may be a far-off land

but for three Yorkshire families and their friends, the impact of

Tuesday's events thousands of miles away if we have a lasting impact

much closer to home. The Archbishop of York said

yesterday that the British Army was the best in the world, but losing

so many young men so early on their tour of duty will test that to the

limit. Today, the commanding officer wanted to pay respects, not

collectively, but individually and wanted to speak about each man and

what they had achieved in their career.

Corporal Jake Hartley was known as Jaidee to his friends. He was a

selfless, dedicated leader of men and no doubt feature a sergeant-

major. Private Thomas front and was a fit and carefree soldier. Behind

his cheeky nature was a true and legend among his peers. Private

Daniel Wade had only recently joined this battalion. Been a very

short period, he made a real mark. It is to his great credit Batty

successfully completed his Warrior driving course so early in his

career. Private Christopher Kershaw was one of my fitters soldiers, a

true Yorkshire Warrior, he was a star of the future. Finally, but

certainly not to the least, I come to Private Daniel Wilford, he was

the archetypal Yorkshire infantry soldier. He was quiet, unassuming,

but with bags of character. It has been a sad state. As their brothers

in arms, we remain committed to continue with this mission. They

would want nothing less. What has been truly devastating

about all of this is the age of these young men, especially when

you look at their photographs. Four added the five were aged 20 or 21.

Among those that wanted to remember our friend to did not have the

chance to start his life in one sense with the Leeds rugby legend,

Danny Bravo. He remembered fondly growing up with Anthony Frampton.

He went to school with them? Yes, he was the joker, he was one of the

fun of the guys to have about in your friendship and he made me

laugh a few times. Did he always want to be in the army? I think he

wanted to represent his country, he was heading to Afghanistan at such

a young age, and we respect what he did. When you remember the last

time you saw him, it has only a few weeks ago? He went on Valentine's

Day. Forehead to be such a short time, it's doesn't really sink in

that it happened so fast. How have the friends reacted? They must have

been devastated to hear it. found out yesterday. We were

heartbroken. Speechless. Everyone was pulling together, sending

messages to his Facebook Page and for the family to go through that,

it is not a nice thing to go through. With his family cope with

it? First such a young age, he had not lived his life, so it is harder

for them to deal with. I am sure they can pull together, but it is a

tough one to do with. A nice tribute from you, thank you.

Anthony front and remembered by Danny Bravo. And now, Jason

McCartney, the local MP, so many sad stories, but is your view on

this? These men that tirades, it has made the whole of Huddersfield

into a very sombre place to be. -- these men that have died. We hear

of these men that have passed to wait defending our security in

Afghanistan, and it really hits home when so many of these young

men are from this part of the world. Huddersfield, it is a resilient

place and it needs to be, yes, three people have been affected,

but thousands in that community as well. They will need to come

together somehow and help. Yes, because they are from three little

communities, I went to one of the high schools speaking to one of the

young students there, and on the 11th of a November at the War

Memorial, there were dozens of young people remembering those that

had fallen in the two great wars, but little did they think a few

months later they would be remembering a former pupil. It will

hit the communities hard. Huddersfield has a real tradition

of recruiting for the armed forces, we have had losses before and we

will come together in the community, and we will come together to look

after those families and remember this great sacrifice that these

young men have made on our behalf. You served with the or a have, do

you have a perspective on this? -- with the RAF. Yes, the road goes on

with their comrades, they will want to continue with the nation in

memory of their fallen comrades. We are coming out in 2014 from

Afghanistan, we went in to make sure that Afghanistan was not a

safe haven for terrorists and extremists that want to kill as

here, and their loss was not in vain, let's leave in an ordinary

way and let support their families as much as we can.

Thank you. Back to the studio. It wasn't just Huddersfield's that

woke up to the grim news today. Bradford learnt that one of its

soldiers was among those lost. Chris Kershaw was 19 years old and

described as a true Yorkshire worrier.

Killed serving their country, the faces of soldiers from the

Yorkshire Regiment that have made the ultimate sacrifice. Since

operations began in Afghanistan, 14 young man's lives were cut short.

The last five, in the explosion in Helmand on Tuesday. In Bradford,

thoughts were with the family of Private Christopher Kershaw offer

was just 19 years old. As news spread of his death, people in this

cul-de-sac gathered outside his family home to pay their respects

and to leave flowers. Later, his mother and her sister took time to

read the tributes that were put on the garden fence. I did not want

him to go to Afghanistan, pressed a leaf. It was always in the back of

my mind that he would come back in a wooden box. He said, I am not

that stupid. And like I said, he has come back in a wooden box.

knew there were dangers. He knew the risks. I do not think he fully

understood anything until he lost one of his best mates a few months

ago. Friends and neighbours spoke fondly of Chris today. At when you

were younger, he would pass by Ian is cadet uniform and he was so

proud of himself walking past the house, and he died serving the

country. Everyone is in mourning for him. You know him personally?

