03/01/2014 Look North (Yorkshire)

Good evening and welcome to Look North. On the programme tonight: New

papers confirm the government did lie to striking miners in 1984.

Documents reveal the Conservative Government had secret plans to close

dozens of Yorkshire mines. We knew we were being lied to at the time.

These revelations only confirm it officially.

We're live in Barnsley at the National Union of Mineworkers for

reaction. Also tonight: Is this our region's

most dedicated football fan? Dave Foster hasn't missed a match

home or away for six years. We're with him as he makes a 500 mile

round trip in his wheelchair. I am in the Wakefield for a brush

with tradition, meeting one of the best barbers in the business. 51

years! This is a rainbow after a blustery

showers that we had today. Join me later in the programme for all of

the details of what is coming up. Welcome to the programme. First

tonight: After thirty years of denials it's been confirmed that the

Conservative government of the 1980s lied about secret plans to close

dozens of coal mines in Yorkshire and beyond.

At the time the National Coal Board said it planned to close 20 pits.

That itself led to the bitter year`ong miners' strike. But miners'

leader Arthur Scargill insisted that there was a plot to close 75. The

government denied it but official papers released today show he was

right. They also show that ministers considered using the army to move

coal to power stations. James Vincent is at the National Union of

Mineworkers Yorkshire headquarters in Barnsley. James.

This is the council chamber. It is full of history. It also used to be

full of minors. There were 54 minus in Yorkshire in 1984 and now there

are only two. If you talk to mind as they always said there was a plan to

dismantle their industry. These documents released today prove that

they were right. Pit workers lined up against

police, the defining images of the miners strike. This is rather run.

Miners thought they were trying to save their industry but its fate was

already largely determined. We knew we were being lied to at the time.

These revelations only confirm it officially. Ian MacGregor wrote a

letter to me and every other minor in the June of 1984 in which he

said, I state categorically and solemnly that you have been misled.

These documents were previously secret and they have been released

today under the 30 year rule. They were never meant to be seen during

the year longer sport `` dispute in 1984. Kevin Barron was in his first

year as an MP but later this year he will be knighted. Down into the

colliery for training in 1962. Right under this ground we are walking on.

Orgreave is where he learned his previous trade. What do you think

that ex`miners will say and think when they find out they were right?

They were right. Laid out now, they wanted to close half of the coal

mines in South Yorkshire. There was no regeneration or regional

development agency putting money into creating jobs and communities.

It's got massive high levels of an unlit `` unemployment even when the

pits were open, let alone closing them. Miners were proved right and

the industry has disappeared but now we know that there was a plan from

the very start to dismantle it. One former Conservative MP from

Yorkshire or says that the government has plenty of ideas but

it does not mean they are going to happen. I suspect that Mrs Thatcher

and her ministers looked at that and said it was too much, we cannot do

that. I do not know, it does not say so in the notes but sometimes the

notes do not tell you everything. More secret government files are

released in the next 12 months and we will find out more of what they

really thought. The documents may be from 30 years ago but they still

reopen old wounds. If you thought this was not an issue

any more, one of the current MPs has called for the Conservative

government to apologise today for what the previous government did to

the minors. I am with and Scargill and Betty Cook from women against

pit closures. Does this prove that your former husband and the miners

were right? It matters. We know we were right and here we are 30 years

on with an energy crisis and there are thousands of tonnes of coal

beneath our feet and Margaret Thatcher not only ruined the

coalfields but she ruined our communities. You only have to look

in our communities now, 30 years on and we have got soup kitchens, we

have got food banks, there are no jobs. The only jobs that you can get

low paid, part`time jobs and this is her legacy that we are still

suffering from. Thank you. Betty, people will say it was 30 years ago

and does it matter that you have been proved officially right? Of

course it matters and justifies everything that we did in that

struggle to support our communities and support the miners and the NUM.

It was Margaret Thatcher's policy to vindicate the miners and the

National union of Mineworkers for the trouble they caused when they

brought down a former Tory government. She destroyed our basic

manufacturing industries and destroyed our communities and she

destroyed our social structure totally. Thank you very much. If you

are in any doubt that this is still an issue in Barnsley, just look in

the history which has all gone now and people still blame that

Conservative government for destroying it. Thank you very much.

Well, we're joined now in the studio by the journalist Paul Routledge who

covered the miners strike and who has written a biography of Arthur

Scargill. Paul, obviously still a lot of

rancour and bitterness about the strike, Cabinet papers released

today show that Margaret Thatcher secretly considered bringing the

army into help resolve the dispute in terms of transporting coal around

the UK, does its pricey that the government were prepared to do

that? No, previous governments had used troops in industrial disputes

before but they have to keep alive for the nation going. What it shows

is that despite the resolute show on the surface, duck feet were paddling

very frantically below the surface. Why all the secrecy? All governments

lie but this was a particularly potent symbol of what was going on.

