09/08/2013 South Today

South Today. In tonight's programme: The inquiry will go on. Council

bosses will look at claims against MP Mike Hancock, despite his refusal

to co-operate. Out of control. The charity

treasurer who stole funds to pay his debts.

Easing the stress. How yoga is helping wounded servicemen and

women. And the cash cow. How the sailing

regatta helps businesses to stay afloat. We do a third of the trade

in January and February so we need to have good turnover through those

months to see us through the winter. A council investigation into

allegations against the Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock will continue,

despite his refusal to give evidence. A female constituent has

claimed she was indecently assaulted by the MP, who is also a local

councillor. Mr Hancock vigorously denied the allegations but has

refused to take part in a council inquiry because the woman is suing

him for damages. But under the threat of a judicial review, the

council has decided the investigation will go ahead anyway.

He's on holiday in Spain at the moment but it seems there is nothing

Mike Hancock can do to escape his accusers. He argued that claims not

be heard at a hearing because she was also suing him for damages. The

woman is a mentally vulnerable constituents who said you was put

under pressure to have sex. He is so arrogant. He has a way with words

with women. It makes me really angry. Mr Hancock vigorously denies

the accusations but after thread to judicial review, conservatives have

argued the Inquirer should not be stopped. A member of staff would

face both actions at the same time. There's no reason to give anyone

special treatment. We are supposed to be accountable. Mr Hancock should

explain himself to the people of Portsmouth. It was October 2010 when

the allegations were first made to police who arrested and interviewed

Mike Hancock. 2011, however, the prosecution was dropped and it

wasn't until the end of 2012 that the woman launched civil action.

Last month, he refused to take part in a council enquiry. But yesterday

the committee decided it should produce its report anyway. The

enquiry is expected to continue with what is described as a blank denial

from Mr Hancock although he could still choose to give evidence when

he returns from holiday. Mr Hancock intends to stand as a liberal

Democrat in let -- in next May 's local elections.

A man who admitted stealing more than �30,000 from a Hampshire

charity has avoided jail, instead receiving a two-year suspended

sentence. Paul Fisher was the treasurer of the Hayling Cycle Ride

Charity when he committed the fraud. A court heard Fisher committed the

theft after his company collapsed. The crime came to light after he

attempted suicide. Arriving at court in Portsmouth,

Paul Fisher knew he could face jail after admitting fraud. For ten

months, while treasurer, he used the organisation 's credit card to

withdraw �30,000. He told me it happened following the collapse of

his business as an independent financial adviser. I had no income.

It was simply to maintain my living and paying the mortgage and

household expenses. I had hoped... I had planned to repay the money. It

just became a routine and escalated. I obviously regret it immensely.

16 years, Fisher was chairman of a group who has raised more than �1

million for many charities. The court heard he took money from its

operational account. The crime came to light after he attempted to

commit suicide. Fisher also helped various community groups. Here, seen

leading a campaign against a planning proposal. I am extremely

sorry about this affair, how it has affected everyone. I would like them

to consider but I could be forgiven at some point in the future. Fisher

was given a two-year suspended sentence and ordered to do 300 hours

of unpaid work. He is currently sent -- currently selling his house to

pay for the money. Steps have been taken to ensure no repeat of this

incident will be taken. They said future rides will continue.

Gatwick Airport passengers were forced to leave an area near the

North Terminal when a coach caught fire. It's not yet known what caused

the fire outside the building at 12:30. Gatwick Airport said fire

crews quickly doused the flames and there were no reports of any

injuries. A spokesman said there was no disruption to services and their

priority was to get all passengers affected on to their flights.

Researchers in the South have received a multi-million pound cash

boost, allowing them to continue work on a range of health issues.

The University Hospital Southampton Trust will use the Government grant

to look at new ways of caring for dementia and stroke patients.

There's no doubt that the work that's going to go one in

Southampton will have huge relevance for the wider NHS. I'm tremendously

excited by the holy -- by the high quality of proposals and we

certainly expect results. Our health correspondent, David

Fenton, joins me now. David, where will the money actually be going?

Yes. It's going to go to a range of products across Southampton. Things

like treating people with breathing problems without using antibiotics,

end of life care but the big area of researchers in dementia, looking at

people with Alzheimer's are fed in hospitals. Often, they don't eat

their meals. They've looked at using volunteers to encourage them.

thirds of people seeking health care are older. In particular, the frail

elderly, those who have multiple needs and are at risk of falling

through the cracks, they need special help. As the population get

older, there are more people in debt 80s and 90s and more frail people.

How long before patients see benefits? That scheme I just talked

about, that is being rolled out across Southampton Hospital from

next year. That is what this research money is about, getting

these projects off the ground and into actual use. But before they can

do that, they have to have the evidence that they actually work and

are worth it. It's one of the major ways into the

heart of the Thames Valley and carries tens of thousands of people

across the river every day, but this weekend, Caversham Bridge into

Reading will be closed to traffic for resurfacing work. The bridge is

one of only two crossings in the town and major delays are expected.

