31/08/2011 South Today

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

programme: Killed by a single bullet as he tried to defuse a bomb,

the territorial who died in Afghanistan The hoaxer who caused

airport disruption because of a row with his wife.

The dragon roars - the �1 billion ship making her home in Portsmouth.

It is just awesome. He does what it says on the 10, fantastic. -- on

the tin. And breaking down the barriers - bringing together all

abilities in this Paralympic year. Disability doesn't mean you can't

do something, you just maybe do it He went to diffuse a Taliban bomb

but was killed by a single bullet. Territorial Army Sapper William

Blanchard from Gosport in Hampshire died from the gunshot while serving

in Helmand Province in Afghanistan. An inquest today heard that he was

hit in the chest. And despite wearing body armour, the hearing

was told that no armour could, or ever would, have been able to

protect him. Mark Sanders was at today's inquest.

At the inquest in Portsmouth the awful events of one day in

Afghanistan were delivered. William Blanchard's widow and other members

of his family heard how he was killed as he dealt with at bomb

left by the Taliban. As he prepared to defuse the IED he was shot in

the chest. His colleague told the inquest he heard a crack, a breeze

and a flood and as he turned to look he saw William Blanchard fall.

Other soldiers came under intense fire but William Blanchard was

fatally wounded and there was nothing anyone could do to save him.

It was the Territorial Army's soldier first tour of duty in

Afghanistan. His work as a bomb disposal expert was a hero's job.

The inquest was told he was wearing the latest body armour when he was

shot. It was correctly made and fitted. The bullet went through the

hem, six centimetres away from the hard plate. The coroner recorded a

verdict of unlawful killing. He said he had been hit in a location

that nobody, could or ever would be able to cover. After the inquest

his family didn't want to comment but following his funeral last

November a work colleague gave this could beat. During his training for

his deployment in Afghanistan he went on long bike rides with his

friends, cycle to the top of the hill to get their first then cycle

back down to meet his friends and lead them to the top. A tremendous

leader, caring, absolute professional. Very much missed.

the inquest both the coroner and William Blanchard's family thanked

the soldiers who were with him that day for everything they did to try

to help. The MoD has confirmed the Royal

Marine killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan yesterday was from

Reading. Sergeant Garry Weston of 42 Commando was the father of three

daughters and died whilst leading a foot patrol in Helmand province. He

was 40 years old. Dorset Police are investigating

reports of "souvenir hunting" following a fatal Red Arrows jet

crash in Bournemouth. Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging, who was 33,

died when his Hawk T1 aircraft crashed into a field near the

village of Throop, south of Bournemouth Airport. These shots,

taken on the day itself show the extent of the debris on site.

Accident investigators spent days at the scene clearing the wreckage.

Police have received two reports of people collecting wreckage, and say

anyone found to be doing so would be committing theft.

HMS Dragon, the newest Type 45 destroyer, has been formally handed

over to the Royal Navy. She's the fourth Type 45 to be built. All six

will be based in Portsmouth. The first steel was cut for Dragon six

years ago. She was launched in 2008, before having her systems fitted

and undergoing extensive sea trials. The �1 billion ship left Scotland

at the weekend, before arriving at Portsmouth naval base this morning.

Our reporter Chris Coneybeer was there to meet her.

With the big red dragon on it back in Avis newest warship arrives at

his home base. -- the Navy's newest warship. She is an air defence

warship with formidable power. The it has 14 micelles and his radar

can spot missiles 200 miles away. It can track and hit an object the

size of a cricket ball travelling at three times the speed of sound.

Absolutely amazing. I have come from a type 42 background. To come

on to something like this, it is awesome. It does what it says on

the tin, fantastic. This afternoon my name be formally accepted

delivery from its builders, BAE Systems -- the Navy. The crew moved

in. She is in top class condition. An excellent job by BAE Systems and

the company. The build project has gone very well, on time. Below deck

our cabins for the croute. The galley will work around the clock.

The main control room is where the ship will track and target aircraft.

From the bridge there is a clear view of HMS Victory, a reminder of

all that has gone before. The Navy originally wanted 12 of these chips

but as costs rose that was reduced to half a dozen. -- ships. How much

do we actually need them? It was commissioned some years ago when

times were not so austere, but it will still represent good value for

money. This is absolutely state-of- the-art technology, the best of his

class anywhere in the world, and we will put it to very good use. Or

the there is a slight note of controversy concerning the Big Red

Dragon. It is supposed to be a temporary a dormant but some of the

people aboard have become fond of it and would like to stay. --

adornment. The Navy has yet to be persuaded.

