24/06/2014 Midlands Today

Inevitable, I suppose. That's all from the News at Six. Goodbye from

me. On I would hate to think anothdr family

would have to go through wh`t we went through and still going

through. It affect you for the rest of your life.

His investment pays off as Prince Charles opens

a renovated and revitalised pottery in Stoke`on`Trent.

Stoke`on`Trent is the cradld of the British ceramics industry and the

contribution made to this country by the potteries has been enormous.

A crisis management team set up in Coventry as it's confirmdd three

city teenagers have joined tp with militants in Syria.

The freedom of Walsall for one of its most famous sons, Noddy Holder.

And there's something brewing in the distance this week `

it could be on a par with some of the thunderstorms in the sotth last

Keep watching ` I'll have all those details for you in a short while.

Police officers laughed and joked as a father of two lay dying nearby

39`year`old Lloyd Butler, who was an alcoholic,

died within hours of being taken into custody at Stechford.

Today, the inquest found he may have survived if he'd bden

The coroner criticised the culture at the police station

and said she wasn't convincdd it had changed since Mr Butler's ddath

To his family, Lloyd Butler was larger than life

But he spent years battling alcoholism

and four years ago this sumler, alarmed by his drunken behaviour,

Within hours, to their horror, they got a phone call to tell them

It is absolutely devastating, because people say to you about

closure, this will bring closure. But there is no such thing. Only a

parent would understand that. and into the station, proof, say

the family, he should have gone to Officers were supposed to check

on his welfare every 15 minttes but footage shows them chatting

and joking. Records show they accessed

a sexually explicit website Insulting remarks were made

about the prisoner in their care. Nearly 40 minutes after he was

last checked, Lloyd was found The jury found that Lloyd Bttler

died from a cardiac arrest related to underlying problems causdd

by alcohol. But they concluded that he should

not have been detained in ctstody, and, that had he been in hospital,

the probability was that he was The coroner Louise Hunt said she

remained concerned about conduct in custody suites and would be sending

a report to West Midlands Police. In an internal police disciplinary

process, one officer was fotnd guilty of misconduct and another

of gross misconduct ` All of the facts came out. Obviously

I didn't see the CCTV, but ht is all there. I'm quite shocked th`t one of

the officers suggested that this still goes on. There is a

challenging environment herd, we have plans going forward to build

new custody blocks that will go online in the next 12 months or so.

We will have state of, with professional officers in a permanent

role with a change of attittde and culture. We are getting a grip on

bass and moving on with the issues that need need to be moved on.

Thanks for joining us this evening here on Midlands Today.

Looking to inspire thousands of schoolchildren

at the first chapter of a fhve`day book festival in Coventry.

A multi`million project to renovate a Stoke`on`Trent pottery has been

Middleport Pottery, which is based in Burslem, was bought by the

It's spent around ?9 million restoring it.

The company now employs 80 people on the site

Prince Charles arrived at Mhddleport by canal.

In this pottery's heyday, it was the canals that transported

On the tow path, there was an enthusiastic greeting

from the potters who've forled a close bond with the Princd.

He's taken a personal interdst in this project and spoke

of his determination that this unique factory should be saved.

Stoke`on`Trent is the cradld of the British ceramics industry. @nd the

contribution made to this country by the potteries has been enorlous

So, I am absolutely thrilled that this pottery is alive and breathing

once again. The Prince was shown

the newly refurbished collection of moulds ` it's the largest

in Europe ` and it's on display The 19,000 Molesey a stretch back to

the 19th century and it takd you back through ceramic historx. But in

the future, it would be possible to bring any of these designs back to

life because these are the laster moulds and they have been s`ved for

the nation. No visit here's complete without

the presentation of some pottery ` and here?s a tea pot made from

the same mould first used to create a gift for the Prince's gre`t

grandmother, Queen Mary, in 191 . Workers here value the emph`sis on

preserving traditional skills and two years ago if this had not

happened I dare say none of us would have been standing here now. It

would have been gone and I would have been a shame, to lose `ll those

skills. you could not have ` better ambassador than the Prince of Wales

to help us along and secure our future.

A model of the pottery was tnveiled in the original manager's offices.

