08/08/2011 South Today

Hello, I'm Sally Taylor. Welcome to South Today. In tonight's

programme: He was murdered for money. A life sentence for the

woman who confessed to the killing her pensioner partner. A reached

out and hit him over their head and killed him.

A three million pound credit card bill, but why is the police agency

spending it on lingerie and a beehive?

Red tape for septic tanks. Homeowners face a problem that

won't soak away. And tuned in - how a famous radio

station is helping to keep these Bill Williamson knew that the new

woman in his life might only be interested in him for his money.

But, as he told a friend, it was a risk he was prepared to take rather

than spend his declining years on his own. What he didn't know was

that Ann Browning was so keen to get her hands on his money she was

prepared to commit murder. Today she was given a life sentence for

I just grabbed it and hit him with that and killed him. A confession

to murder, but even this was half the story that police got from Anne

Browning last October. The man she admitted killing, Bill Williamson,

some 29 years his senior, was besotted with her. But she was

sharing a home with her estranged husband Tony as they try to

rekindle their marriage. The two men had an uneasy first meeting.

There was a knock on the door and I Segel are you, I said I am an's

husband. What are you doing here? He said, I am supposed to be her

boyfriend. I said, I am moving out. I know nothing about this. He was

very upset. He just walked off to his car. She always had a dark side

to her. Nothing would surprise you. She had a dark side. A few secrets.

Bill thought he had found a soulmate. Neighbours would struggle

to win four of the lonely widow where in activities on their area,

but were surprised at that things had a ballad like this. The fact he

handed over his life and organisation to this lady and said

he gave his property because he we just need some money, we were

surprised about that. After that, we did not see him any more. There

was no connection. Everybody wondered what had happened to him.

His home had been sold just hours before the pensioner was bludgeoned

to death. They didn't take much longer for her, senior and CCTV, to

begin using his bank cards to use the profits from the house sale.

His body was found in an Browning's back garden. She was very

calculating and did everything she could to hide his death at her

hands. Through the hard reckoned diligence of the team, we

unravelled the lies and proved this was financially motivated. It was

her own words that convinced the judge that this was a pre-planned

murder. On the day at the killing, she had written just three letters,

are ripe peach. RIP. She will not be released from prison until she

is almost 80 years old. A teenager who survived Friday's

Polar bear attack in Norway is in a stable condition at Southampton

General hospital. 16-year-old Patrick Flinder, who lives in the

channel island, was flown into the city last night. He had surgery in

Norway to remove some of the animal's teeth from his skull.

Sarah Holmes reports. Safe and back home in the UK,

Patrick Flinders was flown to Southampton last night after an

operation in Norway removed a polar bear teeth from his head. He slept

in the same tent as Horatio Chapple, the Salisbury teenager's bed died

in the incident. Today, Patrick is recovering in hospital and his

family are relieved that their son is safe. It has been very lucky for

Patrick, but not for ratio, so why do not want you be all excited

about it, because there are parents whose child is dead, he was only 17.

My only worry is that it will not be the physical state, but his

mental state. Something like that, I don't know. This wildlife

cameraman has had over 50 encounters with polar bears filming

for the BBC. As long as you have available weaponry for a worse case

scenarios and your vigilant, then you can reduce your chances. Your

chances of a close encounter. rest of the group is due back in

the UK today, while the investigation by Norwegian police

continues. The Ministry of Defence has

announced that the body of a Royal Marine from Weymouth will be flown

home from Afghanistan on Thursday. Marine James Wright from 42

Commando, died after a grenade attack at a checkpoint last Friday.

His family said they were proud of him and he was described as a hero

by his former school, where flags flew half mast.

A Police training college in Hampshire has been criticised for

contributing to a three million pounds a year credit card bill

which is funded by the taxpayer. Bramshill Police College near

Basingstoke is part of the National Policing Improvement Agency. Among

the items bought were luxury lingerie and a beehive. Ed Sherry

joins me in the studio now, Ed what's been going on?

Now we've all got credit cards these days Sally, this one is given

to civil servants, and paid for by the tax-payer. It's a quick way of

buying things that otherwise they would be claimed on expenses. The

Police training college near Basingstoke is part of the National

Police Improvement Agency. They've come under fire today for

contributing to the bill. They spent nearly �2,000 on a beehive.