They said that they were not going to do it but of course we knew. The

menu, they grasped in the instinct that this is what was going to

happen, the industry was going to be butchered. Why else bringing in

MacGregor? That was the purpose of the dispute. Arthur Scargill was

worried about the closure and he said 75 pits. This is an article

that you published in 1982. You had a copy of the 75 pits. Yes, then it

was 46. Arthur Scargill invented the hit list because he needed it. It

was a unifying factor that would get the response from the men. Hitherto

pits had been closed based meal and then in Nottinghamshire would not go

on strike for a pit that was closing in Durham so he needed something

that would bring all of the men together and get them to take

unified action. The hit list was a stroke of genius if you like but it

did not work out in the end. You know Arthur Scargill's character

very well, will he be feeling vindicated by this? He has always

felt vindicated. What is vindicated tonight is the struggle of the men

and their families. They are vindicated in the sacrifices they

made to try and keep the industry going. It was not just after's

strike, it was the strike of all of the coalfield communities. At least

they now know that they knew then and they now know properly what they

were up again. The government was right though because Arthur Scargill

was a renegade holding the country to ransom, what they did was right,

wasn't it? The government always wanted to have this dispute because

they wanted to break the power of the labour movement. The NUM was the

strongest mood `` the strongest union and they had to do it when

they had the stocks prepared in the power stations. They had to take on

the figure out and they had to take on after and that is why they threw

down a gauntlet at one miners said they were closing in right away and

that is why the men picked up the gauntlet. We had to leave it there.

Thank you for joining us tonight. Later on Look North: The

two`year`old girl with disabilities, housebound after a robbery.

Audrey Frantzich needs vital medical equipment. It was stolen and now

she's confined to the house. Next tonight, Javaid Akhtar arrived

in Huddersfield from Pakistan as a boy 45 years ago, unable to speak a

word of English. This weekend he retires as the most senior Asian

police officer in the country. The Deputy Chief Constable of West

Yorkshire has seen the number of ethnic minority officers increase

during his 32 year career. But he's told Our Crime Correspondent John

Cundy much more needs to be done. Keeping it in the family, for his

final day in office, January Akhtar returned to where it all began, a

nostalgic patrol through the streets of Huddersfield. Proudly walking

with him, his 32`year`old son, the second`generation of the family to

join the police. When Javaid Akhtar joined the police there were very

few black or ethnic menorah T officers and now they account for

75% of the `` something like 5% of the force but there is more work to

be done. You are conscious that you are the only one or one or two or

three in the first few years. Whether it is in term of people's

backgrounds of the Democratic `` demographics or any other ways, the

police officers are delivering the surface `` service and they reflect

the community we are serving. The 5% does not reflect the community of

West Yorkshire. As well as the second most senior officer in West

Yorkshire he has taken the leading counterterrorism in recent years.

Keeping people safe whatever the threat to those people may be,

whether it is from terrorism of violence or other types of crime, I

think the police had to focus on all of those things. As Javaid Akhtar

bowels out his son will retain his father's force number. I know the

police number will stay with our family for hopefully another 65

years and it is a nice reminder of my dad whenever I put my uniform

worn and I have the numbers on my shoulder. Javaid Akhtar, the boy who

arrived in Huddersfield speaking only Punjabi and Urdu leaves the

force this weekend as one of Britain's's true Asian police

pioneers. Detectives investigating the murder

of a man from Sheffield are hoping that a missing piece of jewellery

could help catch his killer. Police say Simon Holdsworth's gold chain,

which he's seen wearing here, was never found following the discovery

of his body in Hackethorpe more than two weeks ago. His black Nokia

mobile phone is also missing. Police are appealing for anyone who knows

the whereabouts of the chain or phone to get in touch.

A failing school for boys with serious behaviour and social

problems in North Yorkshire is to be run by an independent provider, not

the County Council. Foremost School near Harrogate cost ?11 million to

build and opened two years ago. It was placed in special measures by

Ofsted due to poor leadership, inadequate teaching, and a high

number of pupil attacks on staff. Now North Yorkshire County Council

has admitted the school would be better managed by another

organisation. TV presenter Richard Hammond has

described his experience of recovering from a head injury after

he crashed in a jet`powered car in North Yorkshire whilst filming Top

Gear. Hammond was put into an induced coma and kept in hospital

for five weeks following the accident at Elvington Airfield near

York in 2006. His comments come after Formula 1 driver Michael

Schumacher suffered a brain injury in a skiing accident over Christmas.

