02/12/2011 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today. Tonight's top stories. Two kent

council workers are sacked for mocking disabled children on what

they called their wall of shame. We'll be live with the story in

Maidstone. Also tonight: The pride of Folkestone - Kent's Gurkhas sign

the country's first ever community covenant sealing their relationship

with the town. The South East's shot at Olympic Glory - Lord Coe

visits Kent, urging businesses to cash in on the greatest show on

earth. And the mystery of Chatham's hidden

Tudor Dockyard, unearthed on a new programme with comedian Rory

At terminally ill man's family could lose their home in Kent after

his life insurers denied him a payout of more than �200,000

because his policy was in its final year. Paul Holland was diagnosed

with a brain tumour just four months before his deal ended. His

insurers say they only pay out when terminal illness is diagnosed 12

months before the policy ends. But the family say they will not be

able to keep their family home if the expected money is not paid out.

Paul Holland is dying. He only has days, perhaps even hours, to live.

But while his family spend their precious time they had left with

him, they have also had to cope with knowing that they won't be

able to afford to stay in their home after being denied his life

insurance payment. Paul had a life insurance pomp dash mac policies.

On them it stipulated that you could claim for a terminal illness.

But when Paul phoned up to tell them, they said that you could not

claim in the last year, you had to give them a year's notice which is

absolutely ridiculous. How can you give somebody a year's notice that

you're going to die? You don't know. The message she was to get out to

everybody is, check your policy, because nobody would ever think

this could happen. The insurers, Royal Liver, say they are committed

to treating customers fairly and paying valid claims but that

repairs will only be made it a person dies within the duration of

their policy or if they are terminal illness is diagnosed

before the final year of the policy. It is also off all to see Dad in

the pain he is end and for him then to be crying out that he is scared

that we are not going to be OK, it is so distressing because of

anything, we do want him to be as comfortable as he can. To think

that me and my mum could be homeless and to lose my father at

the same time and for her to lose her husband, I cannot even explain

what we're going through. Financial Ombudsman says cases like

this are rare but that is no comfort to the family who, in the

next few days, face losing their dad, her husband, and their homes.

Two members of staff accused of mocking children on a so-called

wall of shame in a Kent County Council office have been sacked by

the authority. It follows an investigation by the council into

allegations that workers at the school transport office singled out

photographs of disabled children and used abusive terms when

referring to them. You may find some of the language in this report

offensive. Children ridiculed by people

working in government. Their pictures discovered on an office

wall and staff allegedly calling them names. This kind of behaviour,

it dash mac if it had occurred in the playground, would have been

unacceptable. It is intimidating, demeaning, offensive and it touches

almost every family in the land. It is not a laughing matter. It was

alleged that the so-called wall of shame had been posted in an office

here at the Transport Department of Kent County Council. Its existence

only came to light when a horrified member of staff, a whistleblower,

sent a photograph of the wall to the media. There was a tower licked

the photo in May of this year. Kent County Council immediately

suspended a member of staff and launched a investigation. Now the

council has revealed to workers have been sacked and two others

disciplined. Today the leader of the council apologise. Behaviour

like this is totally abhorrent and I apologise if any families have

been affected by what went on in that office. But at my interview

with him was a tense one, especially when asked him whether

the two disciplined members of staff still working for the council

were either working with children are handling their data. I cannot

give you that information, we have over 20,000 employees and it is

impossible for me to no information of that detail but to have been

dismissed and to have had serious disciplinary action taken against

them. Will you be working if they are still working with children?

I'm happy to do so. A doesn't concern you? I don't know the

nature of their involvement, it may have been a light touch or not but

I was not part of the investigation, therefore I am not aware of the

details of the investigation. County Council says it now hopes it

can draw a line under the incident. I understand a council today has

revealed there was an investigation into this department before May?

