:00:00. > :00:00.Hello, welcome to Midlands Today. The headlines tonight: The firing
:00:07. > :00:10.handle of his ejector seat was in the wrong position ` a sequence of
:00:11. > :00:19.events that led to the death of a Red Arrows pilot.
:00:20. > :00:24.From the age of 17, she wanted nothing more than to join the RAF.
:00:25. > :00:26.At today's inquest, the coroner criticised the MOD, the RAF and the
:00:27. > :00:29.ejector seat manufacturer. Also tonight: Another ?6 million
:00:30. > :00:36.from the government for a burgeoning business park in the Black Country.
:00:37. > :00:39.It is a fantastic example of how this particular part of the world is
:00:40. > :00:43.thriving at the moment. Memories of the Olympic torch in the
:00:44. > :00:46.Midlands ` will there be the same excitement this summer for the
:00:47. > :00:53.Commonwealth Games? We talk live to Dame Kelly Holmes.
:00:54. > :00:58.I'm at Villa Park for Aston Villa against Albion. It is local pride
:00:59. > :01:01.and points at stake tonight. And temperatures are falling tonight
:01:02. > :01:05.as we head towards the coldest day of the winter so far. But will we
:01:06. > :01:14.get to see some snow? I'll have all the answers in the forecast later.
:01:15. > :01:22.Good evening. The family of a Red Arrows
:01:23. > :01:34.more than ?6 million is being invested at the site in
:01:35. > :01:37.Wolverhampton. It's one of 12 enterprise zones chosen by the
:01:38. > :01:40.government to get extra funding to improve its infrastructure. Joanne
:01:41. > :01:42.Writtle has been finding out what difference the money will actually
:01:43. > :01:48.make. A ?6 million boost to bring money to
:01:49. > :01:53.the i54 site faster. It is said that the money will help to improve
:01:54. > :01:56.infrastructure here. We have just seen a wonderful
:01:57. > :02:01.example of reinforcing something that has already been very
:02:02. > :02:07.successful and taking it on to the next stage. This factory is being
:02:08. > :02:12.built for a security stamp maker. It will move here in June, bringing
:02:13. > :02:20.65 workers and plans to recruit more.
:02:21. > :02:25.We intend to grow the business and also, the i54 site behind us enables
:02:26. > :02:29.us to bring people from around the world.
:02:30. > :02:34.Jaguar Land Rover will employ 1400 people at the engine plant here at
:02:35. > :02:43.it is hoped 6000 jobs will come to this entire site by 2020. Many in
:02:44. > :02:47.areas that are experiencing a skills shortage, a point not lost on
:02:48. > :02:53.business leaders. You worried about the shortage of
:02:54. > :02:57.engineers? Very much so. It is a challenge through all the companies
:02:58. > :03:02.to make sure that sufficient young people are being trained and are
:03:03. > :03:06.interested to choose this as a career path. In the past, we have
:03:07. > :03:12.missed out big time. According to the local enterprise
:03:13. > :03:16.partnership, 3 million people of employment age live within 20 miles
:03:17. > :03:20.of this site. So, what do those living closest by think?
:03:21. > :03:24.There will be more people working there, so hopefully it will bring
:03:25. > :03:29.people buying food and shopping during the day. There will be more
:03:30. > :03:35.traffic, I assume, but apart from that, it is positive. I think it is
:03:36. > :03:39.very good. There are more jobs to the community and it will hopefully
:03:40. > :03:43.help us as well. The new slip road will be open from
:03:44. > :03:48.October and, with the government cash right `` announced today, it is
:03:49. > :04:00.hoped that the available building plots will be ready quickly.
:04:01. > :04:04.Coming up later in the programme. Are these the remains of the
:04:05. > :04:13.daughter of the traitor who betrayed the King 700 years ago?
:04:14. > :04:16.The family of a Red Arrows pilot from Coventry who was killed after
:04:17. > :04:19.he was ejected from a stationary plane say his death could have been
:04:20. > :04:22.prevented. Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham died in November 2011.
:04:23. > :04:25.Speaking after the inquest today, his father Jim said he found it
:04:26. > :04:29.difficult to understand how the problems with his seat were missed.