Speaking on Radio Five Live Mr Hammond said although he's now

recovered, the crash still affects his life. Does it influence me? Yes,

but so did passing 40 and so did having two daughters and so does

being short. These are significant things in all of our lives and

eventually, if a person is lucky, then a head injury can be filed away

amongst them. A severely disabled child from

Baildon near Bradford has been left house`bound after thieves stole her

parents' car containing vital medical equipment. Two`year`old

Audrey Frantzich suffers from a rare condition and can only travel when

there are oxygen canisters and a special seat in the vehicle. The car

has now been recovered following the theft, but police haven't tracked

down the equipment. Here's Spencer Stokes.

Looking after Little Audrey is a round`the`clock task for Louise and

her husband Herman. Their daughter cannot breathe on her own, feeds

naturally or sit up without support. Their home is full of equipment that

helps Audrey to lead a more normal life. Until last weekend there are

also contained ?500 worth of similar items. The car was stolen and now

Audrey cannot leave the house. It has just ruined our Christmas Time

now for us because we have not been able to take Audrey out and she has

been very restless. You cannot believe that people can be so

heartless as to take things which they would have realised were for a

disabled child. Audrey is one of only ten children in the country

with this fault with her chromosomes. She has defied

predictions that she would not make her first birthday but hast to be

fed through a tube and relies on a machine to help her breathe. It is

just a random occurrence so we take as she is. She has a lot of love to

give. We deal with the oxygen, we are used to it, we deal with the

feeds and the vomiting and the suctioning. Your car is your

lifeline and it is nice to get out and about in the car and take Audrey

out and keep her happy. You just feel really defenceless. You cannot

do much, can you? It changes your everyday life with her and she

cannot be as happy. Police have now arrested and bailed a man in

connection with the theft of the car but the specialist equipment has not

been recovered and until it is found and replaced Audrey will remain

effectively housebound. Before 7.00pm: Have we found the

country's most dedicated football fan?

Being wheelchair bound hasn't stopped Dave Foster from seeing

every Chesterfield match in six years.

And Ian White meets the Wakefield barber who's been in the business so

long he's now part of a museum exhibition.

It is only a matter of time before...

Yes, it has been said! Now for sport.

Now if I say I'm looking forward to the potential all`Yorkshire clash

between the Jammie Dodger and Scotty Too Hotty, you'll of course know I'm

talking darts! Scott Waites returns to the Lakeside stage tomorrow to

start the defence of his BDO World Championship title, but standing in

his way could be his good friend, James Wilson. I caught up with them

practising in Linthwaite near Huddersfield. Double 16 for the

title! Scott Waites! When you hit the winning double, everything

drains out of you and you think `` you think, God, I have done it! To

win the World Championship, every darts player, that is what they want

to do, that is what they want to win. To win it is amazing. It is one

of the best feelings you can have. Roll forward 12 months and Scott is

practising rather hard at Linthwaite Bowls club. For me it has not really

changed me as a person but it has changed everybody else. You get

recognised a bit more when you are doing your shopping. In the local

supermarket and stuff. People now come up to you and know my name and

it is like everyone is my best friend even though I have never met

them in my life. Practising alongside him is James Wilson, aka

Jammie Dodger. A roofer by trade he took a few years out from darts but

now he is back and I love the title. When I went down last year I

told him I would be back. I only just qualified last year and this

year I am seeded number two and I have just got a masters under my

belt so I am really confident. Scots played a big part three Jones back

to the sport but it will count for nothing at the lakeside. What will

it be like if you face each other in the quarterfinals? Fun. It will be

fun. There will be an element of the fact that we are mates and

everything else but at the end of the day you are there and you want

to win the game. It don't matter about me, James will want to get up

there and win. I want to get up there and win. It is all about

winning. That is for the future, they have got to get to the

quarterfinals first. In Football this weekend the FA Cup

takes centre stage. It's the third round, meaning the big boys join in

and there are a few of our clubs hoping to avoid being at the wrong

end of an upset as they face lower league teams. Sheffield United

though will be hoping they can upset the applecart and catch Premier

League Aston Villa off`guard. We take it very seriously and we are

looking forward to it. It is a good draw for us but a very difficult

one. I think a lot of people talk about being devalued these days but

it is not here at Sheffield United. That will be reflected in the sport

with `` support we take to Villa Park tomorrow.

