03/04/2017 South Today - Oxford

Pleas from drivers and cyclists not to cut back on inspections

Women mark the spot where they've suffered street harassment,

And later on, one of the most remarkable finds ever -

as the BBC's Antiques Roadshow rolls into town.

Plans to change the way Reading's roads are repaired are due to be

Currently, A-roads are inspected every month.

The council wants to change that to every three months.

Inspections of B-roads will be every six months,

instead of the current three month check.

Those in charge say it's due to Government funding cuts.

One minute you're on a good bit of road and you can have your head up

and you can be looking at the traffic around you,

and the next minute, you're really navigating

some quite bad undulations and potholes.

For Andrew Slater, riding around Reading on his

Motorcyclists and cyclists are the most

vulnerable road users in the

The longer we take looking down at the road

surface rather than up and around at all the other hazards, the more

likely it is that we are going to come into conflict with another road

Well, roads like this one in Reading are checked regularly for

everyday wear and tear, but under new plans, A roads will go

from being inspected every month to every three months.

And B rouds from every three months to every six months.

The council say their hands are tied because of cuts to their

The council shares concerns about the

very substantial reductions in highway maintenance that we have

suffered at the hands of cuts in Government grants.

But the good news is that the council is also spending

the Government's pothole money more effectively than the Government ever

The Government allows ?53 per pothole.

We are doing it for ?43, because we are using

And even the mention of the word pothole is about to get most

In France, when you drive on the road,

When you drive in Great Britain, it's like

Well, at the moment, the potholes are awful.

In fact, only yesterday, I was driving up New Lane Hill

and a new one has arrived and it is huge.

As Andrew gets back on his bike, Reading Borough Council decided they

are going to drive ahead with their plans at the meeting this week.

A three-month-old baby has died after suffering serious injuries

The boy was taken to the town's Great Western Hospital last month

and later transferred to Bristol Royal Infirmary.

A 50-year-old man remains on police bail.

A man's died in police custody in Reading.

The 44-year-old was arrested on Saturday and taken

He was given a medical check on arrival, but

was found unconscious in his cell yesterday.

Thames Valley Police says it's referred itself to the Independent

Police Complaints Commission, because the death happened

Women in Oxford have been writing slogans on pavements in the city

centre to raise awareness of what they're calling

Campaigners are taking part in a global movement -

staging a "chalk walk" about the problem of catcalling,

The group says this kind of behaviour prevents some women

Making their feelings known on the pavements where they have

A timely protest for International Anti-street Harassment Week.

People that have reported harrassment to us

have reported all sorts of different harassment, from groping and

learing to cat catcalling, wolf whistling, cars beeping, that kind

That's the kind of thing uncomfortable that can make

people feel uncomfortable, like they can't

access space the same way that you would if you weren't being harassed.

The campaign website has an interactive map

showing dozens of places in the

city centre where there have been reports of incidents.

I find it happens quite a lot when I'm out running.

So someone might maybe wind their window down

or beep their horn or yell something out of the car as they go past.

And it's just unnecessary and it makes you

I was just talking to some young teenagers,

just over there, and they were saying, "It's

They say, "Yeah, when I get catcalled, I feel naked."

That's such a good way of putting it.

Those are young women experiencing that and as soon as I

started talking to them, they knew exactly what I was

And the feeling that they say, "I feel embarrassed, I feel

That's not OK, so we should be able to stand up and speak out

The group certainly got its message noticed,

Are you yourself, any time, would you say?

And I'm probably not going to stop because of some words on the floor.

But these women hope most people will remember the message

Vehicles that break the weight limit on Marlow Bridge will now be

The Grade One listed bridge closed for two

months last year after a 37-tonne lorry got stuck.

More than 600 vehicles too heavy to use the crossing

have been turned away in the last few weeks.

A Wiltshire soldier, who was awarded a Victoria Cross

in the First World War, has been honoured in his home town.

William Gosling defused a British bomb, which had misfired

and landed in front of him, saving dozens of lives.

A Wroughton farmer remembered for one act of extraordinary

courage, almost 100 years ago to the day.

On April 5th 1917, 24-year-old William Gosling found

A faulty bomb fired from his own side landed in the mud

just yards in front of his line, but didn't explode.

William immediately jumped out of the trench to defuse

His act was recorded in the London Gazette that same year.

Sergeant Gosling sprang out, lifted the nose of the bomb, which had sunk

into the ground, unscrewed the fuse and threw it on

the ground, where it immediately exploded.