That's right, they told me there were whispers some time before

there was a Lord came forward, but there was inappropriate behaviour

going on in this department. The tick investigative action to look

into those actions but they found no evidence so it was only when the

whistle Blower accent that photograph to the media, that they

finally had their evidence and could search people's desks and

take the action that they have done. Other council confirmed they can

prevent this happening again? they have told me today that the

action they had taken against these members of staff was extremely

serious. Two people have lost dash mac lost their jobs and two others

seriously disciplined and that says a strong message to the teams

across a console, that this is the kind of behaviour that will not be

tolerated. In a moment: Students protesting

about fees. Folkestone has been the home to

thousands of Kent's Gurkhas and their families for years and today

that relationship took another step forward with the signing of the

country's first ever Armed Forces Community Covenant. There is a long

history between the Gurkha's and the British Army. They first served

as troops under contract to the East India Company in 1817. In 1994,

the four Gurkha Regiments were combined to form The Royal Gurkha

Rifles, and in 1998 their UK base was moved to Shornecliffe in

Folkestone. The soldiers have remained highly regarded in the

town ever since. When they returned from a tour of

Afghanistan, the message from well- wishers was Clear. Folkestone is

your home. Today the district went a stage further, signing a covenant

with the military. For the commanding officer, this

strengthens the bond between the Regiment and the community. One of

the proudest moments was marching through Folkestone in to 1009 when

the many thousands of people came out to applaud my soldiers as they

were walking through the town but it is now a recognition of the

support that military personnel and their families and veterans of the

choir. What does the Community Covenant mean? It is about breaking

down barriers and ensuring that the go-go community gets the support

when it needs it most. When the Gurkhas are a way, they are leaving

their families here, there ladies go through trauma as well as their

families and if we, as local government, local people can make

it easier for them, let's do it. Serving Gurkhas say they are

touched that Shepway has become First District Council to sign a

covenant. This is good for not only the serving but also people who are

leaving and settled here after retirement. It is a very good step.

It is not a one-way process, there are hopes that the military could

open up its facilities and help run it leadership courses so by working

together, the community is enriched. The Mayor of London says he's

frustrated that the government has no firm plans to build an airport

in the Thames Estuary. Boris Johnson was responding to comments

made yesterday by the Transport Minster Theresa Villiers. She said

the government had no plans to build an airport in the estuary,

Medway or in Kent. On Tuesday the Chancellor told the Commons he was

exploring all options to increase the UK's aviation capacity.

The Transport Secretary and Lewes MP Norman Baker has welcomed a

multi million pound grant for new rail carriages. �80 million of

government money is being made available to Southern Trains to

help buy 130 new carriages. It's hoped the investment will reduce

overcrowding. The government has approved plans

by Canterbury Christ Church University to increase the number

of subsidised places it offers to students from low income households.

But from next year the fees charged to most undergraduates will also

increase to �8,500 a year. Students at the University of

Brighton have occupied the college art gallery in protest over the

rise in tuition fees. The group of around 30 say they'll stay there

for the foreseeable future. The university says it is talking to

the students in an attempt to bring the protest to an end. Our reporter,

Danielle Glavin, is outside the building in Brighton now. Danielle

what are the students hoping to achieve?

They have a long list of demands - 14 in total. Many of them have yet

to be answered and that is why they are still here. What they want is

to see a locally, a guarantee that there will be no job cuts at the

University. They would also like to see bursaries for any students who

need them but they're also asking for the government to rethink its

White Paper on education. That is something that is out of the

University's hands but talks are ongoing and the students are not

rushing off anywhere, they have settled in very well.

It was Cole last night will we're getting back. We have not set a

time on how long we are staying. The ball is in management was no

court. What has the university said about this? When the students first

moved into the gallery, there was some disruption and lectures

because of in the building and they also evacuated the building so

there were problems at first but now they have sorted out their

safety concerns, things are pretty much back to normal at the

University is not really happy that this is happening.

It is rather counter-productive, it will cost us some money and having

to pay staff overtime to keep the buildings a cure so it will remove

some of the money they could otherwise spend on education.

I have seen many people walking past today, peering through the

window, so they are proving popular with the public. But this is

definitely an unpopular art installation at the University.

Our top story tonight: At Kent man dying of brain cancer's family say

they may lose their home because the insurance company will not pay

out the money they were expecting. The company says they cannot pay

out on the policy because his terminal illness was diagnosed

during its final 12 months. Digging up the secrets of the

dockyards past, Rory McGrath and covers the Tudor remains.