With a whole heap of football fixtures over the festive season,

it's hard for fans to get to all their team's matches. But Dave

Foster hasn't missed a Chesterfield game for nearly six years. His

dedication is all the more remarkable as he's a wheelchair user

and getting around lower league grounds is no easy matter. Our

reporter Ian Bucknell went with Dave to a recent match, a mere 500 mile

round trip to Exeter. Dave Foster is the definition of a

die`hard fan. Even a Friday night game just before Christmas at the

other end of the country will not stop him following is lobbied

Chesterfield. It is now my fifth season without missing a game home

or away which is pretty good in a wheelchair. It is something like 230

consecutive games. After a car crash 30 years ago Dave lost the use of

his legs. When he arrives in Exeter the next challenge is to cross the

city to the football ground which is one mile and a half away. It is one

of the busiest nights of the year so he has to push. I can't get a taxi

and it is killing me but I will get there. We will get there. They were

installed without us. It takes more than half an hour of hard work to

reach the football ground. We are here eventually, just in time for

the kick`off. 138 Chesterfield fans have made the trip by just one of

them is in a wheelchair. The weather takes a turn for the worse just

before kick`off, not an easy night to play all watch. At half`time it

is 0`0 and a refreshment stand is at the top of the terrorists so Dave

has to rely on others to get a hot drink. There you are, make the most

of it. You get what you are given in this life, don't you? They teach you

in the spinal unit that you can either sink or swim. A second goal

ensures a win for Chesterfield. We are top of the league! We are top of

the league! As he gets older it is getting harder for Dave to maintain

his devotion but as long as he can he will be there for his team.

Incredible. Finally from me, the first lot of

places for this year's Yorkshire's marathon sold out in just five hours

this morning. But fear not, if you're desperate to follow in

Harry's footsteps there are a few places left which will go on general

sale at 9.00am on Monday morning. Yutu have been sitting there ever

since the dark space. I've come up with Tania the Tigris.

Pitt, the super flick, he has a fantastic flick.

That is too long for a walk on. What will his music be?

It is Friday and here is something for the weekend.

A barber from Wakefield is celebrating an amazing 51 years in

the business. David Grice still works the way he was taught and is

keeping tradition well and truly alive.

Many of his stories and the artefacts he's collected over the

decades are forming part of an exhibition at Wakefield Museum. Ian

White popped into his saloon to meet him and get a quick tidy up. It is

not a salon! Tucked away on a corner of Northgate

stand a barber 's shop that is a piece of living history. Good

morning and thank you for coming. Please come in. David Grice is a

well`known character and has been keeping the city's gentleman smart

and ID for five decades. I have no idea what I want but I need

something doing. His saloon is a step back in time but he is

convinced that the old ways are the best. This is a professional comb,

these are professional scissors. There is not a machine anywhere in

the world that will cut your hair. With this I can come in and go out

and go up and go down. The tiny barbershop is crammed full of old

brushes, bottles, pots and potions. Some have even found their way to

Wakefield Museum, all preserved by a man who simply loves his

profession. I work with application, dedication and a pride in the

profession I am in. I ensure the way that I can look and serve my

customers. There have been tens of thousands of haircuts over the years

and some people in his chair have been more memorable than others. I

have had the experience of cutting Mr Harold Shipman's hair and beard.

No way! I have, he sat in this chair here. I have always tried to welcome

people, I have always tried to say, please have faith in me, let me show

you what I can do. I will take care of you, I will dress you and I will

agree new and if you like my service, then please call again.

Thank you. David Grice is the name, find barbering the name. When you

are smart you are smart enough. And I feel very smart.

That reminds me I need a short back and sides. It was more like an air

cut than a haircut, wasn't it? We try to come out with a darts name

for you. How about a year Cluj in? Before we start I have a few

pictures for you. This is a shot of staves in North Yorkshire. Just look

at it. It is beautiful. It is the sunshine before the showers. The

second picture is from Sandy and it is diddly reservoir.

If you have any weather pictures you can send them to us.

This evening it is quite windy out and about with gusty wind but it

will ease down and the showers will also die out. Overnight it will be

largely dry. You can see there is a real mess. This front will bring a

risk of rain and snow but not as windy until the next front comes in

from the Atlantic on Sunday. It will give another spell of wet and windy

weather so it will stay unsettled this weekend. This evening we still

have showers around. The showers are likely to be heavy at times and

giving us hail over the tops and they will possibly be wintry but

they will is allowed. The breeze will ease down and become moderate

overnight. Temperatures will get down to about two degrees. We could

see a touch of frost tomorrow morning and a risk of icy stretches.

A cold and frosty start to tomorrow morning. If you are heading out

watch out for ice. A fine start but we have a yellow warning of snow

specifically for North Yorkshire as we will have a band of rain coming

up from the south and it will fall as snow over the tops over 150

metres. The range ranks up from the south and the snow falls from 150

metres with one `` a couple of centimetres being possible. A lot of

us will be dried by the end of the day. Temperatures will be a little

bit lower than today. Robbie get into seven degrees in Scarborough.

The breeze will be a lot lighter from the south`west. Not as breezy

day tomorrow. On Sunday it is wet and windy. It stays unsettled

through the day and next week there is the risk of gales on Monday.

It is a real mess, is that meteorological term?

Yes, that's what I learned at whether school!

I went to approved school. I think you need to go back.

Good back `` good night!