:04:30. > :04:37.The MOD, the RAF and the seat manufacturers were all criticised by
:04:38. > :04:43.the coroner. It was a job that he loved, but it
:04:44. > :04:47.ultimately cost him his life. Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham died
:04:48. > :04:52.after his ejector seat went off during routine checks on the ground
:04:53. > :04:56.in 2011. At the inquest into his death, it was revealed that the
:04:57. > :05:01.accident could have been prevented. His family have been coming here
:05:02. > :05:05.every day for three weeks to get the answer is that they have been
:05:06. > :05:08.searching for for two years. That weight clearly had taken its toll
:05:09. > :05:15.when it came to giving their reaction today.
:05:16. > :05:26.Sean was blameless in his tragic death. His tragic death was
:05:27. > :05:30.preventable. We're still finding it difficult to accept so many people
:05:31. > :05:37.could have missed what should have been obvious to those with the duty
:05:38. > :05:42.to ensure the safety of the seat. The inquest heard about concerns
:05:43. > :05:47.over pressured timetables and a dilation of experience within the
:05:48. > :05:51.engineers and staff shortages. Problems with the ejection seat
:05:52. > :05:55.where the safety pin could be put into the handle without it being
:05:56. > :05:59.safe were known, but not communicated. The handle had been
:06:00. > :06:05.left in an unsafe position for four days and was seen on 19 different
:06:06. > :06:10.occasions, but it went unnoticed. Sean's parachute did not deploy,
:06:11. > :06:16.because a crucial nut and bolt been over tightened. If his parachute had
:06:17. > :06:20.worked, he would have been alive. The over tightening of the nut and
:06:21. > :06:25.bolt and the potential for it to be a risk was known 20 years ago by the
:06:26. > :06:31.manufacturer Martin Baker. Other people were informed, but not the
:06:32. > :06:32.RAF. In relation to the 19 missed opportunities to notice that the
:06:33. > :06:57.handle not safe, the inquest said: We have made and will continue to
:06:58. > :07:03.make every effort to make sure that such a tragic accident could never
:07:04. > :07:09.happen again. With regard to this nut and bolt and
:07:10. > :07:13.Martin Baker's failure to notify the MoD of potential over tightening,
:07:14. > :07:14.Stuart Fisher said that there was a very serious failure of
:07:15. > :07:27.communication: At the base today, the Red Arrows
:07:28. > :07:31.training session was given in Sean's honour, his family watching
:07:32. > :07:36.on the ground. Business has assumed here, Sean's
:07:37. > :07:44.family hope that lessons learnt from his death mean that these people are
:07:45. > :07:47.safe in the future. A teenager has been warned by a
:07:48. > :07:50.judge he can expect a substantial prison sentence after being
:07:51. > :07:53.convicted of killing a Redditch man. 50`year`old Nigel Shakespeare was
:07:54. > :07:57.heading home with his partner from a night out in the town last year when
:07:58. > :08:00.he was attacked. A 17`year`old who, cannot be named for legal reasons,
:08:01. > :08:06.was found guilty of manslaughter at Worcester Crown Court.
:08:07. > :08:09.A man's been found lying critically injured in a street in Birmingham.
:08:10. > :08:12.Forest Road in Moseley has been sealed off all day following the
:08:13. > :08:15.discovery last night. The police say they're treating the 50`year`old
:08:16. > :08:17.local man's injuries as unexplained. They're appealing for information.
:08:18. > :08:27.Nearby residents say they're also baffled by what's happened.
:08:28. > :08:30.People living in the Midlands will get their chance to see the
:08:31. > :08:33.Commonwealth Games baton as the relay passes through Birmingham on
:08:34. > :08:35.Monday second June. It's hoped the Queen's Baton Relay will replicate
:08:36. > :08:39.the spectacular success of the Olympic torch relay two years ago.