This is part of the building which has been restored and now

We think this project is not Jewish unique. And of the Staffordshire or

not even for the UK. we think it stands on a worldwide basis and we

hope to see many international visitors here.

The Prince and the Potters have formed an dnduring

relationship and the plan is that the world`famous reputation of this

Joining me now is Theresa Fox`Wells from the

Why did the trust get involved in Middleport in the first place?

The trust specialise in finding purposes for buildings that are

quite challenging, shall we say And it was such a wonderful building,

but, best of all it was a rdal working faction with jobs that would

benefit from involvement with the charity. And presumably quite a

complex business to renovatd it while it was still working? Hugely

complex. But that is what the Trust specialise in and the factory

workers and Burley have been excellent working alongside us. It

has paid off us. It has paid off hasn't it? Has and it was a pleasure

to welcome Prince Charles and all the other visitors today and we can

start showing it off at last. I should think it is to amend as

rewarding for everybody involved? yes, I think when you have seen a

place that was so sad and rtn down bourse and come to life oncd again

it is hugely rewarding. So ht was a bit of a gamble at one stagd? I

suppose so. But we were alw`ys confident that we had the solution

and it was all planned on a sustainable basis and I think it has

a glowing future. And what `re your hopes for the future? Lots of

visitors of course! We want them from overseas and from the local

area and we hope to continud creating more jobs and developing

the project as we go into the future. Thank you.

A crisis management team's being set up in Coventry after it emerged that

three young men from the city have gone to Syria to fight

It's because of increasing concerns about the

The fathers of two of the men involved have bedn

Here's our Special correspondent, Peter Wilson.

Three teenagers ` all friends with good prospdcts

But now they're believed to be in Syria involved with

The youngest, Ali Kalantar, was due to study computer science.

Three months ago he borrowed ?1 000 and disappeared with his passport.

the grief is limitless. Every second, every minute it is ly mind.

How can I cope with this situation. If he, what should I do?

Mohammed Hadi, who's just 18, is reportedly fighting with Isis

Rashid Amani, from Coventry, was studying business studids.

The boys? parents are all in the dark.

I do not know what happened with him. Maybe somebody works whth him,

I don't know. All three friends set out

from Coventry, travelling to Birmingham where they then flew to

Frankfurt and from there to Turkey. They are now believed to be

in Syria, near the city of @leppo. The police were informed

of their absence just minutds after The Muslim community in Covdntry

wants to take action. We are setting up a group mdeting

with the council and the West Midlands Police, which is p`rt of

the group we would normally do in a crisis such as this. We will address

this later in the week. All three men attended

this mosque in Coventry. During the day it's a nursery

school, at night a mosque. It's been alleged that the three

friends may have been encouraged The Imam of the Tipton Mosqte knows

all about terrorism the mospue was In the past, people have told me it

is no longer mosques where xoung men are radicalised, rather, it is James

and Internet cafes. This man was a victim of terrorism a year `go when

tipped in a mosque by an anti`Muslim extremist. It didn't result in a

loss of life, but the kind of panic and anxiety and the kind of chaos

that followed, we all experhenced it. I would wish that upon `nybody.

These men have left a city `nd their families angry and confused.

A teenager's been arrested in connection with a series of

Security was increased at Pdrry Park recently after reports

of people being threatened with a ball`bearing gun.

A number of bikes were stoldn in the attacks.

Police say a firearm has bedn recovered from the scene.

The Chief Executive at the George Eliot Hospital Trust

in Nuneaton is leaving after three years in the post.

Kevin McGee has confirmed that he will be taking on a new job at

The George Eliot faces a deficit of more than ?10 million.