This very gallant and prompt action undoubtedly saved the

This event 100 years on has given an opportunity

for people to remember, you know, that extraordinary

How long did he actually have before it

Well, I understand about ten seconds.

It just feels so nice that the whole village came out.

The service in the church was really lovely and I think

people have thought, "Yeah, this is our boy.

And also the fact that William's daughter Marion

Yes, I think it was very nice and there can't be many people

from the First World War whose children are still alive.

It makes the history of the Great War seem

Two teenage footballers from Africa have been passing on their skills

to children at a village school in Oxfordshire.

They're part of project which helps African children

into university or gain a professional football contract.

In Africa, an education is still a privilege,

A recent report shows 30 million primary-age children

But where lessons are lacking, their focus turns to football.

Now one organisation, is combining the two.

My name is King. I'm from Canada. I'm here to teach the kids about

I'm here to teach the kids about football.

King and Clinton, both seventeen, are graduates of Right to Dream,

an organisation that finds, and nurtures, talented

children in West Africa, helping them to further education,

or a career as a professional footballer.

The pair, who have travelled more than 3,000

miles from their home in Ghana, are teaching the children

the importance of sport and education.

Kids at the academy who are coming from a very, very challenging

backgrounds, they are not supported by anything. We look at about 30,000

kids a year and we offer about ten or up to 15 scholarships, so they

have got in. If I was a kid from Oxfordshire, I would be pretty

inspired by that. I would say, if these guys can do it, why cant I?

I would say, if these guys can do it, why cant I?

First launched in 1999, many graduates now play football

It also promotes role models, encouraging former members

to give back, and inspire the next generation.

You find the values which are self discipline, initiative, passion,

giving back, winning. You are ready to listen. It's a really fantastic

opportunity for our students to gain an understanding about how football

works across the world and how sports can change lives. This year

their stories is a really powerful motivator our students. Hashtag to

hear their stories is a really powerful motivator for our stories

powerful motivator for our stories two students.

Right to Dream has recently bought their own professional team

in Denmark and continues to expand in Europe and the USA.

Its impressive growth now means the dream for many African children,

Oxford United may have lost their second Checkatrade Trophy

final in two years, but the match at Wembley made the club around

Back at Wembley this time as favourites.

About 30,000 supporters were hoping the Yellows could avenge last year's

Confidence was high with Coventry bottom

Last year was a really big day out and very enjoyable. I am more

nervous this time, because I want to come away with a win. I am very

excited, it is my first time here. What about you, page? But back I'm

very excited. If they perform... United were careless from the start

allowing Gael Bigirimana to give In the second half,

George Thomas put Substitute Liam Sercombe

got Oxford back into the game, but despite late

pressure, Coventry held on. Obviously, we wanted to win the game

get the result, but, you know... It was a good thing for me, personally.

It will always stay with me now, that score at Wembley. It is a good

thing, personally, but it means nothing at the minute.

Manager Michael Appleton said his team performed well below

the standards they've set themselves.

There is no doubt about it, we knew that we could create chances, as it

happened, we did. But for whatever reason, it didn't happen on the day.

But for whatever reason, it didn't happen on the day.

some Oxford said they won't come back should the U's make it

For most a Wembley final is to be savoured, even in defeat.

Oxford have won the 163rd men's boat race.

They beat rivals Cambridge by just over a length to make it

There were mixed fortunes elsewhere though, with Cambridge

I'll have the headlines at 8pm and a full bulletin at 10:30pm.

Now, more of today's stories with Allen Sinclair.

Coming up later in the programme: One of the most remarkable finds

ever, as the Antiques Roadshow rolls into Reading.

Anything, really, from the same century as him about him

A court has heard how a six-year-old Weymouth girl woke her parents

to tell them there was a man in her bed.

It's claimed the intruder has sexually assaulted her.

The child's step-father initially thought she had

Moments later, he discovered the man asleep in the girl's room.

Jervaise Kevin Jones, who is 25, denies sexual assault.

