13/06/2014 South East Today

Questions from a man who lost a son in Iraq

It makes me wonder what they fought for and went through? Was it of

benefits to the country? Victory for campaigners `

the Pilgrims Hospice says it WILL The Education Secretary says he ll

work with Kent County Council to expand Grammar schools

in the county. Serving up

a world class tournament in Sussex We're live

in Eastbourne with the build`up And,

Sussex letters from the front line. An amazing insight into the

First World War written to The father

of a Sussex soldier killed hn Iraq says the recent violence in

the country has made him qudstion Hundreds have died

in fighting between Sunni and John Rigby from Rye died

on his 24th birthday, His father Doug told

our reporter Piers Hopkirk he finds the recent developments

in the country hugely troubling. They are scenes that have stunned

the international community. Islamist militants advancing through

Iraq leaving wave upon wave of terrified refugees in their wake

as the country faces falling apart For Doug Rigby, whose son John was

killed fighting for freedom in Iraq, it has left him questioning

the value of his sacrifice. I really felt at the time

of his death, that we were having And I think

when his colleagues withdrew and came back to the UK, we all felt

as army parents, if you like, that And

the sacrifice was somehow worth it. Today, as I see it, talking to

you now, I am really not so sure. John,

a former pupil at Robertsbrhdge Community College was a corporal

in the 4th Battalion the Rifles. He was killed

in a roadside bomb attack in Basra. His twin brother William

and fellow soldier at his side. With the seventh anniversarx

of death coinciding with this Iraqi insurgency,

it is a painful time his falily For those images together whth

this seven`year anniversary that And there is something

you haven't asked me. That is what we would feel

if William, who was still serving, And I have absolutely no

answer to what that might bd. Tonight, President Obama called

on the Iraqi leaders to set aside I do not expect to see any boots

on the ground. I do not think the Brits or the

Americans are interested in that. It is most likely we will see

a target drone programme designed to try and stop ISIS removing

across the country. While Iraq's future looks even more

uncertain, the parents say that one certainty remains, nothing will

diminish their pride in thehr son. In a dramatic U`turn, Pilgrhms

Hospice in Canterbury is to stay open. The managers had threatened to

close the 16`bed hospice in order to move all their care into the

community. But after a huge campaign, including a petition

signed by 17,000 people, thdy have decided to keep it open. Claudia

Sermbasiz reports. The three hospices in Kent to

describe themselves as sisters describe themselves as sisters

offering social and physiological support for the patients in the

final stage of their illness. When the Canterbury sister was

threatened, the supporters fought to keep the inpatient ward open. It is

fantastic. Feeling emotional, quite tearful. I am elated for so many

different reasons. We will benefit from keeping this wonderful place.

After a meeting of the board, Pilgrims Hospice will keep `ll of

the beds open. They say, we have listened to the express the views of

local people and recognise the desire for a change of emphasis in

desire for a change of emph`sis in the plans. Please give us the time,

the patience and understandhng that we now need to establish how we can

achieve the common aim of maintaining beds in Canterbtry

achieve the common aim of maintaining beds in Canterbury as

well as in Thanet and Ashford. It has not been decided is how any bed

we will keep open. I will s`y to everybody that is supporting keeping

this open, it is now really important that we support this

hospice and that those people that have given their time and money in

supporting the fundraising, that they continue to do so. Mike

they continue to do so. Mikd Bradford stayed at the ward before

dying from a brain tumour in March. They are so welcoming, and even when

They are so welcoming, and dven when my daughters come to visit, and what

they have enabled me to do, it is spent or quality time with my

family. The charity which rdceives family. The charity which rdceives

75% of funding from the comlunity has an annual ?1 million deficit.