:08:40. > :08:43.The Olympic torch, which was made in Coventry, was in the Midlands for a
:08:44. > :08:46.total of seven days. More than one million people lined the region's
:08:47. > :08:50.streets to see it. And it was carried through 73 towns and cities
:08:51. > :08:55.in the region. Joining me now is the President of the Commonwealth Games
:08:56. > :08:59.England, Dame Kelly Holmes. Good evening, Dame Kellly. Could
:09:00. > :09:05.this be as popular as the Olympic Torch?
:09:06. > :09:11.I think it will be a very exciting time. It will definitely be
:09:12. > :09:14.different. What happens with the Queen's Baton Relay is it goes to
:09:15. > :09:19.certain locations and they put on offence which are trying to bring
:09:20. > :09:26.communities together. `` they put on events. It will start in the town
:09:27. > :09:33.hall, at lunchtime it will go to a number of parks in Birmingham
:09:34. > :09:37.activity parks activity programme, that allows people to participate in
:09:38. > :09:42.sport. And then Birmingham City council will host an evening
:09:43. > :09:50.reception at the three. So it is very different. You won't see it
:09:51. > :09:53.going round lots of towns. It is a different event. This is the
:09:54. > :09:57.Commonwealth Games. But it is so important, because team England want
:09:58. > :10:04.to do well and we are trying to get everybody to visit the website, just
:10:05. > :10:08.to find out more about us and really support the team. Our team will go
:10:09. > :10:11.out there in Scotland and it was proud.
:10:12. > :10:18.The build`up to the Commonwealth Games has been quite quiet so far.
:10:19. > :10:22.Will it change? Will it get off the ground soon?
:10:23. > :10:31.I think when the Queen's Baton Relay goes to England's, it finishes on
:10:32. > :10:36.Friday the 13th in Newcastle, I think the focus will definitely come
:10:37. > :10:44.to the fore. It is the only other multisport competition that there is
:10:45. > :10:47.behind the Olympic Games. I think the energy and the enthusiasm for
:10:48. > :10:53.sport is still very big and I hope by June and July there will be
:10:54. > :10:57.everyone focusing on the games. Well the baton has been touring the
:10:58. > :11:00.world as part of the Games' build`up and tonight it's in Namibia. Well we
:11:01. > :11:03.can speak to the BBC's relay presenter Mark Beaumont who's been
:11:04. > :11:17.following the baton around the world so far. Where have you been?
:11:18. > :11:20.Good evening. The Queen's Baton Relay started off at Buckingham
:11:21. > :11:25.Palace, and it is all ready been through Asia and the Pacific and
:11:26. > :11:29.through part of Africa. This is the 33rd destination, just shy of half
:11:30. > :11:35.the way round the Commonwealth. What sort of reaction have you been
:11:36. > :11:40.getting? It has been quite remarkable. Everywhere we have been,
:11:41. > :11:43.there has been an impressive turnout. I heard you saying before
:11:44. > :11:48.that people are just waking up to the fact that there is another home
:11:49. > :11:51.games in the UK. For the athletes that I have met around the
:11:52. > :11:58.Commonwealth, the training and the preparation is under way. The
:11:59. > :12:01.Queen's Baton Relay in each place right thing has caused great
:12:02. > :12:08.excitement. In one area they took the day as a national holiday. There
:12:09. > :12:14.have been songs and ounces and people getting behind the athletes.
:12:15. > :12:17.`` and dances. And you can follow Mark's journey
:12:18. > :12:32.and the baton, as it heads back to the UK, on his blog. This is our top
:12:33. > :12:36.story. The firing handle of his ejector
:12:37. > :12:40.seat was in the wrong position ` a sequence of events that led to the
:12:41. > :12:43.death of a Red Arrows pilot. Rebecca will be along shortly with
:12:44. > :12:46.the forecast for the Midlands,also ahead: We're live at Villa Park
:12:47. > :12:50.ahead of the Villa`Albion match which kicks off in about an hour's
:12:51. > :13:00.time. And from the marry `` the Maori, a
:13:01. > :13:08.taste of what is to come at the International dance Festival in
:13:09. > :13:11.Birmingham. Nearly 3,000 people have signed
:13:12. > :13:13.petitions opposing changes to Stafford's historic Shire Hall
:13:14. > :13:16.Gallery. The County Council's looking at selling or renting the
:13:17. > :13:19.Georgian building, which houses a former court room and the town's
:13:20. > :13:21.current library. But campaigners are fighting the plans, as our
:13:22. > :13:28.Staffordshire reporter Liz Copper's been finding out.
