16/07/2012 South East Today

Welcome to a special edition of BBC South East Today from the Sussex

County Cricket Ground. Can 1,000 people are here as they excitedly

await the arrival of the Olympic flame -- 10,000. It has troubled 94

miles from Portsmouth to get there, passing through the hands of 131

torch-bearer, each with their own unique story to tell.

Also in tonight's programme: Speeding charges against the

comedian Steve Coogan are dropped as he's found not guilty at a court

in Sussex. A woman is in hospital with serious

head injuries - police appeal for witnesses to a hit and run.

And parents' anger as a Kent school plans to close so that they can

take their children to see the Welcome to a very special edition

of BBC South East Today. Why are we here? We are at the County Ground

in Hove with 10,000 people, who are at the moment enjoying Brighton's

and Rizzle Kicks, doing their own unique brand of entertainment. But

that is not why we are here, on the front of the stage is a large

golden goblet and later on this evening, the Olympic flame itself

will be arriving here to be kept burning through the night, whatever

the weather. It hasn't been a lovely afternoon but people all

along the route have been enjoying themselves. 8,000 miles from Greece

to London. Today, the section started off in Portsmouth and a

long the road, the flame will have travelled 94.7 miles, 131 people

have earned be titled torchbearer, as it passed through different

divinities and towns to make its way here. Some of the people

carrying the claim, you will have heard of. From Brighton, Sally

Gunnell, who won 400 metres gold in 1992. Robin Cousins, he won a gold

medal at Lake placid in 1980. An awful lot of other people have

carried it today and you will be hearing from them in a few moments

time. It is day 59 of the actual journey of the Olympic torch today.

The Games are less than a fortnight away. The convoy carrying the

Olympic flame reached Shoreham about an hour ago, and it has

travelled through West Blatchington, and from there carried on to Hove

Park and then it will be coming through central place mark and it

is -- central Hove and it is due to be here just before 7 o'clock and

we are hoping to see the flame lit live here at Sussex County Cricket

Club. But the point of the torch relay is not just about famous

people under Lindens, it is about ordinary people who have done

extraordinary things -- and Olympians. Chrissie Reidy has been

meeting some of them. Torch fever has officially arrived

in the south-east. Hundreds lined the streets to welcome the Olympic

flame as it was driven in convoy from sure home in West Sussex.

Kevin was one of the first to carry the torch. He has raised thousands

of pounds for charity, he had been running a marathon on his stag do.

Torchbearers ran alongside Olympic hurdler Sally Gunnell. Allen is the

south-east's Unsung Sporting Hero. Since the 1970s, he has given up

his evenings and weekends to help people play cricket. He admitted he

couldn't wait to get into his Olympic tracksuit. I had to try it

on straight away to make sure it fitted and slightly embarrassing, I

thought it might be quite amusing for my wife if I got the feather

duster out and all my slippers and pranced around the house in it,

which she managed to catch on film and put onto Facebook at the

amusement of all. They got my face. Amanda was nominated by her son.

She has spent her life trying to make a difference to the lives of

young people. She says her inspiration was the boxing legend

Muhammad Ali. I watched this young man and I thought, if you can do

something so amazing, then anybody can do it. Through my life, he is

one of my peers, but the fact that he was a fighter and he refused to

fight, the fact that he stood up for what he believed in, his

integrity, he has just been part of my faith the journey and he is an

inspiring person. The Olympic flame will be transferred to the cauldron

at Hove Cricket Ground, where it will spend the night before heading

off from Brighton Pavilion early the rain is holding off, and we

will be having a full weather report later on to let us know what

we can expect for the rest of the torch relay, but Chrissie Reidy is

now in the middle of that marvellous melee where Rizzle Kicks

are performing and if she can hear us, let alone anyone else, we can

hear what some of the excitement and the crowd is like. Chrissie?

You can see Olympic fever has well and truly arrived in Brighton.

Check out this sea of faces or having a good time. And over here,

we have Rizzle Kicks, really getting the party going. Everyone

has got their dancing shoes on. What you make up the atmosphere on?

It is really good. What has been the best bit? Rizzle Kicks!

about you, why was it important for you to be here? The like Rizzle

Kicks? Yes! -- do like. Let me come to these two ladies, it is very

important for you to be here, why is that? Absolutely once-in-a-

lifetime, fantastic, really excited. What you make up the atmosphere?