Claudia is here now, a dramatic Claudia is here now, a dramatic

U`turn, how did this happen? This is an example of people power and the

power of social media. Their Facebook page had 13,000 likes, over

18,000 people signed their petition, 500 people showed up at the public

meeting, they forged or keep it open and it has worked. The charhty has

and it has worked. The charity has said that the building is not in

need of repair, but they will update supporters throughout the summer and

supporters throughout the stmmer and it would be business as usual. They

will try to keep this gold standard going, but they added that they will

really need support now more than really need support now mord than

ever. In a moment cutting wood and

unemployment ` the conservation scheme which could also help the

economy. An elderly couple from

Kent say they have been left devastated after thieves broke into

their home on the anniversary of The burglars made off with the

medals dating back to the 1800 and took more than 200 family hdirlooms

took more than 200 family heirlooms belonging to the couple including a

presentation gherkin knife from his days in the respective regiment.

presentation gherkin knife from his days in the respective regilent A

days in the respective regiment. A commanding officer in the Indian

army in the 18 hundredths, Robert Atkins wearing his medals whth

Atkins wearing his medals with pride. His son was highly ddcorated

pride. His son was highly decorated also. But the medal is valu`ble and

also. But the medal is valuable and historical and it has now bden

stolen along with valuable family silver. On Friday night last week as

the D`Day celebrations drew to a close, burglars broke into the

home. This is where they came close, burglars broke into the

home. This is where they cale in and home. This is where they came in and

broke this windowpane here. They came through here. They took the

medals off the walls. One was came through here. They took the

medals off the walls. One w`s there, one must there, and all of the

silver and the silver on the silver and the silver on the

sideboard. One of the stolen pieces most missed as a decorated

presentation knife. When we were married, the Gurkha soldiers, they

gave us a presentation of this knife, which was a lovely one, a

silver case. We cut the wedding cake with it. The couple are dev`stated.

All of our good ones are gone. It is unbearable. It is something that I

wanted my children and my grandchildren to inherit. It is just

family medals. It is disgusting the way they have done this. It is

absolutely heartbreaking. You get so crossed that it is not there.

absolutely heartbreaking. You get so crossed that it is not therd. It is

lost. We just will not see it again, I don't expect. The police `re

investigating they say that the people who committed this despicable

people who committed this ddspicable crime are currently and clearly

people who committed this despicable crime are currently and cle`rly lack

crime are currently and clearly lack any respect for their community The

any respect for their community. The couple feel relieved that they came

to no harm and remain hopeftl that to no harm and remain hopeful that

their treasures will be rettrned. The process to find a company to run

the refurbished Dreamland Heritage Amusement Park has begun. Thanet

District Council is offering a 35`year contract. They say they

want someone to run it as a successful, sustainable and viable

business. After years as a disused site, Dreamland is being rebuilt

with government and lottery funding. Lawyers representing campaigners

in the village of Balcombe have launched a High

Court challenge against the decision by West Sussex County Council to

grant permission for further oil exploration to be carried ott

by the energy company Cuadrilla. The test drilling site, just outside

the village, was the scene of angry protests last year, when people

believed the work would lead to the A drug addict, who stole from a

disabled Sittingbourne woman, as he pretended to help her, has been

jailed. Matthew Beaney, of no fixed address, took the 50 year`old

victim's purse after she became unwell in a chemist. When

interviewed by police he denied the offence and said he picked ht up by

mistake. In court though, the 29`year`old pleaded guilty `nd was

sentenced to 21 months. The Education Secretary Michael Gove

has given the strongest indication yet that the first new grammar

school places for 50 years could be created in Kent. Kent Countx

Council's been backing campaigners in Sevenoaks who say grammar school

places are desperately needed there. Speaking as he toured a new type of

school for the creative arts in Sussex, Mr Gove said he could work

with the council in the future. Our Political Editor Louise Stewart

reports. Tell me about those questions.

Putting his teaching skills to the test, the Education Secretary

dropped in on an English lesson as he opened this studio School for the

creative industries. It aims to give more choice to those interested in

the performing arts Centre prepare them for the world of busindss.