My children were brought up with him. It is a tragic loss. We all

grew up with him. It is not nice, because we have known him for so

long. There is a photograph of Chris Kershaw on the garden fence

which has become a shrine to him. Friends have left floral tributes

and messages. The fallen heroes will not be forgotten, we will

honour of the cells that had been taken to the angels in heaven on

this day. And, a true hero never- to-be-forgotten. His commanding

officer described him as a true Yorkshire Warrior, Amanda died

doing the job that he loved. -- a man that died.

Inevitably, after so many deaths, there are questions about the role

of Britain in Afghanistan. Today, the Huddersfield MP called for a

new Commons debate on the military campaign in the country. Yesterday,

we were shocked and stunned to hero of the deaths of six soldiers in

Afghanistan. We have been hard hit in Yorkshire, five of those young

men came from there, three in my own constituency. Is it time for us

to have a serious debate about what is going on in Afghanistan? I think

the house will not want to cut and run, because these men did their

lives for their country, and it is time for full reflection. What

about that suggestion of a new debate? Does the Legion have used

The conflict goes on and we have to support the young men and women who

were out there. You weigh your poppy with pride and many civilians

perhaps served and will serve to the same but this year has been

truly phenomenal. Absolutely incredible. It grows year on year.

We are always astonished by the public support. The public are

making the distinction between their views on the conflict and

supporting us and other military charities on our support of

servicemen and women and their families. They are looking at these

men and women as individuals who might need their help? Absolute

need. Some of these people may need help for the rest of their lives.

We are seeing increasing numbers coming back or injured both

physically and mentally and they require our support and the support

of the communities and families. You know servicemen and work with

them, how important are the tributes from ordinary folk like

the one we have heard today? How important are those messages to

those who serve? They are extremely important. There was nothing worse

than coming back from an operational tour to nothing. I

would urge the public to remember people that of surveying and give

them welcome home parades and think about the losses and the sacrifices

that these young people are making and the strains they are under and

the strains of their families back here in the UK. Thank you very much

for your comments. In other news the BBC has learned that there's a

new plan to try to keep South Yorkshire's Police Helicopter. The

force had been told it must join the new National Police Air Service

which would mean Sheffield's helicopter would be scrapped. But

Councillors have told the Government they're not prepared to

lose it. They've now drawn up a plan to join the new service and

keep their own aircraft. On Friday the authority will discuss if it's

cost effective. A man and woman under arrest in

connection with the murder of Amjad Hussain in January. Another man

under arrest has been released on bail. The victim's mother and

daughter today made further appeals for public help in the case. We are

extremely shocked by this death. He was very kind and hard working. His

death has created a big hole in our lives.

The Liberal Democrats are the latest party to choose their

candidate to fight the Bradford West by-election. She is Jeanette

Sunderland, the leader on the Liberal Democrats on the City

Council. The by-election has been called following the resignation of

the sitting Labour MP Marsha Singh because of ill health. Polling day

is Thursday March 29th. We have shown in Bradford East just what a

difference having a hard-working MP focused on Bradford can make a real

difference to a city like Bradford. He has worked really hard and

spoken out and I want to follow that tradition.

Now let us have some peace and calm Now, when the Kemble piano

manufacturers closed two years ago it was the end of the British-made

piano. Now the instruments are largely mass produced in the Far

East, but in a tranquil spot near Skipton, a Yorkshire company has

spent the last two years creating a piano from traditional materials

and techniques. Heidi Tomlinson It sounds like a dream job, making

and selling pianos in a Yorkshire barn. Adam Cox is reviving an

industry that died out in the UK when the recession bit. You have

some fantastic pieces but they look beautiful but they are not made

clear in the UK? That is right. This one is a German make. This one

is also made in Germany. Setting up a huge workshop means expensive

overheads. A Yorkshire pianos have kept it small. Much of the

intricate work is done by local businesses. This is a craftsman's

co-operative bringing together a number of home-grown specialists to

produce a traditional British sound. Meet the team, there is the string

or. John Spencer is an ex a piano Stringer from Otley. The regulator

is Jackie. She fine tunes the action of the hammer hitting the

string. David Wilson is the cabinet may can also based in the Dales. He

works with Wal-Mart to make a traditional instrument. Finally

there is a musician. Before they are sold the keys need to be played

ferociously to create stability. There is a specific tone that goes

with a British piano. Quite often people like to have a piano similar

to the one they grew up with because that is what they associate

the piano sound with. This company believe their British model can

compete with giants like Yamaha. They admit making music the

traditional way will be a challenge. That is the best of British.

Now, how about this for a challenge? Running 50 miles a day

for 50 days. Sam Boatwright from Silsden is doing it to raise money

for Help for Heroes. He's been training in the Yorkshire Dales and

will start the run in a month's time.