Dorset helicopters have been grounded following an aircraft

crash. Coastguards say rescue capability would be unaffected.

A 31-year-old man from Bognor Regis has admitted causing a bomb hoax to

stop his wife leaving the country. Kevin Flynn told police the bomb

was being taken onboard a plane heading to America from Heathrow or

Gatwick. Danielle Glavin was at Worthing Magistrates' Court and has

this report. He Kevin Flynn had from our camera

outside court today. At the hearing he admitted the hoax call. He was

angry, his wife had allegedly damaged his flat and was leaving

the country. He wanted her stop. He came over to Bognor Regis station

to use the telephones here. He called Sussex Police and gave them

his wife's name and said she was flying to America and that she had

a bomb in her back. The call came on 31st July, during the holiday

season. Sussex Police were told it was either Heathrow or Gatwick. She

was found and arrested, her flight disrupted. One expert believes Mr

Flynn should be made an example of last hoaxes cost money. Hundred and

�15 billion worth of income is generated just on tourism for the

United Kingdom -- �115 billion. If that is under threat they hit

financially from many people in the tourist business could be profound.

His wife wasn't in court to hear the police. She is still out of the

country. He was released on bail until sentencing in October. He

only spoke in court to confirm his details and enter his guilty plea.

The case has been referred on to a crime court for sentencing as

magistrates' courts have limited powers and it is said the parish it

has to be a deterrent. -- punishment.

A �100 million to the Dorset high street is beginning to take shape.

The company behind the complex of shops and homes in Dorchester says

it's the biggest new development of its kind in the South West. Our

Dorset reporter Simon Clemison has more.

It is something of an urban skyline for rural Dorset, cranes don't

usually tower above the trees here. After a short setback as

constructors suffered in the downturn the next phase is

beginning to emerge -- contractors. There will be shops, restaurants, a

cinema and arts centre where once they brewed beer. It comprises 30

buildings over 11.5 acres. It is unusual to find a county town which

doesn't have the ingredients we are putting in. It is very good for

Dorchester. Why have they get on with it. It would be nice if we get

the new arts centre as well as the shops. You hear people saying they

will never work, where all the investment come but it seems to be

on the move. There have been a brewery on this site since 1880. It

was finally sold about 10 years ago. Some of the old buildings will form

part of the new complex. It is already bringing in buyers and

businesses, not a live from the local area but around the globe.

What about the wider economic impact?

There will always be a bit of concern but frankly compared to the

big out-of-town drop-in centre something which is really part of

Dorchester has to be a good thing, it will bring more large retail

names to the area which will increase the retail offering.

economy is heavily dependent on the hospitality, leisure and tourism

sectors and retail is an important adjunct to that. * Local economy

can sometimes look out on a different horizon. Stashed the

local economy. -- the local economy. Police are trying to trace a man

who threatened security guards with a sledgehammer before making off

with a large amount of money from a cash machine in Hedge End.

Hampshire Police have released this CCTV footage taken just after the

attack in the hope someone may know who the masked man is. He escaped

from the scene in a white BMW shortly after midnight on Wednesday

13th July. Officers also want to speak to a cyclist who they believe

was nearby when the crime took place. This was a planned attack.

The offenders would have been in hedge End looking at the building

before doing the attack. The staff work reloading the ATM machines

inside the foyer of the Nationwide Building Society and at that point

a man with a balaclava on smashed his way through the door, using a

sledgehammer, using extreme forced to do so, and taking three

cassettes from the security men. After losing her mast in the Round

The Island race back in June, Sir Francis Chichester's yacht, Gispy

Moth Four, returned to the water today. The new mizzen mast was

refitted at Swanwick Marina in Hampshire. Our reporter Sarah

Holmes was there to watch. With great precision and extreme

care the new mast was lowered. Once secured there were sighs of relief

all round. Great to see the mast back in and restored to how she

should be again. Go to come out in the nice weather once the boat has

been done up and get sailing on something I have worked so hard to

try and get back on the water. -- good to come out. Gipsy moth first

set sail in 1967 when Sir Francis Chichester broke a number of

records sailing single-handedly around the world inspiring a

generation of sailors. The UK Sailing Academy says she is an

invaluable part of maritime history. It is important that is preserved

to remember what it was he achieved. We are hoping to keep the boat in

one piece and provide opportunities for the young people we work with.