Lots of people undeterred by the wind and rain? Absolut do, they are

all having a great time. -- absolutely. Let's come further down

the line. I have been waiting all of my life for the Olympics to be

in Britain. By you looking forward to the torch bearing? I have got

tickets. A what have you enjoyed about today? Rizzle Kicks. We have

all of these Rizzle Kicks fans, what is it about them? I just love

them. What do you like about them? Everything. By you looking forward

to the torch coming? Yes. The -- are you looking forward. I was a

throwback to you, Rob. It is a fantastic atmosphere, with

Rizzle Kicks going through their paces. I am sure the groundsman is

happy that the rain is holding up, 10,000 people walking on the

outfield. It is extraordinary feat of organisation to get this many

people here and all along the route. We will speak to somebody from

LOCOG, this is all your fault? this is my fault, I am absolutely

willing to accepted! This is tremendous. -- accept it. We have

had the torch in the region for just over four days and we have had

one million people, out and see it, which is extraordinary. So I say,

East Sussex, Kent and Surrey, it is going to be amazing. Give us a

better the flavour of what we can expect over the next week. -- a bit

of a flavour. It is here in Brighton for tonight and then

tomorrow, it goes just down the road to Hastings, thank you very

much. Hastings will be very good, it will be fantastic. Then it goes

to Dover. We have all sorts of things happening, tall ships,

fireworks. We have got a special programme on Wednesday, we are

looking forward to that. In terms of organisation, how many people

have you used to get all of this together? Over the country, it is

hundreds of people organising this. It all happens right down to the

second, when that the torch-bearer comes down the street and people

turn and look at it and shout. we hope it will be here for the end

of the programme, just before 7 o'clock. It will be here. Then you

ever so much. We will be coming back here as the torch near the

County Ground in Sussex. There over to poly.

The comedian Steve Coogan has been cleared of speeding today, after a

court hearing in Sussex. He told magistrates in Brighton that he

often loaned his Range Rover to family and friends and that someone

else was driving the vehicle when it broke the speed limit in Hove

last October. Juliette Parkin has the details.

Just to reassure you, the Queen is not dead. It is a humorous intro to

a song... He is perhaps best known for his alter ego, the socially

awkward Alan Partridge, whose catchphrases have made him

virtually a household name. But today it was that after winning

comedian in front of the cameras as himself, awaiting trial of the two

driving offences. In October last year, Steve Coogan's Range Rover

was caught speeding in Hove. He told the court he was not driving

the car at the time but magistrates heard it Turkey in the Rand five

months, rather than the required 28 days -- it to kick around five

months, rather than the required 28 days, to reveal his friend had been

driving. He said it was used as a poor car and the initial inquiries

between friends and family had drawn a blank.

When I asked him if it could have been dealt any quicker, he replied

that if he had taken a more forensic approach, he may have

established hit the driver was. It is possible he could have done but

he was looking in the wrong place. In November last year, he appeared

before the Leveson Inquiry to give evidence that the phone hacking

scandal. The court heard he was busy preparing for this at the time

of the offence as well as renovating his home. The

magistrates accepted that he did everything he could to find out who

was driving. A car enthusiast, the comedian is well love -- well known

for his love of the faster versions, but he proved to the court that he

was not driving that day. With both charges dropped, his relief was

clear. A Mr Coogan what is your reaction?

I am relieved, it is the right decision. Now the comedian and

actor can get on with doing what he loves best.

A woman who died after falling from a cliff near Beachy Head while

walking her dog with her husband has been named as 49-year-old

Laraine Goodwin, from Sundridge, near Sevenoaks. She fell 300 feet

onto the beach at Birling Gap on Saturday afternoon. A post mortem

examination will be held later this week.

The chairman of the Kent County Show says he's expecting losses of

over �300,000 because of problems caused by the wet weather.

Thousands of people travelling to the showground at Detling had to be

turned away, after heavy rain made parking areas unsafe. 50,000 people

attended this year's show, down from 67,000 last year.

Detectives are hunting a hit-and- run driver who sped off after

leaving a woman with life- threatening injuries. The 29-year-

old has serious head and leg injuries after the collision on

Brighton seafront yesterday. Our News Correspondent Paul Siegert

joins us live from Brighton. Sussex Police are appealing for

information, Paul? Yes, detectives say they need the

public to help on this one because they have so little to go on. The

condition of the 20 Nigel Forman from Hove is improving. The

hospital says her injuries are still serious but no longer night

threatening -- the condition of the 29-year-old woman is improving. She

was transferred to a specialist unit in Haywards Heath. As for the

accident itself, it happened at the junction of Kings Road and West

Street. The 29-year-old was out for the group of friends when she was

hit early in the morning. All detected know is that it was a dark

car, they don't now it it was a man or woman -- all detectives know.