And �1,200 on a lawn mower. Both bought to develop a kitchen garden

at the college. But other more unusual items have also been

highlighted. Among the other headline grabbing items nationally

was the bill for lingerie. That was was just over �80. That was

justified as being needed for crime scene training based on a sexual

assault inquiry. An investigation into the spend has now been

launched. The spend in the year in question was about �3.6 million, by

2011, it was down to �2.6 million. Expect to spend �1.5 million this

year. This doesn't look good for an

organisation supposed to be promoting efficiency? No. Spending

might be coming down, but MP's are still demanding further action.

agency needs to look at his own culture and attitude towards

spending taxpayers' money. We need to have a formal investigation and

these cards should be audited very rigorously because it is quite

wrong that taxpayers' money is wasted in this way.

But this could be called too little too late, the NPIA are in fact one

of organisations that will be phased out from next year as part

of the government's spending cuts. Thank you.

Problem with the air traffic control centre in Hampshire caused

delays this morning with air traffic services saying that the

automatic flight planning system failed. Controllers used strips of

paper instead to manage aircraft. Gatwick and Southampton said that

flights were delayed by up to an hour. The system was repaired by

mid-morning. They're normally kept well hidden

away and not usually the topic of polite conversation, but septic

tanks have suddenly become the centre of heated argument in rural

areas across the south. It's all because an obscure piece of

legislation enacted last year requires all owners of septic tanks

to register them by the end of the year. Roger Finn's been getting to

the bottom of the story. There are some 300,000 septic tanks

in Britain, usually in rural areas beyond the sewage system. Every

single one of them were now have to be registered to tighten control on

water pollution. Dennis had no idea of this until he saw a story in his

local paper. They should give us a pamphlet and a letter, stating what

we should do wind what we shouldn't do. Stating how we should go about

registering and what is the difference between a septic tank

and a cesspit, because I am sure that a lot of people do not know.

SS but which is fully enclosed does not have to be registered. Septic

tanks take household excellent, satellite and discharged the

affluent waste. -- has sold affluent. Houses by boreholes will

need a licence costing �125. The Environment Agency says that it is

not properly maintained, a septic tank can pollute water supplies,

rivers, bathing waters and sensitive conservation sites. The

new regulation will require owners to have been maintained. The teams

that MD the septic tanks know that there are bad results due neglect.

-- that empty septic tanks. All of the worms and everything would be

active, some people think you do not have to do and thing to this.

This is not right, you can get different moving to the top of the

ground. Septic tank owners have until the end of the year to

register. You'll all recognise this - instant

coffee. It's freeze dried so we avoid all the inconvenience of

having to make the real thing. Now a similar technique could herald a

big leap forward in the world of medicine. A small Winchester

company, Biopharma, is working on a method to freeze dry blood to

prolong its shelf life. Andrew Giddings reports.

The life of a soldier hangs in the balance. Freeze-drying has its

roots in the blood, it is used in World War Two to transport and

store plasma. Decades later, problems with red blood cells that

are too delicate to survive the freeze-dried process, but with help

of government grants, Santas in Winchester are run the edge of a

breakthrough. Some of the blood cells are prone to freezing and

trying, so it is difficult to process them. By carefully freeze-

drying them with various solutions and be careful about reconstituting

them, begin show how we get most of the blood cells intact after this

process. Here it is, freeze dried blood. This is a sheep's blood

which is used in the experiment because it be is in much the same

way as humans blood. But why go to all this trouble? Human blood needs

refrigeration and even then a Dhoni has a sav Live Earth 35 days. A

process like this would make it lighter and storable at room

temperature. in war-zone then disaster areas, this could be a

life-saver. We had these tsunami where there was no electricity or

capacity to store blood. It would be great to have that blood

available at an ambient temperature. You can reconstitute it and give it

to be patient. This is complex and delicate science. It could be a

long time before this is finally usable and hospitals.