:13:29. > :13:32.Standing in Stafford's Market Place, the Shire Hall's been at the heart
:13:33. > :13:34.of this county town since the 1790s. Inside, the old courtroom ` now a
:13:35. > :13:45.museum ` but the as a young barrister, I did a great
:13:46. > :13:49.deal of work in this building. That court room is now being kept as an
:13:50. > :13:52.extremely valuable educational resource.
:13:53. > :13:58.People in Stafford have grown up with the building. It is not just a
:13:59. > :14:02.library, it is an art exhibition space and a gallery. It is a
:14:03. > :14:08.beautiful building, and if we lost the library, it would be a waste.
:14:09. > :14:12.This has not been thought through, especially with all the new
:14:13. > :14:17.buildings. The campaigners have set up online
:14:18. > :14:25.petitions. Thousands have signed up in support.
:14:26. > :14:29.They are worried about what the building might become, will it be a
:14:30. > :14:33.pub, what will it be? It costs around ?180,000 year to run
:14:34. > :14:41.this building, and the County Council is looking at a wide array
:14:42. > :14:46.`` why `` array of options as to how to use it. The gallery is presenting
:14:47. > :14:53.its latest exhibition. There are no plans to move this
:14:54. > :14:56.imminently. But there are plans to move the library. There is a limit
:14:57. > :15:00.to what could be done to the building, but it would be wrong for
:15:01. > :15:03.us not to look at public buildings and to say is this the best use of
:15:04. > :15:08.this building? The judgement on the fate of this
:15:09. > :15:11.building will be made in the next 12 months. The council says it will
:15:12. > :15:23.listen to what the concerns being raised.
:15:24. > :15:26.The discovery of a body from the 14th century at a church tomb in
:15:27. > :15:29.Herefordshire is being hailed as an amazing archaeological find. The
:15:30. > :15:32.body was found at St Bartholomew's Church in Much Marcle.
:15:33. > :15:35.Michael Eastham, a conservator of sculpture, has spent two years
:15:36. > :15:38.restoring Blanch's tomb. But he certainly didn't expect to find what
:15:39. > :15:42.turned out to be a mysterious lead coffin jammed inside the tomb chest.
:15:43. > :15:45.English Heritage has described the discovery of what are almost
:15:46. > :15:51.certainly Blanch Mortimer's remains as astonishing. And the vicar at St
:15:52. > :15:55.Bartholomew's says he's overwhelmed by the idea that Blanch has been in
:15:56. > :16:07.the church all the time since her death nearly 700 years ago.
:16:08. > :16:12.At no ground level, we would have perhaps expected something, but not
:16:13. > :16:19.in the monument itself. It has astounded a lot of people,
:16:20. > :16:25.archaeologists are excited. Much Marcle and Herod Fisher can say to
:16:26. > :16:28.the world that you can find things here. `` Herefordshire Blanch, who
:16:29. > :16:30.died in 1347, was the daughter of the first Earl of March, Sir Roger
:16:31. > :16:34.Mortimer. He turned traitor against King
:16:35. > :16:37.Edward the Second and is believed to have arranged for the king's murder.
:16:38. > :16:40.His daughter's memorial has been described by experts as strikingly
:16:41. > :16:44.beautiful. And of course it's a testament to the workmanship that
:16:45. > :16:50.only now, after 600 years, has it needed restoration work. Work that's
:16:51. > :16:52.now led to the unveiling of this ancient coffin. Despite the
:16:53. > :16:55.excitement surrounding the discovery, the decision's been taken
:16:56. > :16:59.that the coffin should not be opened, as it is Church of England
:17:00. > :17:14.policy to minimise disturbance to human remains.