the performing arts Centre prepare them for the world of business. The

them for the world of busindss. The way that education succeeds as when

you get different people choosing to work together. One of the great

things about this cool is that you have got mentors, people that are

experts in television production, fashion design, and they are

experts in television production, fashion design, and they ard working

with the local community and the students to get things done. It is

the lack of choice in gramm`r the lack of choice in grammar

schools that has angered parents in neighbouring tent. The plans to open

an annex for an existing school in Sevenoaks was blocked last xear

Sevenoaks was blocked last year because it was deemed illeg`l. But

because it was deemed illegal. But today, the secretary gave stpport

for increasing places. I am very happy for people all over the

country where you have a selective system, who want a selectivd place

for their child and their child passes the test, whatever tdsts

they can get that place. I `m happy to work with Kent County Council and

other schools to make sure that if necessary, the schools expand. Kent

County Council welcomes the comments and say that they are willing to

tackle the need for grammar school provision in Kent. There is no

grammar school system in Sussex, but they now have this performing arts

school. It shows that the hub they now have this performing arts

school. It shows that the htb of school. It shows that the htb of

creativity generating in the south`east is wonderful. As well as

the traditional subjects, the students here experienced the

creative industries, everything from fashion to photography and lusic. It

is all of the subject so want to do in production and arts, you cannot

find that anywhere else. I `m in production and arts, you cannot

find that anywhere else. I am very find that anywhere else. I am very

creative, I like to play music, coming here gives me this

experience. After coming here and experiencing the creative

industries, I have decided what I want to do in the future. After the

visit of Michael Gove to thd visit of Michael Gove to thd

region, the visit, and also his support for the new school, this

could soon become a reality in the area.

The UKIP leader, Nigel Farrage is currently taking part in a

'Question`Time' style debate in Ramsgate, a move which further

reinforces speculation that he may stand for the seat of South Thanet

at next year's general election The panel, which includes the current

South Thanet MP, and three prospective candidates for the seat,

is being questioned by sixth form pupils at Ellington and Herdson

School. Our reporter Jon Hunt is there.

What has he had to say about all of the speculation? He is playhng

What has he had to say about all of the speculation? He is playing that

down and playing down his p`rt on down and playing down his p`rt on

this panel. The team say that he down and playing down his part on

this panel. The team say that he is a local MEP and he is interdsted in

a local MEP and he is interested in the local area and he wanted to take

part in this event organised by the school. Some members on the panel

disagreed and they said that he is definitely eyeing up the arda

disagreed and they said that he is definitely eyeing up the area for

the local election and he should make his feelings known verx soon.

make his feelings known very soon. He has today spoken of the

controversy surrounding his European allowances. The electoral commission

is investigating a benefit in allowances. The electoral commission

is investigating a benefit hn kind is investigating a benefit in kind

by new debts ?200,000 relathng is investigating a benefit hn kind

by new debts ?200,000 relating to an by new debts ?200,000 relathng to an

office that he runs that he did not declare to them. He told me that he

is baffled by this enquiry. I have had that officers since

before the Electoral Commission was founded and from day one, when I

took advice, what should I do, professional advice, I registered it

every single year for the last 14 years with the European Parliament

as a benefit in kind, to help me do my job as an LEP.

It is not a campaign office... That did not come up this meeting.

They have been speaking abott They have been speaking about

regenerating Thanet, should cannabis be legalised, and other isstes

regenerating Thanet, should cannabis be legalised, and other issues like

this. If Nigel Farage wants to stand during the general election, he will

have to make his feelings known pretty soon.

The father of a Sussex soldier killed in Iraq

says the recent violence in the country has made him qudstion

John Rigby from Rye was killed by a roadside bomb in 2007.

His father says he finds recent developments

The poignant letters written by Sussex soldiers in the fhrst

world war ` and treasured by their colonel at his family home, Nymans.

And a rare occurrence tonight with a full moon falling on Friday the

13th! Will it foretell of whether woe or whether lock for the weekend?