He drowned attempting to save the life of a five-year-old girl in

difficulty in the sea of West Sussex. Now the family of a

Bulgarian and are working with the RNLI to make sure children are

aware of the dangers of the seaside. For this lady, he was the perfect

son. Always thinking of others before himself. He died, she says,

just as he had lived. He was a very fine, a very loving, a very much a

gentle man. He had moved to Sutton from Bulgaria 10 years ago. He had

gone to West Wittering beach in West Sussex Fire dead with his

girlfriend when he heard cries for help. A five-year-old girl playing

on an inflatable ring was being swept out to sea. He reached her,

but was himself trapped under by strong currents. His family, moved

by the many messages of support by strangers, have set up a fund-

raising campaign with the RNLI. This man is a hero and a credit to

his family and both of our countries. The money raised will go

towards projects like this. Teaching inner-city children lest

familiar with the coast about the dangers -- less familiar, and what

to do if you find yourself in trouble in the water. The water can

be very dangerous and people must be very, very careful when they go

there to enjoy themselves. We can see how it can happen in seconds.

The man's bravery is also being recognised by the Bulgarian

government, due to award him the honorary St George, at the highest

civilian distinction. In my life, I have not heard of anyone doing this.

The reaction was really both of grief and pride. And his mother is

also proud of her son, but hopes the campaign will help prevent

future tragedies. I know that he did whatever he did with a very

good heart. She says he would simply have wanted, as always, to

A retired Church of England priest from East Sussex has appeared in

court charged with 38 sexual offences against children. Canon

Gordon Rideout from Polegate is accused of carrying at the abuse in

the 1960s and 1970s. He will appear next at Lewes Crown Court on

October 19th. The Independent Alnwick District

Councillor Ian Treiber has launched his campaign to become Kent's

police commissioner by calling for the legalisation of drugs. He says

the war drugs has been a disaster and believes relaxing the law would

free up resources to crackdown on other crimes like vandalism,

domestic violence and sexual assault.

Plans for a �20 million renewable power station at Shoreham Harbour

had been handed to Adur District Council. It could be built in two

years' time if approved. The company behind the scheme says it

would convert vegetable oil and animal fat into enough electricity

for 18,000 homes. There has been an angry reaction

from some parents after a market primary-school abandoned its plans

to take pupils to see the Olympic torch because of safety concerns. -

- Margate. Drapers Mill Primary School will instead close before

lunchtime and is asking parents to take the children to the really

themselves. Terry is just one of hundreds of

parents who has been told the school can no longer risk taking

their children to them really. was quite last minute, the only

told us on Friday. -- it was. We spoke to the head teacher and said

it would close at two o'clock. But it is quite an inconvenience to

most parents at Work. It does not seem to be much point in children,

to school for two-and-a-half hours. Having six of them and taking them

all down, it is a bit of a problem. The school says it only found out

recently that the area it had been allocated to see the torch had also

been given to another school, meaning there would be a total of

800 pupils and staff from the two schools, safety, they felt, could

be compromised. I appreciate there was only a week's notice, but we

felt for the safety of the children it was paramount and we needed to

keep them safe. There will be members of staff on site if the

children cannot be collected through work pressure. Her the

final briefings for the security teams and marshals. In terms of

risk assessment, each school has to make their own choice. We are

disappointed that some of the children will not be there. Can you

guarantee safety? We are there to manage the crowd, not the safety of

individual children. That is the school's responsibility. We can

make sure the torch day itself is a safe as possible. The school says

it is not the only one to decide not to go or mass and asked parents

to take on responsibility. Safety, I would much prefer to take myself.

I understand their reasons, 800 children in one place is a bit much.

The Olympic torch is coming round Moorgate. Are you looking forward

to it? Yes, if I can. The council says it hopes everyone gets the

chance to celebrate. We are going to go back now to the

County Ground in Hove, where Rob Smith and around 10,000 people are

expecting the Olympic torch derive any minute.

We absolutely are, the excitement has kicked up a halt couple of

matches. In the corner of the ground, a few moments from a, we

expect to see a to right. Another reason why there has been more

excitement is that man other than a Olympian and ice dance specialist

Robin Cousins is here. -- none other. And you are a torch-bearer.

I am an Olympic torch bearer and a very programme. Which it did you

do? I came down the drive, and you are just part of a very long but

exciting journey the flame is taking. It is about to come into

Hove cricket ground. Sally Gunnell is on stage, she ran earlier. This

is something we never did when I was competing as an athlete. A

winter two Olympic Games as a competitive. One of them I got the

gold medal. This was part of the Olympic that was never part of a

lives as athletes. Were you aware of it at all? Very little. You are

so focused on building up to what you need to do on that date in your

chosen sport, to represent your country. The fact it is here on

home soil is amazing. I have done quite a few winter games, as a

competitor or a commentator. This is my first involvement in the

summer games and I could not be proud of. These explain the

presence of these two beautiful young ladies. This should have been

my opening night in Chicago in London. Of course, this had to take

precedence. The two ladies here will make sure I get back to London

as soon as we have finished talking. Fantastic. There is a big crowd

here, some 10,000 people. The weather has not been as kind as it

could have done. What was the atmosphere like on the road?