A horse has been rescued by fire crews in Dorset after falling into

a swimming pool. 25-year-old Apollo escaped from his field in Motcombe

near Shaftesbury and fell through the cover of the pool. He was stuck

in a metre of water that had to be pumped out by crews, before he was

led up a ramp to safety. The animal was treated for minor injuries to

his back legs. A woman is to command a frontline

warship for the first time in the Royal Navy's five hundred year

history. Lieutenant Commander Sarah West will take control of HMS

Portland next April. The 39-year- old will be in charge of 185 crew

members. Still to come today, Roger Johnson

is at Cowes Week on the water. is the third day of the world's

largest sailing regatta and a brand new era for Cowes Week, but some

things never change! Now some farmers play classical

music to their cows to help boost milk production. Well it turns out

that the swans at Abbotsbury are partial to a bit of Radio Four -

not for enjoyment but for protection from foxes. It seems a

bit of cunning is needed to keep the wiley predator at bay. Sarah

Falmer is down at the Swannery - so how does this work?

Well, it is supper time here at the lake, and the swans are getting

ready for bed. When they go to bed, the dulcet tones of BBC Radio 4

take the foxes away, and here is David Wheeler to tell me more. How

does it actually work? As to meet you, thank you for coming year, at

night time, the foxes are a risk to the cygnets in particular. Years

ago, a chicken farmer came to visit and he said he accidentally let his

radio on one night and didn't lose a chicken, so in his own words, BBC

Radio 4 is so boring, foxes will go nowhere near it! It is nothing to

do with the content, is it? No, it is because of the voices on the

radio all night, and the foxes think that there are people here.

And we have had no foxes coming here since we have used these. It

works for us and we are delighted to have it. While the swans get

ready to listen to the shipping forecast, I will be preparing the

weather forecast a little later on for you in the programme.

Thank you. Are looking pretty breezy down there. Perfect weather

for Cowes Week, thousands of sailors are going down to the Isle

of Wight for this world famous regatta. Not as good news for the

weather also good news because this year they have got a sponsor once

again. Roger Johnson is there for us at the start of Cowes Week and

will be there all week, could sailing today no doubt?

Yes, very good sailing. It was breezy and gusty on the water, so

lively for a lot of the boats. One of the boats sounded a bit too

lively. We have a sponsor now after two years without one, so as far as

this sailing regatta is concerned, it is a brownie beginning.

And you look to Cowes Week this year and a new buzz about the town.

Fresh investment has invigorated an event that has struggled to balance

the books in recent years. We put on a great event for competitors

and spectators. On the surface they probably didn't see much difference

but behind the scenes the struggle to keep it going. It was hard to

keep that going for much longer. There was never any doubt that the

regatta would happen, but it might have been changing nature and snout

we can drive it on to the next level. Skandia finished their

support for the regatta in 2008. The new title sponsor, Aberdeen

assets Management continues the link with finance. We want is

supported as much as possible and hope to move Cowes Week for word.

But many people will be participating, as many as possible,

but it is not just about what happens on the boat it is about be

sure as well. The sailors are already noticing the fresh

investment. It is security for the town and the event and for the

sailors. There has been a reduction in the entry fee, lots of little

things have improved. I think we see a future in the future of the

event. Cowes Week isn't as elitist as it once was and the largest

regatta is keen to attract new savers. But privately, officials

are determined that being inclusive shouldn't lead a downmarket.

A successful first few days for the new sponsor, and they have a boat

sailing in the extreme 40 series that runs with Cowes Week. They get

very close to the shore and it gets quite lively, but a bit too lively

for the Aberdeen Asset Management entry today. It capsize at the

extreme 40s. It still draws quite a crowd. That is what we're trying to

do with the Olympic sailing which is happening in Weymouth and

Portland next year. One final sailing line and it is very well

done, down in Weymouth and Portland to Alex Rickham and her partner

Nicky Birrell, they are selected for the Paralympics.

With just over a year to go until the opening ceremony of the

Paralympic Games, the first sailors have been selected for the GB Squad.

Among them are Alex Rickham from Surrey and her crewmate Nicky

Birrell. In July they won gold in the SKUD Class at the Disabled

World Championships for the third successive time.

Two big football transfers tonight. Reading striker Shane Long is

thought to be in talks with West Brom over a �6 million transfer.

That move is yet to be finalised. Alex Chamberlain has finally joined

Arsenal. Southampton will receive more than 12.5 million for the 17

year old winger who's been chased by the Gunners for months. Saints

held out for a club record fee for the player. Southampton have done

really well, they played hardball and got in excess of 12 1/2 million

pounds. A great bit of business for them. He is on his way and has gone

to Arsenal. He did not play at the weekend, Southampton didn't really

miss him. Brighton fans Asher did a new era

with a spectacular pre-match build up, but the first goal scorer at

the or Stadium will go down in the record books as be Aleesha. Gus

Poyet to send to the stands, his view of the game was enhanced by

Great scenes after 14 years, football is back in Brighton.