It was a bright December day today but it is increasingly wet and

windy tonight. If you have a story you think we should be covering on

South East Today, we'd like to hear When any business wins an award

it's a proud moment. But for the Blueskies School for children with

autism in Rochester it was a poignant one, too. The woman whose

vision and passion had led to the creation of the school, died just a

few weeks before the awards were announced. Her children have now

stepped in to keep the school running and to fulfil their

mother's dreams for the children who go there.

This girl's says her life was a mess but now she is studying for

her A-levels. This is the woman she says give her a chance, who set up

the school a few years ago. She was a head teacher unlike any other.

She was fantastic individual who just wanted to help everyone, help

people who were different. After 15 years of teaching with children

with autism, France set up the school to have cope with life and

to flourish. In a regular school, if they were to walk out of school

are get angry and annoyed, it seems bad behaviour and people would be

sent to detention but she would always the past that and it is not

about that, it is about the difficulties they face. Whether

children it provides a supportive and calming environment. Now I feel

a lot happier. Everywhere in life has its ups and downs but most of

the time I am very happy. This is a great place for me to be. Then in

September, without warning, Fran died. Her death has left a gaping

hole but a son and daughter have stepped in to run the school,

determined her work should continue. Now it has won an award for

achievement and vision. I am really proud. Unbelievably. I can just see

her face telling everyone about it and saying how amazing it is. It is

a real achievement. Fran always said it seems peculiar to be up for

a Business Award but the school was never about making money but she

did achieve her business plan, provision for children with autism.

Now the challenge is to ensure the school can continue to grow without

It's a busy weekend for the south east's top football teams. Victory

for Brighton tomorrow could take them back into the promotion

playoff places. Meanwhile, Charlton, Crawley and Gillingham are all

involved in the FA Cup and we've had some high powered 2012 Olympic

officials in the patch. Our sports reporter Neil Bell joins us from

Chatham. London 2012 chairman Lord Coe and

the Secretary of State for the Olympics, Jeremy Hunt, have been in

Kent today as part of a nationwide tour to promote the tourism and

business legacy of next year's Games. The pair are also

encouraging South East schools to sign up to the School Games

competition. Kent School Games Games to get as

many children as possible involved in sport as ahead of the Games.

There is, at every level, a commitment spearheaded by

government to get more young people actively involved in school games

is a large part of that. I know it is happening, I see it when it is

when I go round the country. Schools here in Kent are really

leading the way at a time when many of our sports in schools has been

ring-fenced, the Kent Schools Games goes back to the grass roots of

encouraging young people to get active. I think the big problem is,

schools are probably a diverting money to other sources but more

creative schools are realising the benefits and there are certain

activities being put forward by professionals that we can latch on

to. I like to play tennis because I can play with my family. I think it

is killed because you get to do different activities and meet new

people. Earlier across Kent, ministers were keen to remind

businesses about how they can maximise tourism opportunities in

the run-up to the Olympics. We want to make sure that we used the

opportunity of 2012 to create jobs for Kent tourism businesses and

throughout the south-east. More than 1000 contracts have been

snapped up. Outside London, the south-east is the largest region

for tourism but can it deliver? people cannot get around, if there

is the perception that is going to be difficult to get out and about,

people will maybe be put off and that will be ashamed. There are

challenges ahead but it is hoped with 238 days to go, the south-east

will benefit and be able to showcase all that Kent has to offer,

both during and long after 2012. It's FA cup time with a place in

the third round awaiting this weekend winners and no team wants a

cup run more that Gillingham - it's a great way of boosting morale for

the players and fans, and it can, as Crawley proved last season,

generate a lot of cash. The Gills have the comparatively short trip

up the M2 to play League One Leyton Orient, but once again they will be

missing loan strikers Frank Nouble and Jo Kuffour who are both cup

tied. Despite going well in the league,

Crawley Town's fans will be hoping for another cup run to remember.

Steve Evans knows his team could be on the wrong end of some giant

killing against non-league Redbridge. Crawley will be hoping

for a repeat of last season's cup run - including a famous tie at Man

United. Our own ethos as we prepare for Saturday it is to be in the

third round draw when it takes place on Sunday and anyone at home

and one of the big four or five a way and I would one to get one back

at Sir Alex Ferguson. League One leaders Charlton will be

confident of despatching Carlisle. Extra coaches are being lined up to

take supporters to the Valley and they will be hoping the Addicks can

repeat their 4-0 league win over the Cumbrian side back in October.