:17:15. > :17:17.That is a fascinating story. There's a big, big game under the
:17:18. > :17:21.floodlights at Villa Park tonight. Aston Villa take on West Bromwich
:17:22. > :17:24.Albion with more than just local pride at stake. Our reporter Nick
:17:25. > :17:27.Clitheroe is there. It's first time the two managers have met, so that
:17:28. > :17:29.gives it a little extra edge, doesn't it?
:17:30. > :17:35.Absolutely. So much has changed since the two teams drew to each at
:17:36. > :17:39.the hawthorns two months ago. Aston Villa have picked up since their
:17:40. > :17:43.match against Liverpool, so they have moved away from trouble, but
:17:44. > :17:51.they are only one gay `` one game away now. It will be an interesting
:17:52. > :17:58.time for the head coach. The way that the players played, they played
:17:59. > :18:05.a fantastic game. To think that they are struggling at
:18:06. > :18:10.home was confusing. But hopefully we can fix that starting Wednesday. It
:18:11. > :18:18.is a good match, and for a rest it is important to win three points.
:18:19. > :18:24.As we look ahead to the rest of the season, how crucial is this game?
:18:25. > :18:31.We really are into the crucial part of this season. So many big games.
:18:32. > :18:34.As well as this one, we have also got Stoke City of Sunderland. If you
:18:35. > :18:39.look at the table, you will see just how tight it is. Aston Villa in
:18:40. > :18:42.11th, that would normally be safe, but they are only six points above
:18:43. > :18:47.the relegation zone will stop other teams are two points back, but if
:18:48. > :18:53.Stoke were to win tonight, they would both go above Villa. There
:18:54. > :18:57.were so many big games to come in the season. This is a key one, as
:18:58. > :19:02.well as the really exciting derby atmosphere, it will be very tense
:19:03. > :19:07.here, because both sets of fans know it's Ali how important this game
:19:08. > :19:09.will be. And let's move onto last night's football.
:19:10. > :19:12.Wolves are favourites to sign Coventry City's top scorer Leon
:19:13. > :19:14.Clarke. But the Sky Blues manager Steven Pressley is angry about
:19:15. > :19:17.Clarke's behaviour, accusing him of letting his team`mates down. Last
:19:18. > :19:23.night, whilst Coventry were losing at Leyton Orient, Birmingham lost
:19:24. > :19:27.again at St Andrew's. Birmingham City have won only twice
:19:28. > :19:30.at home all season in the Championship. The last time was
:19:31. > :19:33.October first. So it was no surprise when Lloyd Dyer put Leicester in
:19:34. > :19:36.front. Seven minutes from the end, the Championship leaders scored
:19:37. > :19:40.again, to add to the growing sense of frustration at St Andrew's. And
:19:41. > :19:44.not even a late consolation from Peter Lovenkrands could ease the
:19:45. > :19:48.pain of yet another home defeat. In League One, Wolves saved their
:19:49. > :19:52.best until the second half away to Oldham. Kevin McDonald struck soon
:19:53. > :19:56.after the break. Then a couple of late goals sent the travelling fans
:19:57. > :20:00.home in happy mood. Michael Jacobs made it 2`0. James Henry popped in
:20:01. > :20:07.number three, and Wolves remain just behind Brentford, and Leyton Orient,
:20:08. > :20:10.who beat Coventry, 2`0. And walls remained just behind, who beat
:20:11. > :20:14.Coventry No sign of striker Leon Clarke,
:20:15. > :20:21.whose transfer to Wolves looks imminent. Romaine Sawyers gave
:20:22. > :20:24.Walsall a half time lead against Swindon, But they had to settle for
:20:25. > :20:30.a 1`1 draw, which keeps the Saddlers just inside top six.
:20:31. > :20:34.But tonight, it is all about this massive derby game here tonight. So
:20:35. > :20:39.much is at stake for both of these sites, and we will bring you the
:20:40. > :20:43.background to this game on the late bulletin at 10:25pm. There will also
:20:44. > :20:45.be a full match commentary on BBC Radio W M.
:20:46. > :20:48.One of Europe's biggest dance festivals will be returning to
:20:49. > :20:51.Birmingham in April. Details have been released today of the four week
:20:52. > :20:55.International Dance Festival and our arts reporter Satnam Rana joins us
:20:56. > :21:04.from Victoria Square now to tell us more. So what can we expect?