The yacht will be at the Southampton Boat Show next month

whether public will get a chance to see it back in action. -- where the

public. Still to come in this evening's South Today: Tony Husband

has taken to the water. The world's top canoeists are at

Eton Dorney for an Olympic test event.

One of the New Forest's most famous attractions will feature in a live

television broadcast in less than an hour's time. The National Motor

Museum is celebrating 125 years of the motor car, which ties in nicely

with tonight's edition of National Treasures. The show on BBC1 will

see Dan Snow and Sian Williams mark the motoring milestone by looking

back through the years at a number of vehicles from the museum's

collection. I have spent the day here at the

Beaulieu Motor Museum, an extraordinary connection --

collection out in front of the house. Everybody has got a

favourite. Very special for me in particular because I grow up

swimming and sailing on the Beaulieu reservoir and recently I

have become a homeowner in this area so this is my own backyard, a

piece of local history. And you can see Dan with Sian Williams at the

Beaulieu National Motor museum on National Treasures tonight, on BBC1

at half past seven. With a year to go to the

Paralympics, we're looking at the challenges of integration. A local

charity encourages disabled and able bodied individuals to take

part in sports together and hopes the Paralympics will help break

some of the barriers there may be around participation. Reham Khan

reports. A very remembered in the life of

James Smith and his mother. James is severely autistic and usually

has great difficulty showing his emotions. He is one of twins born

10 winks prematurely. James suffered two brain haemorrhages and

has profound cerebral palsy as well as autism. It is difficult for our

children to do things with their peers, getting out and about as a

group is difficult. Here at Langside School able-bodied

children play alongside disabled youngsters to encourage integration

from an early age of. The school is fantastic. They have an inclusion

programme and a partner with seven different schools and playgroups

and the children come in and spend time with our children and just be

a teenager, not a child with a disability. Langside is run by a

Dorset charity. We enable children to embrace their childhood.

Wherever we can we do that in partnership with others so we can

break down some of the barriers that might exist. Nicholas Turner

is a volunteer. He got involved three meeting a student from one

side to visited his school. I knew how much he enjoyed it and how much

of the difference it made and I wanted to come here and experience

first hand what it is like. combined sports day and said last

month, one of many ways everybody has fun together. For James and

Sadie this moment is proof that Langside's approach works and that

the barriers can be broken down and that is exactly the mission for

next year's parish -- Paralympics. Clearly had a grey day at the

school. -- great day. Ade Adepitan was in the British wheelchair

basketball team at the Paralympic Games in Athens in 2004 which won a

bronze medal, and he joins me from our London studio. We know him so

well from sports commentating. Is it terribly difficult to get

schemes like this up and running? As opposed what you need is the

impetus. -- I suppose what you need. You need people to provide the

money and get the scheme's running, but it is really important around

the country that we try to integrate disability sports with

able bodied clubs is well and in schools as well. He is the age of

the important thing? Starting at a young age so doesn't seem strange

to certain people? Yes. It is important. I don't understand why

he should be such a big deal to integrate kids with disabilities,

to get them to play sport with able-bodied kids. I had a lot of

opportunities to travel round the country and I have seen many

schools that are trying to find ways to get kids playing wheelchair

basketball and play at the Paralympic sports. It is down to

whether there is a good teacher who has been coached in Paralympic

sports. If we look ahead to the legacy,

this word has come up so many times, the legacy of the Paralympics, the

focus on disability and sport in particular, do you think it will

become more mainstream? I think it is already becoming more mainstream.

If I think back to when I began and started trying to compete at

Paralympic sports, festival I didn't know that Paralympic sport

existed. -- first of all. I didn't know it was possible to play

wheelchair basketball in the 80s. Over the years gradually you have

seen the profile increase, the Paralympics are getting more air

time on television, and next year it will be bigger than ever before.

We are at the forefront in the UK. We are ahead of a lot of countries

in the way we increase the profile. You are a fantastic ambassador,

thank you so much for joining us. It is really just around the corner.

A lot of venues are testing what is going to happen, trying it all out.

Tony has been to one today. We have talked a lot about test

events. We've already had the Olympic sailing test event in

Dorset and Dorney Lake in the Thames Valley hosted the rowing

dress rehearsal recently. But that venue will also stage the flat

water canoeing events, and they'll take centre stage over the next few

days, as Dorney plays host to their pre-Olympic event. Tony Husband has

been out on the water there today. This isn't just an Olympic test

event. It is a significant moment for Canniffe printing and kayaking

in Britain, the first international spent competition here for 30 years

but at its heart is getting things right for 2012 -- canoe sprinting.