Birmingham City Council says it s hoping to save ?150 million over the

next seven years by renegothating one of its major service contracts

As part of the plan, call centres will be brought back

in house, but Capita will continue to provide computer systems

We believe we can also drivd things through Capita to the remaining

years of the contract. Parthcularly by reducing the number of

applications the City Counchl runs and reducing the amount of

programmes. We believe that amount of money could be more and we're

working to achieve that. Two colleges in Birmingham have

been barred from taking on foreign students over allegations that

immigrants were cheating to get It's after an investigation

for the BBC's Panorama programme Ben Godfrey has been

following today's developments. To get these in this countrx need an

English`language certificatd. They told today that 40,000 immigrants

may have a tin `` attained one illegally. They are fat fratdster

sitting the tests for them. Allegations of first highlighted in

panorama and today, 57 priv`te colleges across the UK incltding two

in Birmingham have other licenses to sponsor foreign students suspended

pending an investigation. That includes Birmingham Institute of

education training and technology and a finance and business training

college. Has there been any reaction? I went this afternoon and

the finance business and tr`ining specialises in English`langtage

qualifications. They told their commitment seriously and thdy work

closely with the Government to resolve this situation swiftly. The

other college, known as high`tech, is little more of a confusing

picture. It is registered in small Heath and the site does not operate

at the college and has not done so for nine years. I'm not surd the

Government actually knows that. What the suspension of licenses lean is

that they cannot take on foreign students until the conclusion of a

Government investigation. Thank you Ben.

It's coming up to seven, this is our top story tonight:

Laughing and joking when thdy should have been checking on him `

a coroner condemns police bdhaviour after an alcoholic dies in custody.

Shefali will be here soon whth your detailed weather forec`st.

And the sun's certainly shining on Noddy Holder,

And as England crash out of the World Cup, the impact

One of the most popular children's authors met many

Dame Jacqueline Wilson, best known for creating the troubled tdenager

Tracy Beaker, was at the Ricoh Arena to receive a special literary award.

The Coventry Inspiration Book awards have been running

for the last eight years ` and this year Dame Jacqueline Wilson

She was at given her award in front of a thousand school

Handing over the award was 11`year`old Elile

from Christ the King Junior School ` she had to write why she thought

I started reading books when I was seven and got addicted to them. She

has inspired me to be a writer. Dame Jacqueline says she was honoured to

win. I want to reach the kids that think reading is boring espdcially

and try and show them that `lthough they may not like my books, there

will be a book somewhere th`t will turn them around.

As you can see, Dame Jacqueline is a popular as ever.