If you live or work in Redding, chances are, you've joined this

queue. It carries 34,000 cars a day. But this weekend, it will be

completely empty. It would affect me wanting to do anything by car.

closes, everybody has to use the other bridge. It's not ideal at all.

We are going away for the weekend so we have to go across Redding Bridge.

Caversham is very much a travel hub. This is the third incarnation

of the bridge. It was built in 1926 and this will be the first time in

over a decade it's been closed for work. It will cost �60,000 to

resurface the bridge, money from central government, but the village

has already ensured months of roadworks. Businesses that rely on

passing trade hope it won't cost them dear. Caversham is different to

Redding because Caversham has 90% independent so we have a lot of

people coming in from Redding and rely on Caversham Bridge. Work

begins tomorrow morning at 8am and should finish Sunday night but a

warning to Bridge regulars there is a provision to keep it shut Monday

morning at work overruns. A serial hoaxer has put lives at

risk after calling Portland Coastguard to rescue him at sea.

Dorset Police are investigating after four false alarms were made in

four days this week. It costs around �3,000 every time the coastguard

helicopter goes out. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency says resources

are always deployed just in case it is a genuine emergency. It added

that hoax calls are dangerous and can put lives at risk.

Still to come in this evening's South Today: Tony and Sarah have

gone all nautical and are at the Cowes Sailing Regatta.

Hop aboard for all the sporting shortly as we reflect on Cowes week

and look ahead to the fast net rates It's a therapy that's thousands of

years old and is now being used to help injured soldiers. A yoga

therapist from Sussex is training ex-military in the alternative

therapy because they say it is helping to ease their physical pain

and mental anguish. Susie Jennings is working with Help for Heroes

centres including Tedworth House on Salisbury Plain.

It's yoga, tailor-made for members of the armed services. Suzy Jennings

took a year to develop what she calls heroes at ease. Andrew is

using the technique to help his stress and anxiety. I felt this was

my Dharma, and armour is your life 's work. That was it. I want to work

with the military. Between January 2006 and June this year, more than

2000 military personnel were wounded. After surgery, many of them

go to Headley Court rehabilitation. To aid recovery, some come to Ted

workhouse. Lance is a former Guardsman who served in Iraq. Now a

teacher working in Crawley, he says yoga tackle stress. We did all sorts

of different structures, breathing techniques. She certainly showed me

more interesting techniques. The help for heroes co-founder explained

why disciplines like yoga are important for the people who come

here. Yoga in particular helps flexibility and with the mind.

an activity everyone can do. It's part of a more holistic approach we

are taking which we consider. has been teaching yoga here for the

past nine months. During that time, she has helped hundreds of men and

women. The programme she has developed has proved so successful

she will introduce it in the United States. The 64-year-old says heroes

at ease can help their recovery. With 45 years experience, she should

know. The deadline has closed for parents

with children at a troubled educational special needs school in

Hampshire to decide whether they want their children to return there

next term. Stanbridge Earls School near Romsey was severely criticised

for its handling of a rape claim by a pupil. It will only be able to

open in September if enough children enrol. The headteacher said they'd

had a very positive response from parents and would have a clearer

picture of pupil numbers next week. Permission has been granted to see

if remains from an unmarked grave in Hampshire are those of King Alfred

the Great. The bones were exhumed from St Bartholomew's Church in

Winchester, the city where the Anglo-Saxon king was buried. The

Church of England has granted a licence to a local historical

society to start scientific tests. Overall, it's been a good week of

weather for the Cowes sailing regatta. As it works towards a

conclusion this weekend, Tony Husband has been spending the day on

the Isle of Wight. So Tony, is it being hailed as a success this year?

I think so because 12 months ago, we came off the back of the Olympic

sailing regatta so there was a lot going on. That's the challenge for

Cowes week. Year-on-year, it's to keep that place as one of the big

moments of any summer. I'm on an F-14 boat. It's been taking guests

and sponsors out all week. There have been 100,000 visitors here,

coming to the mainland of the island, and they have been enjoying

what Cowes has two offer. For the local economy, that is a really

important moment. This one very special week of the year, can they

speak -- can they see a big spike in their income? I have always had a

soft spot for Cowes week. But for island businesses, is there more to

it than just fancy yachts and boats? My first stop is the floating

bridge, it linking East Cowes with cows. How important is the floating

bridge to islanders? Very important. It brings everyone from the car

ferries over to Cowes, were all the action is. What's your increase in

foot traffic like? It tripled. In Newport, Steve owns Medina food

services, selling their stock to the catering trade. What does Cowes week

mean to you? It's best week of the year! It's when the most amount of

people are on the island at any one time. It's the busiest time we have.

On your cash register, what's the difference it means to you? In one

week, we do an extra �50,000 of turnover. Do you get anywhere near

yachts and boats or are you stuck in here? Not a chance! On Cowes

Parade, the council runs a free nightly event. Financially, cash in

pockets, how much do you reckon this brings to Cowes in one week? A lot

of money! A lot of businesses get the majority of money during this

week. It's a fantastic event for them. But like all these kind of

offence, Cowes week's fortunes depend on the weather. A lot of the

sailors are coming in now and some of them have had frustrating days

because the wind has been lighter at times. If you take a look at day

seven's notable stories, 90th anniversary of this. The boat won

that. The overall winner of the big boat class was a boat called yes.