Southampton back in the championship and they looked at

home and sweeping past Leeds United. Leeds are tough. That was a tough

game today. We scold two very good goals. Disappointed so we didn't

keep a clean sheet but a valuable two points and it would be very

competitive in this division. Portsmouth had a draw at

Middlesbrough. Reading found their own hero. Of two goals rescued a

Bradford conceded an own goal after All of the weekend's football and

all of the goals for all of the games are on the BBC's Board

website. -- BBC Sport. Cricket season continues. A big night

tonight in Hove. Sussex will hope to join Hampshire

in reaching cricket's 20/20 finals day. The Sharks meet Lancashire

tonight at Hove. Hampshire booked their place in the competition

despite a chaotic start to their game with Durham, Shahid Afridi was

run out in the first over without facing a ball. 56 from Neil

McKenzie helped Hampshire reach 154 for 6. In reply, spinner Danny

Briggs further enhanced his reputation, taking 5 for 19 as

Durham fell 55 runs short. Hampshire go through to finals day

in Birmingham at the end of the month. Labour have more sport from

Cowes Week tomorrow evening. -- we will have more sport. Let's have

Thank you. We would be treating about that tonight! Let's hope Tony

will be the same tomorrow! Next year would be a busy year,

2012, we have the Olympics. The UK's first statue of Charles

Dickens will be erected in Portsmouth next year, to mark the

bicentenary of his birth. The most popular English writer of the

Victorian era spent his early years in the city. Now four miniature

versions of the proposed statue have gone on display to the public

A master of prose, a genius of weight and an observer of society.

So, which small statute represents the great man. He would be very

humbled and touched, that his work is to resonating so strongly and

his message is resonating so strongly. He would hate anything

that was pompous or overstated or grant. Some grandiose Victorian, I

think we should celebrate his energy and the clearers and clarity

of his message. These four statues are currently on display at the

Portsmouth library. They had been created by two artists, one from

Andover and one from Oxford. One will be chosen for a full-scale

statue next month. A lot has to be taken into account, where it would

be in the Square, technical things that have to be considered,

financial things. But most of four, the artistic, which will have the

most perfect for Dickens and which will have the most effect for

Portsmouth. The statue will cost around �120,000 and the funds are

one-third of the way there. When the statue is finished, it would be

in the Guildhall Square in time for the two hundredth birthday next

year. And he ran the programme next year,

we will have much more on the bicentenary of Charles Dickens, so

stay with us for that. Now, the weather.

Take a look at this great shot of Kimmeridge Bay taken today by

Heather Snow. A rather cute dog called Poppy catching some sunshine.

And a few threatening clouds won't put off the beach goers. Thanks to

Alex Pilgrim for that photo of the Swanage seaside.

Keep your photographs coming in. Now, the weather. Let's go back to

the swans and Sarah is there. They are supposed to be listening to BBC

Radio 4, to keep the foxes away. I can tell you at the moment, on BBC

Radio 4, just a minute, so can you do the weather without hesitation,

deviation or repetition, just a A beautiful day today, a bit breezy.

We have had some cloud across the region as you can see on the

satellite, so sunny intervals. A few showers around. The showers

will fade away and the wind is likely to die down as well. Things

becoming much camera. And through the overnight period, the cloud

will melt away. Clear skies developing by the time we reach the

early hours. 10, 11 degrees in towns and cities. And maybe start

first thing tomorrow. Sunny spells for much of the mourning period.

During the day, the cloud will bubble up. More clout than sunshine

as we move into the afternoon. Still a pleasant stay with

temperatures reaching 21 degrees. Tomorrow, quiet and mild. Most

places staying dry. It will be broken cloud overhead at times.

Then through Wednesday, that is when the cloud will increase from

the north. A friend arriving. That will bring outbreaks of showery

brain. That probably into the evening period as lav. It will stay

with us through the evening. Persistent but not too heavy. Some

showery outbreaks during the course of the day. Into Friday cannot be

ended the week, not all doom and gloom. Brighter intervals. Some

showers at times but could sunny spells to enjoy. So, some beautiful