She first started writing when she was nine years of `ge,

has sold more than 35 million books and is responsible for one of the

most popular television programmes in recent decades, Tracy Be`ker

It must be weird, not having? I got! I know where she is. She was a

very lucky character for me because I do think Tracy was my bre`kthrough

book. Even now when I walk through town 's kids will look at md and

they do not always said Jacpueline Wilson, instead, they say Tracy

beaker! she talks about real problem is not just those of princesses She

writes about real things th`t will make real people happy. People might

live in poverty and she makds you understand them. She makes ht very

readable. The Tracy Beaker Question and

answers went on for some tile, and He's had scores of music hits,

held the coveted Christmas number one slot,

starred in successful TV programmes But today,

Noddy Holder is being given the The ceremony is currently underway

at the Council House, but e`rlier I spoke to Noddy and asked hil

what the honour meant to hil. When I got the e`mail through saying

I was being offered the Freddom I was absolutely flabbergasted,

because, for blokes like me, working class kids like me,

I never thought something I'm really chuffed,

I'm absolutely over the moon. Obviously, Walsall is my holetown,

I was born and bred here and the only regret, really,

is that my mam and dad are not alive to see me getting this, bec`use they

were both born in Walsall and lived And they saw your success `

and the Black Country is whdre it I had a little band at school,

just outside of Walsall, Actually,

when the four guys got together who eventually became Slade,

our first gig together was `ctually So it obviously holds a lot

of memories. And I am

the first person to be getthng the Nobody in the arts side

of things has got it in 150 years. So, I think it is great to raise the

profile of the arts in the Lidlands. I do a bit of singing now and again,

yes. I do quite a lot

of voice`over work and other work, I sing in the pub now and again

I get up with a little band I did a little tour last ye`r with

Mark Radcliffe on the BBC the audience were expecting it to be

all talk, but I brought out the acoustic guitar

and did five or six songs, singing. I do keep my hand in and I still

enjoy singing and I still enjoy I have a book coming out

in September called And it's going to be my look

at the modern world. It is not an autobiographic`l book,

there are anecdotes in it from my life in Slade, but it is all about

my outlook on the modern world. Congratulations again

and I love your outfit. Thank you very much,

I made a special effort ` Around 300 fans have gatherdd to

watch Noddy get the Freedom of Walsall and they're in the town

hall where our reporter Amy Cole is You can see noddy on stage `nd

people are asking him questhons They are really pleased for him as

one of the mayor who did sax to him when he was being awarded the

freedom of Walsall, that it was very much a feeling of pride to be still

is on a running. I'm joined by a couple of fans now. Paul, what does

it mean to you, you are a local man? on bread. Still live here. Ht is

about time they did something for him and honoured him in this way. It

is brilliant. This post Walsall on the map. He has done this for years

but it kind of rubber stamps its? yes. Him and the other four members

of the band, they all made the band. They all made the band. Thex all

made it what it noddy will be playing a part in your weddhng won't

see? yes. We are having one of my favourite slave songs as we walk

down the aisle. So it is all good! I hope it goes well. Pete, whx have

you made the effort to come and see noddy tonight? We were luckx enough

to have the opportunity bec`use it was a good time and I thought it was

important to show respect for the man himself. you have is

autobiography what do you m`ke of the great man? He is very ftnny a

very interesting character `nd a super musician. Anybody likds pop

music should like Slade, in my opinion! Thank you very much. Noddy

is going to continue with hhs questions and answers and enjoying

it. He is delighted by what has happened today. Thank you.

England's World Cup is over following this afternoon's

With the team being knocked out after just two games, there are

They could do worse than follow the example of the University of

Worcester who've been learnhng from Brazil for the past eight ydars

England playing at the World Cup ` and it doesn't matter.

Today's game against Costa Rica saw them playing just for pride

So how do they stop it happening again?

At the University of Worcester, they think sharing ideas improves

And who better to share ideas with than Brazilians?

They built a link with Sao Paulo University eight xears ago

and exchanges and visits have taken place ever since.

And they've learnt that using a smaller ball can have big rdsults.

What they are playing with hs a small ball which is slightlx heavier

than a normal football. This one is easy to kick a long way but with

this one, the emphasis is on skill. A lot of street football and only in

the 14 players play in Brazhl. We think if our English players played

this, their skill level would improve and that manipulative that I

croak ability to minute plax the ball would get better.

But it's not just football lovers who want to see a better England

And somewhere like Birmingh`m's Broad Street can attract up to

That's good business ` but even better if England could

There is no doubt about it, England brings in the big numbers. Having

said that, the other smaller game, shall we say, they also bring in

substantial numbers, too. So it is not all doom and gloom. We `re only

missing four games anyway, dven if we had one!

So the international street party will go on, but England will have to

make changes if they're to join the world's elite in four ydars

They played better, draw is better than a defeat. They were better but

clearly, the messages coming through from lots of coaches and th`t is

that we need to play with a smile on our face. Cricket now. Molina Ali is

still batting and shall angdr are still looking for their last

wickets. Thank you Dan. The humidity unfortunately `ppears

to be having quite a negative effect on the pollen levels. They have been

very high today and will continue to be is over the next couple of days

at least. However, you will find by Friday there is quite a significant

gear changing the weather. Ht will be wetter, cool and fresh too. That

hopefully will have a favourable effect on the pollen levels, but it

will bring with it prolonged periods of rain, slow`moving showers,

followed by a drop in temperatures by about 4 degrees or so. Btt if we

fast forward to Friday for the pressure chart, we can see what is

causing it. This frontal system is pushing in from the West and is

accompanied by what The Met office call a flabby area of low pressure.

That means the winds will bd quite liked. So any rain that you do

encounter will be slow moving and longer lasting, producing some

fairly notable totals. Tonight, we have a similar scenario to last

night where we have another clutch showers moving in from the

the region, there may be sulmer It is a dry neither wit and whhch is

still quite warm especially across southern counties with lows of

around 13 or 14 Celsius. Tolorrow is dry, and fairly cloudy. Mord cloud

pushing in from the north btt there be sunny breaks and temperatures

will reach highs of 18 to 20 Celsius. Bit by bit, those

temperatures are starting to drop. Tomorrow night, they will not be

particularly low but it will be a chill you start to Thursday.

Thursday will still be dry, not too cold, but on Friday, the telperature

will drop again and there whll be wet weather.

The former editor of the News of the World Andy Coulson is found guilty

And a Birmingham inquest he`rs that police officers were laughing

and joking when they should have been checking on

I'll be back at ten o'clock with your latest update.