Are you really doing it in 50 days? Yes it is 50 days. So whatever the

weather you will have to do 50 miles. Yes, two and a half 1,000

miles. You look extremely fit in these pictures. It will be easy!

am doing anything I can to make sure I can do the 50 miles every

day. Are you doing it in a circle? ESI and into the circle, starting

in Blackpool and heading up to Scotland and then going down

through that coast down to Dover and then I will be coming back up

through Wales and back for a celebration. You have somebody with

you? I have a support team and a camper van with me at all times.

They will follow me and I will be where I sleep. If ever there was a-

day, it is today, to explain why you were doing it. It is very dear

to your heart and on a day that we lost six soldiers and we found out

a fiver from our patch. A lot of people are saying it is really

brave that what I am doing but it is nothing compared to what they

have done. They have given their ultimate sacrifice for the country.

People are doing it all the time. You were doing this for Help For

Heroes. I am doing it the Help For Heroes and if anybody can get on

and sponsor the today then surely today is the best day. I have a

website called epic run and you can donate on their. I think you are

wonderful and it is a very poignant reason to be talking to you.

Thank you very much. Good luck to you. I hope you raise a lot of

money. money.

Now I am looking forward to the glorious weekend.

That might be a little bit over the top but it looks quite spring-like.

Let us look at some pictures. This one was taken yesterday. It is in

between the showers. This is a nice one of a meal. That is a lovely

rainbow. We saved the best till last and this one was taken this

morning. It is absolutely fantastic. Keep the pictures coming in to me.

The headliner for tomorrow is a lot of cloud around. There will be

brighter spells at time and some drizzle over the Pennines. A high

pressure will come up from the South and there will be a lot of

dry weather. The weekend looks pleasant. They should be some good

and sunny breaks. The cloud will come and go in the next few hours

and it will be thick enough to produce a few showers. There will

be some spots of rain the and er. That is the way of it for much of

the night. Wed cloudy conditions pushing him from the West. The

highest risk of spots of rain over the Pennines. A further east there

will be a lot of dry weather. These are the sunrise and sunset times.

Tomorrow there will be a generally cloudy day. The cloud will be thick

enough in times, especially over the Pennines and will produce some

drizzle. On the east there will be bright and sunny intervals. Any

drizzle further east will peter out. On the top of the Pennines it will

be quite damp and drizzly at times. Riders spells in eastern areas will

lift the temperatures up. -- brighter spells. There is a lot of

cloud of weekend, especially at first but there will be some sunny

breaks and it will become mild. breaks and it will become mild.

Thank you very much. I think it is very fitting that we return to

Huddersfield now for more on our top storey, the salt is that died

in the bomb blast in Afghanistan. -- soldiers.

We have had raw emotion today with this tragic event. We are now going

to move down to Warminster where the regiment is based. I have seen

a lot of images of their and it is a very moving situation.

It was a few weeks ago that the people in Warminster stood on this

spot at which a fond farewell and a safe journey to the troops leaving

from this barracks. They wished them well on their journey and it

is only in the past 24 hours that it has begun to sink in that six

troops will not be coming home a life of. If you want to know how it

has affected the community here then you need to look no further

than the amount of floral tributes that have been laid here. This time

yesterday there were just a handful and we have seen people coming up

every few minutes today to lay more. It shows that people see the

military and his barracks as being at the very heart of their

community. It is not just the people connected

with the army. It is the people on the outside to have also wanted to

show their respect. Yes, you're absolutely right. It is

not just those 90 troops that have left and there are hundreds more

from these barracks that have to go out to Afghanistan very soon it so

the issue is far more poignant down in Warminster. The candle I pointed

out to you earlier was from the ceremony when the troops left and

the idea was to keep the flame burning and all the troops return

safely home but now the truth is sinking in that six troops will now

not be returning safely home when their tour of duty finishes in the

summer. Will it continue to be the focal

point down there? I think it will. Everybody you talk

to in Warminster is linked to the barracks here and they either know

someone who works here or they are part of a military family

themselves. The very least you can expect is for that feeling of

collective loss and grief to continue here for some time to come.

Thank you very much. A very emotional day in Yorkshire. We want

to leave you with some images of respect from family and from many

people who did not even know the soldiers but they wanted to

appreciate what they have sacrificed. From all of us, good

night. Our loss is very great today. He was the youngest lad in his

battalion to be made a corporal so his career was five staff. He was a

selfless, dedicated leader of men. It gets you. I just came down here

to pay my respect to the lads. is a travesty. It is a sad loss to

the regiment and all the people of Yorkshire. With them all being so

young as well, it is the families that I feel sorry for. When he was

younger he used to pass with his cadet uniform on and he used to be

so proud of himself walking around and he died serving the country.