The prosecution told the jury day at Bournemouth Crown Court that

Jervaise Kevin Jones broke into her house in Weymouth through our

kitchen window. He then went upstairs when he allegedly sexually

assaulted as six-year-old girl who was asleep in bed. Giving Eddie and

is -- giving evidence by video link said she could not remember some of

the details of what had happened. The defence barrister as who had

taken off her pyjamas. She replied, the man. He undid my zip. Ask that

the man had assaulted her, she replied, yes. Mr Robinson said the

man said he was just asleep in your bed. Is that the truth? Known,

replied the girl. The jury was told that after the alleged assault the

girl went into the room of her parents and said there was a man in

her bed and explain to her mother what he had done. The girl's

stepladder then discovered Jervaise Jones asleep in the girl's bed naked

from the waist down. The police were called and Jervaise Jones was

arrested. Jervaise Jones has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a

child and he denies trespassing with intent to commit a sexual offence.

The trial is expected to last three days.

A year ago today, Hampshire-based mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was

The charity worker was later handed a five-year prison sentence

after being accused of plotting to topple the Iranian government.

Her family maintain she's innocent and has held an event focusing

on the life she can look forward to, if and when's she's released.

"My fondest dream has always been to arrive at our home,

you ask me if I want to have a cup of tea and then make me one and I'd

That's the image I most had when I was sitting

The words of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, sent

It's now 365 days since she was detained while trying

to leave for home at the end of a visit to see her parents.

For Richard Ratcliffe, the memory of that day is all too vivid.

I got a phone call to say, "Do go to the airport",

I got a phone call to say, "Do not go to the airport",

because I was due to go and pick her up at Gatwick.

I was all disorientated and slightly groggy and couldn't understand it.

And, obviously, that first sort of week or so of understanding

what was going on and where she was and...

We never thought we would still be here, a full year.

Over the next two weeks, the family of Nazanin want people

to tie yellow ribbons like this to trees in their local park,

along with ideas of how to spend one day of freedom.

We've always felt as a family that publicity is the way forward here.

It's the publicity and the worldwide concern for Nazanin and the child,

as well as Richard, will get her home.

But the Ratcliffes feel that more could be done by the authorities

I want to scream at the Government and say, "Look,

We just want people to live in freedom.

The Foreign Office says it continues to reassert strong concerns

about duel British-Iranian prisoners in Iran at the highest levels

In the meantime, Nazanin's family in the UK hope their yellow ribbons

can help cut through the legal red tape and see her returned home.

That is a story we will continue to follow. Tony Husband has joined us

on the sofa. You were at Brighton on the weekend.

Yes, and at this stage of the season it is not about the style, it is

just about winning. It was a weekend where

the Premier League dream moved a step closer,

particularly for Brighton Reading remain in the mix too -

both sides secured crucial victories and in both cases one

goal was enough. Now pushed wide. First-time cross.

Inform Murray! What a delightful finish from Albion's top scorer!

Here is the truth. He smashes a right footed. Unfortunate for the

leads, but he thrashes it into the back of their net from 18 yards out

to make it 1-0 two Reading. Both Brighton and Reading

play at home tomorrow. Brighton's position is strengthened

by Huddersfield losing to a late Reading's win moved them

above Leeds in the table. So we turn to the rest

of the weekend football. Bad luck to Oxford,

who were beaten at Wembley No slip-ups for Portsmouth

in League Two, but that wasn't Let's start at St Mary's

in the Premier League. Southampton and Bournemouth but had

chances to win their south coast clash on Saturday night, bad

finishing and bad luck played their part. Southampton shaved the post in

the first-half. The visitors threatened in the second half. This

glorious chance was spurned. Bournemouth missed two penalties in

the recent game against West Ham, surely they couldn't miss a third in

succession? He lost his footing. There was still time for Adam Smith

to hit a post, but Eddie Howe's Oldroyd at St Mary is continues. His

standing foot slipped. We accept this point. Portsmouth won their

tenth away game of the season against Hartlepool. Stevens's cross

was blasted home by Naismith. Naismith then turned provider for

the second from Gary Roberts. Swindon managed to win again in the

one. To wins in a road keep their of avoiding the drop live. In a

frenetic finish featuring two red cards and late goals, Dean

Bloomington helped the MK Dons to a 3-2 win against Gillingham.

In the non-league, Aldershot won their fourth consecutive

game ? they are firmly in the play-off pack.

Switching codes now, London Irish may well be set

for the end of season play-offs after a strong campaign

in the Championship, but they are out of the British

They lost their semi-final at Reading's Madejski Stadium

yesterday 25-17 against the same Jersey side which inflicted a rare

Kieran Hurn's try and a penalty looked set to hand them a win,

but a late Jersey touchdown from hooker Nick Selway gave

I thought the boys showed so much character out there.

they were our two themes from last week to this week.