Amazing, people were screaming and cheering. I think the sun has shone

through the people supporting distort run over the past few weeks,

no matter what comes from up there. I was fortunate to run in dry

weather this afternoon. But it would never have dampened any one's

spirits. To show you are a proper Olympian, you have a special torch,

because this has not been decommissioned. I have literally

come straight from the relay run. It will be taken out of my hands,

the innards will be taken out. What a great way to light the barbecue

on a Sunday afternoon! But sadly, no, it will take pride of place at

the Garrick Theatre in London. Then it will take pride of place next to

my Olympic medal. Can I have ago? Yes, you can. It is not very heavy,

it is very easy to carry. 8,000 holes in this to represent the

8,000 people that are running. And it is a triangle, the third

Olympics the Great Britain. And the three Olympic creeds. I am just

hearing in my year, I think we should be seeing that the torch is

going to be coming into the ground and a few moments. It is being

carried on its last legs by lady called Karen West, from work in.

She is a cancer nurse at Goring Hall Hospital. -- from working. It

is starting to come into the ground. There are rows of people who are

lining up along the edge of the walkway. Local schoolchildren, or

in a variety of different teacher colours. Flame coloured T-shirts to

represent the Olympic flame. Now, why is Karen West the person who is

carrying the torch? I can tell you, she was actually nominated for her

work, for her outstanding work as a nursing sister at Goring Hall

Hospital. They described her as a patient's Guardian. She is helping

people get to the last days with cancer. Some of the Commons of the

people who actually nominated her for carrying the torch -- comments,

beset their journey would be far harder without that phone number

they can always ring, she is a true inspiration to all her patients.

They say she is more than a nurse and she is always on the end of the

phone, if they need a shoulder to cry on. She is coming into the

stadium. We can just see it as it comes through into the edge of the

ground. It is likely hidden behind the trees at the moment. You can

see everybody in the ground. They have been watching me and Robin.

have just spent a couple of hours on the torch relay past with these

wonderful volunteers, and these people who have been nominated. I

am here as an Olympian, these people who have been nominated it

changed people's lives and affected people in such a way that they are

one of the 1,000 that have been nominated to be here. It is an

incredible honour and I felt very honoured to be sitting next to some

of them. Their stories are so matter-of-fact to them, but they

have such passion for what they do, it is a great moment for them.

the handover of the torch itself, the... The Kiss. The torture is

meat and someone makes sure that you are turned off as the other one

is lit. They make sure the torches kissed. That is a thrilling moment.

It is like shaking someone's hand that you always wanted to make.

reality of the flame is that it was actually let using the power up the

sun, on Mount Olympus in Greece. It is the same flame. And it keeps

going, the flame in those days was meant as something that no matter

what was going on in the world, this was the flame of peace and it

brought everyone together. It is the one symbol of the games that

still exists, very much today. you were at the Winter Games, the

flame was there as well. When you are competing as an athlete, you

looked up for the first time at that, what did that mean to you?

stand there in your gear at the Stadium as the thing was brought in

at the cauldron was lit, you are in your country's colours,

representing your squad. Ways and her lawyers representing your

country. To be an Olympian as part of a giant squad representing your

country, there is something unique about being after you -- Olympic

event and representing in that way. It does not matter how many events

you do, the Olympic family is what you want to be a part of, with your

chosen sport. I can tell you that the flame tomorrow as it continues

on its route going around, it is going to be travelling from

Brighton to Hastings,. On Wednesday, travelling round from Hastings

through to Dover, Dover Castle is one of the places it will be

pitching up at. It will be travelling on a tall ship as well.

The flame is getting closer and closer to last. On Thursday, going

from deal to Leeds Castle. Tracey airmen will be opening their. At

Maidstone to Guildford. The flame is now here in the stadium. If we

looked across to the other side of the cricket pitch, the plane is now

making its way along the outskirts. -- the flame. We can see it quite

brightly through the gloom of the evening. As it makes its way on the

final few yards to the stage to be lit. I will lead you to soak up the

atmosphere for a moment. The Olympic flame, brought by Karen

West, comes up onto the stage, delight the Crucible here. -- to

Karen, if you would like to wave. If you would like to join us here.

Well done, Karen. Join us in the centre of the stage. Please welcome

Chrissie Reidy. The Olympic flame has been lit here. At the Sussex

County Cricket Ground in Hove. It looks beautiful. It has been a