We are testing the work force, the volunteers, the technical officials.

You can only put them under the real test if you have the athletes

because they will behave in the way they will behave in 10 months.

the athletes who live locally it is a different experience. It is

really cool to see so many people are who have come over to our lake,

like having people coming to your own home, you wanted to be nice and

tidy. You get what anybody to beat you vigneron house, so we will be

ready, the weekend. -- you don't want anybody to beat you in your

own house. For athletes from 32 countries will be getting a taste

of what it will be like in London 2012. The water is not too cold

which is good for us Australians. A really nice course, looking forward

to racing on it. There is no public acts best -- access to this event.

It is to ensure that when the crowds flocking next year the

facilities are a match for the action on show.

Football's transfer deadline passes at 11pm, the window for signing a

new permanent players closes until the new year. So far a deafening

silence from most of the region's clubs. Brighton, Southampton,

Portsmouth, and dreading telling me there is nothing to report.

Bournemouth with nothing to say -- Reading. The big league -- news in

League Two could be Crawley. They will be keen to hold onto their

prize goalscorer. Aldershot have signed Jordan Brown on loan from

West Ham. He signed a one-month loan. To last night's cup football.

Fizzy lager and pink pot all-round. -- paint pots.

Southampton breezed through on a night which ended as Swindon's

manager almost coming to blows. St went ahead at the County Ground

early on. The lead was doubled by Jonathan fought on the half-hour.

Swindon but a goal back. Rickie Lambert rounded off a 3-1 win for

the inform championship side in stoppage time. Swindon's manager

was planning more running for his players today. Too much for Liam

Clarke he felt he had done enough chasing Southampton's shadows. When

De Canio tried to guide him towards the dressing room an altercation

followed and an investigation is under way. Aldershot's won in the

competition continued. Michael Rankine put them in front against

Carlisle for up Dean Holdsworth's said confirmed a home tie against

Rochdale. Born the breeze through the first round of the Johnston's

Paint Trophy. Mark Pugh brought this caused level. Jade in Stockley

netted his first professional goal deeper them beyond doubt. He

finished the game making it 3-1. Sean McDonald got his first go for

the Cherries, when he will probably not forget. -- Col. -- goal. The

cricket season is still going on. Having been written off as odds-on

to be relegated by many weeks ago they are trying to make a fist of

Sussex have been wheeling away in the field trying to prise that

I'm going to tell you about his women now. You look a bit of

swimming, don't you? If you had seen the end the ball on

holiday last year you wouldn't have said that. This gentleman has gone

into the record books. A retired breast cancer surgeon who worked in

Southampton has swum his way into the record books. At 70 years and

four months Roger Allsopp has become the oldest man to swim the

Channel. He made the crossing in 17 hours, 51 minutes. His aim is to

raise three quarters of a million pounds to fund cutting edge cancer

research at Southampton University. Congratulations. That is quite a

swim. He wasn't all DUP. I am assuming it was Mackle.

This time of year is probably good. The sea temperature was about 18

We have had some lovely weather pictures today. Here's a lovely

flourish of late summer colour in the walled garden at Upton Country

Park in Poole. Thank you to Margaret Wellspring for that photo.

David Smith took this wonderful picture of the Bath Spa Express

steaming out of a cloudy Salisbury today.

And Angus Parker got a great close up of a hare in the grass near

Cuxham in Oxfordshire early this We started today with plenty of car.

Gradually we did see some breaks developing -- conquer. -- cloud. We

started with a blanket of cloud across the south, seeing some

brighter conditions developing as the afternoon drew on. A pretty

decent end to the day. Some evening sunshine for many of us. Thicker

cloud to the far north of our region. Most of us stay dry. We

will see the odd light shower in the West. Possibly the odd bolt of

lightning. There will be clear spells. To start the day tomorrow,

may be some mist first thing but some good, sunny spells. We should

see a little bit more in a way of brightness. Some cloud in the sky.

Northernmost parts sing the bulk. Temperatures responding to that

sunshine. Tomorrow night, a little quieter. Warm continental air

drifting not. Not quite as cold as tonight. -- drifting up. There will

be some cloud but for most of us it is a dry night. Friday licking even

better. The warmest and brightest day of the week. It's good sunshine

in store. Temperatures up into the mid- twenties. The area of high

pressure is just hanging on for Friday. This is waiting in the

wings through the weekend. As we start Saturday each should be a