:21:05. > :21:10.I feel like dancing on to the screen. There will be plenty going
:21:11. > :21:17.on here, with international artists becoming ``, to perform dance.
:21:18. > :21:21.Victoria Square is empty tonight, but there will be three stages
:21:22. > :21:29.here, and on them break dancing Forman says and Street dancing
:21:30. > :21:34.performances. `` performances. There will be eight Korean dancers who are
:21:35. > :21:42.the world champions will stop that is how important the International
:21:43. > :21:45.Dance Festival Birmingham is. Here is one of the co`directors. Why is
:21:46. > :21:51.it such an important event in our city?
:21:52. > :21:55.We all love Birmingham, and we need to attract more people here. Great
:21:56. > :22:00.festivals like this suit Birmingham, we want people to enjoy it even
:22:01. > :22:06.more. This is the fourth Festival, last time it was very successful?
:22:07. > :22:11.Yes, more than 60,000 people enjoy the events in theatres and
:22:12. > :22:17.outdoors. And this time, there are performances and participation
:22:18. > :22:21.events? Yes, we work really hard to make sure that people can enjoy
:22:22. > :22:28.events all over the city indoors and outdoors.
:22:29. > :22:33.The outdoor events will include break dancing performances here. It
:22:34. > :22:36.is a really important event, it does not just attract international
:22:37. > :22:42.artists, but it puts our glorious city in the international map on a
:22:43. > :22:55.cultural sense as well. And here is the weather. We cannot
:22:56. > :23:00.shake these gloomy grey days. It is beginning to feel colder. Here are
:23:01. > :23:07.some of these top temperatures. Six Celsius today, but on the Wales
:23:08. > :23:12.border, 3.8. It has been a cold day, and that averages will continue
:23:13. > :23:16.to fall. Tomorrow could be the coldest day of the winter so far. We
:23:17. > :23:20.have had plenty of showers around today, and they will continue
:23:21. > :23:26.through tonight. Some of them still contain a wintry element, but it
:23:27. > :23:30.will ease free time and temperatures will fall lower well. It will be
:23:31. > :23:37.around freezing, there could be some frost forming, and we still have the
:23:38. > :23:42.yellow weather warning for and is warning. But though showers are
:23:43. > :23:49.continuing through the day. Again, some of them could be rather wintry
:23:50. > :23:52.with some sleet and snow, especially across the Staffordshire moorlands.
:23:53. > :23:56.Those temperatures really won't get much higher than they have been
:23:57. > :24:01.overnight and it will get rather damp as well. We will get limited
:24:02. > :24:06.brightness through the day. But, eventually, on Thursday night, the
:24:07. > :24:10.showers will move away to the North. Behind that, temperatures
:24:11. > :24:14.will fall away. It will be a cold and frosty night as we make our way
:24:15. > :24:19.into Friday, with temperatures hovering at around one or two
:24:20. > :24:24.degrees. Why Friday, it is all change. This is moving in, this band
:24:25. > :24:30.of rain. There is some heavy rain on there. We could see 20 millilitres.
:24:31. > :24:35.It will coincide with high tides and strong winds. Our tensions turned to
:24:36. > :24:41.flooding. There are nine flood warnings in place at the moment and
:24:42. > :24:45.22 flood alert. Here is the phone number if you have any concerns. On
:24:46. > :24:49.Saturday, there will be even more showers. It will be better on
:24:50. > :24:53.Sunday, but unsettled next week as well.
:24:54. > :24:57.Here are the headlines from the BBC. The governor of the Bank of
:24:58. > :25:00.England issues a warning about Scotland keeping the pound if it
:25:01. > :25:07.votes for independence. And then inquest hears how a firing
:25:08. > :25:12.handle of an ejector seat was in the wrong place, one of a series of
:25:13. > :25:14.incidents that led to the death of Sean Cunningham. I will be back at
:25:15. > :25:34.10:25pm. Goodbye.
:25:35. > :25:38.'The cost of living crisis goes deep into people's lives,
:25:39. > :25:42.'deep into the way our country is run,