There were just a few other areas of the game which perhaps didn't

go our way and we will have to definitely fix those

Michael Carberry marked his return to Hampshire cricket with a century

in the Championship warm-up match against Cardiff University

He received a standing ovation from the crowd.

It's his first first class match for the county since having surgery

Elsewhere this weekend, Surrey Scorchers are hanging

onto a play off place in basketball's BBL.

by the likely league champion, Leicester Riders,

The final score, Scorchers 71, Riders 85.

Meanwhile, in the National League play-off quarter-finals,

Solent Kestrels did a double over Reading Rockets.

On Saturday, the women's team won 72-58 in Southampton.

Then the men went to Reading on Sunday and produced

Poole rider Sam Sunderland enjoyed a stage win

in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, with a three second advantage

over his nearest rival as they move out into the dunes.

Do Reading stand any chance of automatic promotion? I think it will

be between Newcastle and Brighton, it depends which way. The changes --

it changes almost every game. Play-offs don't tend to bring good

history, but we will see. Now, are you a regular viewer

of the BBC's Antiques Roadshow? This weekend's programme was filmed

at Caversham Park in Berkshire and yielded one of the most

remarkable Shakespeare-related finds It's minute - a notebook full

of extracts from the Bard's work, painstakingly written by hand

hundreds of years ago, when his As Nikki Mitchell reports,

the remarkable treasure was Until my mother had died I had never

seen it before. As you can see, it is absolutely tiny. From what I am

told I think it was written about 1650, so only 30 or 40 years since

the death of Shakespeare. John had no idea just how old is handwritten

family hand-me-down was until he brought it to the Antiques road

show's experts here at Caversham Park. I opened it up and I saw

Shakespeare, comedies and tragedies. He is copying by quotes from various

Shakespeare plays. This is incredible. So how did this tiny

treasure" John's family? His ancestors lived here at Caversham

Court whether names are remembered in a memorial timeline. My five-time

great-grandfather was a traveller and antiquarian. He amassed a vast

library of 2500 volumes. I think this little book that must've been

amongst his collection of books and somehow has all these years. When I

heard that the BBC was doing the Antiques road show at Caversham Park

I couldn't resist the temptation. I would love to be shorn to scholars

and have a transcription because I just can't read it. When the value

to scholarship is this great the commercial value has to be great. At

auction, this could easily make upwards of ?30,000. Really? But such

a small item. The best things come in small packages!

You can watch that the addition of the Antiques road show on BBC

iPlayer. This is more like it!

We did have quite a lot of missed and cloud. Further inland

temperatures reached 17 Celsius. More weather like that on the way.

Alan Davis photographed the morning mist on Cranborne Chase.

Harry Harman took this picture of a ladybird

David Sawford captured a male Dunnock at Rowlands Castle

Some glorious sunshine on offer today. Tomorrow there will be

reimbursed high pressure will start to built in from wedding the onwards

and we will see some very settled conditions. A lot of dry weather, as

well, bar the rain tomorrow. There will be some rain tonight, mainly

light and patchy but we could have the odd moderate burst. In the

countryside, temperatures will fall to six Celsius in these other

temperatures for the towns and cities. The low cloud will gradually

ease. Through the course of tomorrow there will be a lot applied,

brighter to the West. It could be outbreaks of brain nearly anywhere.

The maximum tomorrow 12 or 13 Celsius, not as as today. Tomorrow

evening, the rainbow -- the rain will gradually clear. We could see a

touch of the countryside. In urban areas temperatures will drop to five

Celsius. I started the day on Wednesday. From Burton the onwards,

each day through to the weekend will be dry and sunny, the chance of mist

or fog in the morning. Cloud bill through the course of the date with

the outside chance of a shower on Wednesday, but generally dry with

highs of 12 or 13 Celsius. Slowly temperatures will recover to above

their seasonal average. These are the average temperatures for this

time of year, but on Thursday we could see a high of 16 Celsius.

High-pressure continues to building, then the centre of the high moves

towards France by the weekend, pulling away but fairly settled

conditions on Friday and into the weekend. Friday will see cloud

building through the course of the day, and the weekend settled with

lots of sunshine with high pressure in charge.

Join us tomorrow because we are sending this lady here on a special

mission. We will be back with a full bulletin at 10:30pm tonight, do

please join us then. In the meantime, have a great evening.

Goodbye.