Meanwhile in The Championship, Brighton and Hove Albion are hoping

to build on their recent good form when they take on Nottingham Forest

on Saturday. Craig-Mackail Smith's goal took the Seagulls closer to

the play-off places on Tuesday. The manager Gus Poyet says he remains

keen to sign more players. Quality means a better quality in

understanding of the game, in sickness and in strength and

inconsistency. If you add a bit of quality into the team, we will be

better. Hundreds of years before Nelsons

famous Victory was built at Chatham's Dockyard, the warships

that bolstered the power of Henry VIII, and the ships that defeated

the Spanish Armada were built on the banks of the Medway but none of

the original Tudor buildings are left standing. There is however

still evidence under the ground and comedian Rory McGrath spent the

summer exploring an archaeological dig around the Command House Pub

for a new TV series. We are going to stick a trench in

there. To a lot of people, it is a form of armchair history, they

could really identify with. We are going to be averaging around under

the ground to reveal big stories about history. Tonight, the

mysteries around an ale house. search of an era when Great Britain

ruled the world. Kaka it is often said that the pub is at the heart

of the community, the place where the real news happens but in this

case, it seems to be at the heart of English history. I would be very

surprised if the original Tudor buildings were not in this part of

the river somewhere. The exact site of the first naval yard and its

buildings built in Tudor times is a mystery lost under mud, my script

away by the diggers. There is a wonderful time but they think came

from the medieval church that was found and there. They have found

other remains, clay pipes and some iron work. They found what they

think is a Tudor brick. If that is right, it may well point to this

definitely being the site of the origins of the dockyard, we will

have to wait and see. There is little doubt that this pub's

surroundings were at the a heart to of Britain was looks the part. The

beginnings of an empire that stretched around the globe. That is

part of Medway council was no bid for World Heritage Site status.

This is an area of rich heritage, we have castles, Historic Dockyard

and it is another piece of the jigsaw about the history of Medway

so it is fascinating and the are so pleased we have had them down here

and they have found some new pieces of history. I group of men camping

out at a pub making a film led by a comedian. We could be looking at

the ground Elizabeth trod on it. doesn't sound a very likely way to

improve at understanding of history but then again, maybe is just what

it needs. That is my ideal gig, sitting in a

pub at looking at interesting It has been a gorgeous December day.

It did stay cold up with a good deal of sunshine for us all. As we

move into tonight, we're seeing further rain and those winds will

be picking up. The Rayner looks to be clearing through tomorrow

morning. It'll be a dull, breezy picture but quite mild for the time

of year. Today, we had a frosty starts today. A good deal of

sunshine. We had a lighter winds as we moved into the afternoon and we

have seen the cloud cover starts to thicken. The rain is going to be

spreading eastwards as we head into the secret. Today, a good deal of

sunshine for us all. Temperatures hardly recovering and in single

figures for us all. Those winds, lighter as well, between 5 and 10

miles an hour. Tonight, the winds continue to pick up noticeably.

That rain spreading east words come affecting us all. Some heavier

pulses with the mat and because of the unsettled weather, temperatures

not as cool as last night. Certainly, a damp start to the

weekend. The rain slowly clearing and behind it is going to be a much

drier picture. As you can see what those isobars, we were holding on

to the westerly winds. Temperatures though, several degrees up from

where we were today. Top temperatures of around 12 degrees.

Mostly dry, some outbreaks of light rain as we move through into

tomorrow evening and again, similar overnight. It means these

temperatures are going to be staying in single figures. It is a

mild picture but it will be damned as we start the day on Sunday. The

rain is never too far away. Fingers crossed it will be tried. Tom

temperatures around ten degrees. No pressure is in control of things.

That will be damp and breezy with those westerly winds of about 20

miles an hour. The sunshine should be backed by Monday with the

brightness around for Monday and Tuesday.

Let's recap tonight's top national and local news stories. David

Cameron has been meeting President Sarkozy in Paris for talks about

the debt crisis in the euro-zone. He has pledged that he will protect

Britain's interests if any EU treaties have to be rewritten.

At terminally ill man's family could lose their home after his

life insurers denied him a payout because his policy was in its final

year. Paul Holland was diagnosed with a brain tumour or four months

before the deal came to an end. A dig on the banks of the River