! Join us later to find out. A Kent charity is hoping to be

awarded more than a million pounds of government funds to help it get

more people into work. The Kent Woodland Employment Scheme provides

a three year woodland managdment course near Maidstone for ex

military personnel and unemployed youngsters. The charity say they can

provide much needed skills for the rural economy and supply a growing

market for wood to local endrgy producers. Our Correspondent Mark

Norman has this exclusive rdport. Trainees cutting up fallen trees

in ancient woodland near Maidstone. This charitable scheme aims to give

ex`offenders, ex`military pdrsonnel and the unemployed a chance

at a career in woodland man`gement. There are very few trained woodland

foresters left in the whole We are training them in employment,

particularly in ancient woodlands. Ancient woodlands,

we have more ancient woodland in Kent than anywhere else

in the whole of the UK. There is a strong economic

argument for the scheme. Last year planning was granted

for an ?80 million biomass plant at It will need more than 150,000

tonnes of managed, With that in mind,

the charity is applying for money You can begin to join up thd dots

on a story like this. You have the raw rural economy and a

scheme like this that is providing It also provides a product to a wood

heat facility in the east of Kent. That will also provide training

and ultimately employment. And of course everybody can apply

for Regional Growth Fund money which is designed to providd

training and employment in Kent. Any kind of conservation work

requires funding and if you can make your conservation

work pay for the conservation, then it seems to make sense to have

that nice circle, really. It seems like the whole wood,

fuel situation will take off eventually and there aren't

really many people doing coppicing so they need young blood to come

in and pick things up again. So it definitely is

the right time to be doing this The charity hopes to take

on four trainees each year if they are successful

in the growth fund bid procdss. Final preparations are being made

at the Devonshire Park tennhs complex in Eastbourne,

before the Aegon International Around 42,000 people will watch

140 matches throughout the week The tournament,

which has a prize fund of ?800,000, is a vital part of the top players'

build up to Wimbledon. Our sports reporter Neil Bell

is courtside for us now. Neil, there's an international

and local flavour to the event. Remarkably, for a draw nine days

every year since the 1970s, this has been the focus of the tennis playing

world. Layers from all over the world competing with the best of

British at one of the most popular seaside resorts.

A successful tennis tournamdnt A successful tennis tournamdnt

requires many things, a lot of tennis balls, 10,000 in fact, and

some of the best grass court anywhere in the world and of course,

many of the best players currently in the game. But if you months ago,

things were very different. Six, seven weeks ago, this was

underwater. So, we have had to work on it really hard to get it to this

stage now. Pleased? Yes. Thdre are stage now. Pleased? Yes. Thdre are

always little things that you would hope go better, but all in all,

hope go better, but all in `ll, considering this winter, it is all

right, it has come good. Hopefully it will stay like this. This is a

special year for Eastbourne. The tournament is celebrating its 40th

anniversary and over that thme, anniversary and over that time,

Devonshire Park has been thd Devonshire Park has been the

temporary home for many of the legendary players in the game.

legendary players in the gale. Martina, Chris Everett, Kim

cloisters, Justine Hannon, the list goes on. You are right, frol

goes on. You are right, from Heritage perspective, it is great.

The key is, let us be stronger for the next 40 years. It is not

difficult to see the enduring attraction in Eastbourne. They know

what is required to make sure that the players and the public keep on

returning. It has always been somewhere but the players and

officials like to come the week before Wimbledon because it is a

relaxed atmosphere by the sda. If relaxed atmosphere by the sda. If

you have weather like this, there is nowhere better to come and play

tennis. You can have a relaxing time before returning to Wimbledon. A

combination of fine tuning, the air and the Sussex hospitality seem as

popular now as it ever was. It is family Day tomorrow, the entrance is

open at 10:30am, so soak up some of the atmosphere.

England's footballers don't play their opening World Cup game

Sadly for England's hockey players, including seven from Kent

and Sussex, their World Cup dream is over following their narrow 1`0

semi final defeat to home shde Holland this afternoon.

England will compete in the 3rd/4th play`off on Sunday.

I think you make sure you s`y to the guys,

we are playing for a World Cup medal and we don't take that lightly.

Obviously we wanted to be in the final,

but a World Cup medal is solething none of us have as a group,

and knowing those people have had it for a long time, it is a prdtty big

An extraordinary collection of letters written by men

from Sussex on the front line in the First World War is going

The 500 letters were bound together as a book by Colonel Leonard Messel,

who was barred from serving overseas because of his German ancestry.

Instead Colonel Messel, who lived at Nymans in West Sussex, he

devoted his time to the UK training battalions of the Royal East Kent

Regiment, and formed close, long`lasting bonds with the men.

He looks every imperial inch the English gentleman. But Leon`rd was

not allowed to fight on the front line because of his German `ncestry.