That's a Cowes -based boat designed here. As it comes to an end, we

this Sunday. What is the challenge of a race like this? It's one of the

ocean classics. That's why it's so popular and there are so many boats.

The take-up on this year's fast net was incredibly fast and they had to

extend the number of places. It's known in history, it's got the

stories. That's why it's that iconic classic ocean race. It really has

shaped offshore sailing. It really started ocean racing as we know it.

The first time, people started to build boats that were suitable for

that. Starting to build boats that were suitable for ocean racing.

About your crew, it's a bit special this weekend. I'm having a fast fast

net because I am on a multihull and conditions look great for us and

it's much quicker for us than a lot of the monohulls out there. I am

with Omar Nair. We are mixed nationality. We have the first Arab

woman to do this race. Quite a special mix. The skipper, a French

man is really supportive of the project. What's in store for her?

She's fairly experienced, this girl. The boat she is going on will be a

very exciting boat to sail. You lucky thing! You would want to be

out there! Too right! It's a cracking race and tactical. You've

got tremendous opposition there. Cracking race to be in! Very big

race. I want to take you across to the United States because we have

great developing news from Justin Rose who has won the US open. He is

one shot off the lead in the US PGA. He has shot a round of 66 and he has

motored up the field and is six under par for the tournament. Round

two of that event he goes into the weekend. In the Championship,

Bournemouth travel to Watford while Reading make the journey to Bolton

Wanderers. Swindon host Stevenage in League One while Crewe visit the MK

Dons. In League Two, Oxford United welcome Bury to the Kassam stadium

while Portsmouth travel to Accrington Stanley for a lunchtime

kick-off. When these two teams last met in 1959, it was an FA Cup tie.

Barry was the mascot. Barry Harris was a Pompey mascot

from 1952 to 1972. The last time Portsmouth met Accrington Stanley,

he was a teenager. Barry caught a football special steam train from

Portsmouth at 11:30pm and travelled through the night to arrive among

the dark, say tannic ills of Lanarkshire. When he got to the

ground, he was welcomed into places mascots can't go now. We had a kit

man. When I was in the dressing room, used to look at me and say,

whatever you hear in this dressing room, don't repeat it to your

parents! The match itself finished 0-0. There were 12,000 fans.

Portsmouth kit man, Barry has seen the game change from within. All the

shirts are hung up ready now, the boots are ready. In the old days, it

was chucked in the middle of the floor! You look very jaunty on that

point there! The legendary fireworks display is

happening tonight to mark the grand finale of Cowes Week. Earlier today,

more than �20,000 worth of fireworks were loaded onto a barge in

Southampton docks. A lot of work has gone into carefully assembling the

explosives to ensure the right firework goes off at the right time.

Organisers say this year will be a bit different. It's going to be

interactive and wants those watching to get involved. This year, it's

going to be really special. There's going to be the big blastoff. They

have got to use their horns to respond to the start of the show.

There will be a special feature getting all the families involved

and the PA on the island will help to get everyone geed up and get

This was the industrial view of a container ship as seen from the

gardens of Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, thanks to Bryn Jones. A

busy bee covered in pollen in Earnley in West Sussex from Heather

Brooks. And away from Cowes, boating of a more gentler nature. Roger

Collett was at Iffley Lock, south of Oxford.

We're not doing too bad here. It looks like the weekend, pretty

decent. Rain at times. We did start the day with patchy outbreaks of

rain. That band of cloud sweeping eastwards. Behind it though, drier,

brighter conditions. Into the day and the remainder of this evening,

good sunny spells, more to look forward to. We will stick with a dry

night as well. Clear spells. Temperatures down to 11 degrees in

our towns and cities. Bit of a fresh start first thing tomorrow morning.

Saturday, looking pretty decent to get the day started. A little bit

more cloud on the way. One or two holes punched in that cloud, though,

and there may just be the outside chance of a shower. In the most

part, another dry, bright, fine day. Temperatures they touched down on

today. Generally, a pleasant day with warm sunshine on offer.

Tomorrow night, uncertainty in the forecast. We will see patchy

outbreaks of rain arriving. Showery rain to the course of the night and

milder than tonight. Temperatures at around 14 - 16 degrees. Sunday

morning, overhang from those showers. But they should play

through. Into the afternoon, drier, brighter conditions. Still largely

fine. The new working week, Monday looking fresher. Some good sunny

spells. Tuesday, cloud increasing through the afternoon. A ridge of

high pressure building. Temperatures above average perhaps.

Three people had to be rescued off the Dorset coast after a boat

selling ice cream capsized. A Mayday call was made to coastguards by

another vessel after spotting the overturned Dory boat and its three

crew in the water off Hengistbury Head. The Lolly Roger is believed to

have overturned when a freezer on wheels containing ice cream rolled

while onboard yesterday afternoon. The crew, two men and a woman, were

not seriously hurt. Tony, it's been your first Cowes. Have you enjoyed

it? Absolutely. It's been great to see some of the things that happen

to the charity here and a lot of competitive racing. It's been my