Instead, he devoted his time training soldiers of the Roxal

Instead, he devoted his timd training soldiers of the Royal East

training soldiers of the Roxal East Kent Regiment. You prepare these

troops for war and they wrote back about their experiences. He had

their accounts transcribed hnto about their experiences. He had

their accounts transcribed into a their accounts transcribed into a

book. When I saw at first, H thought book. When I saw at first, H thought

it was just something written book. When I saw at first, I thought

it was just something writtdn about the First World War, and when I

the First World War, and whdn I opened it up, I could not believe

that somebody had taken so much trouble to copy all of thesd

letters. It is amazing. You go through it. It is very, verx moving.

through it. It is very, very moving. The fact that the book of ldtters is

The fact that the book of letters is still here it's pretty miraculous.

It survived a fire that destroyed the family seat, Nyman 's in Sussex.

To walk out here into no man's land, that hideous desolation of

shrieking shells and shrapndl, land, that hideous desolation of

shrieking shells and shrapnel, men shrieking shells and shrapndl, men

falling all around and yet to live, surely it is worthwhile. The

National Trust is dating an exhibition about Leonard and the

letters and it also shows the anti`German sentiment that prevented

him from a German family from going to war. Is probably were to be very

difficult for him. He had a very British bringing, educated at Eton

and Oxford. He was English. It would be very for him. There was a sharp

be very for him. There was ` sharp bust over my head. I was knocked

senseless. A tree was cut down. Altogether, it was a lucky dscape.

The letters from these men are the The letters from these men `re the

poignant record of their experiences that he could only read. He could

only read what they ensured. And there's an extended version of

the Nymans story online at our World War One website... Along with

hundreds of others up and down the An Anglo Saxon silver penny found

in a Sussex field has fetchdd ?78,000 at auction ` nearly four

times more than predicted. The coin is thought to be only

the fourth ever found from the reign of Aethelbert II, who ruled East

Anglia in the late 8th`centtry. It was found

by metal detectorist Darrin Simpson Have cut the money has gone to the

farmer that owned the field. `` half of the money. And the rest of the

money has been split between himself and the people he was working with

when he found the coins. Now, the weather.

This weekend, something unusual to speak about. Today is Friday the

13th. It would be a full moon. The last time we had a full moon on

Friday the 13th in June was duly 100 years ago, 1919. The next time this

will happen will be in 35 ydars will happen will be in 35 ydars

time, 2014. It is in an usual time, 2014. It is in an usual

occurrence. It is not affect the weather. Some research has shown

that a full moon at night c`n that a full moon at night can

increase the temperature by one tenth of a degree, but it has

increase the temperature by one tenth of a degree, but it h`s there

tenth of a degree, but it has there been proven. A full moon dodsn't

been proven. A full moon doesn't really affect the weather. The fact

is, we have got some showers. I would not rely on these showers if

you want to escape watering plants, because most of us will not see any

showers tonight. Most places will stay dry. If you get a shower,

showers tonight. Most places will stay dry. If you get a showdr, it

stay dry. If you get a shower, it could be heavy. Most places will

stay dry. Temperatures staying could be heavy. Most places will

stay dry. Temperatures stayhng miles under the cloud. 15, 16 degrees.

This cloak of cloud would bd under the cloud. 15, 16 degrees

This cloak of cloud would bd with us on Saturday and Sunday. Some

brightness at times, but generally, it would be cloudy. That will impact

on the temperature. It will feel cooler but the change of the

on the temperature. It will feel cooler but the change of thd wind

direction, the mild south`westerly direction, the mild south`wdsterly

and a cooler north`easterly. Temperatures across the board drops

down by a few degrees. 16 degrees in down by a few degrees. 16 degrees in

some places. More clout this begins, feeling cooler with the change in

wind direction. No drama for Saturday night in the Sundax. Cloud

Saturday night in the Sunday. Cloud still with us. If we get thd

sunshine, temperatures will be boosted up to 22 degrees. Where we

keep the cloud, it would be more like 18 or at that lower on the

coast. Into next week, nothhng coast. Into next week, nothhng

changes. The high`pressure pressure means we have got settled weather,

so it would be a dry forecast but the cloud is always going to of a

bugbear. Some sunshine at times, but bugbear. Some sunshine at thmes but

do not expect the warm, sunny days we have been used to.

Thank you. That is that, enjoy the weekend, goodbye.

Make the most of your weekend, wherever you are.

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