06/08/2014 Spotlight

The Trust at Dame Hannah Rogers school called

Parents are now having to make alternative arrangements.

It will be very tough for the families who have children here.

There's concern the city's parks may be being used

Millions of years in the making ` Portland plans to chart

5 million years, but if you, how would you know?

And back on dry land after two months at sea `

but did these Atlantic rowers break the world record?

"In complete shock" ` that's how one parent has described the decision to

suspend some services at a Devon centre for children with physical

The announcement came after the Dame Hannah Rogers School referred

a potential safeguarding issue to Devon and Cornwall Police.

Families are now left trying to find alternative facilities

for their children, as Spotlight's Heidi Davey reports.

The Dame Hannah Rogers School can look after up to 40 students

at its residential and short`term units in Ivybridge.

It was at this site the school trust referred a potential safeguarding

With an investigation now active, OFSTED took

the decision to temporarily suspend the residential and short`term

services, leaving many families having to find alternative respite

I have been a parent here for a few years, and all that they

have done for him is quite amazing, and I have championed the school.

I have always found the staff to be outstanding, committed

James has made incredible progress here.

It has changed his life for the better.

This family, like many others, travel from outside

The decision to close will have a very significant effect

on many families, beyond what you can possibly imagine, definitely.

They will be suffering trying to cope without respite support, awake

at night looking after children who need night`time care, medical care.

A spokesperson for the trust has told us this afternoon

it is clearly a very upsetting time for everybody involved,

but they are working very closely with the multi`agency investigation

It is keen to reiterate that that is why they referred the potential

safeguarding issue to the relevant authorities in the first instance.

It has still not been made public what that exact referral was, but we

do know that OFSTED has currently suspended children's services here

Clearly it is a distressing time for all the families and staff involved.

An inquest has heard how a husband, who was found dead alongside

his wife at their home in Cornwall, had convinced him

It?s believed Derisa Trenchard had been hit with a hammer.

The bodies of her and her husband John were

discovered after worried colleagues reported them missing from work.

John and Derisa Trenchard were found dead

Derisa Trenchard had multiple head injuries.

The couple seemed devoted to their sons.

However, several months before their deaths, their two older

sons said they had noticed a change in their father's behaviour.

They said he had become convinced that their mother was having

an affair, even though they told him that was extremely unlikely.

They say in recent months he had been losing his temper and had been

seen throwing down tools. Is Wi`Fi recently started a job as a legal

secretary and I bought clothes and make`up. John told a work colleague

that he believed his wife was good to use her legal knowledge to leave

him and take his youngest son with him. He was given counselling from

his GP and the councillor said he was trying to work with him on his

depressive thoughts. But she said he never displayed any violent

tendencies are discussed taking his own life. The inquest continues.

Hundreds of people have attended the funeral of the teenage

The service for the former Plymouth Argyle youth player was

He died after an alleged row at a taxi rank in the town last month.

42`year`old Lee Dent from East Portlemouth has been charged

22`year`old Henry Felton from Kingsbridge has been charged

Dorset Police says enquiries about trapped birds

and children refusing to go to school have contributed to delays

Last month, the force took 28,000 calls

and fewer than half were answered in the target time of 30 seconds.

That's compared with 54% for the same time last year.

Dorset police say the introduction of a new call

centre and an influx of tourists have made the delays worse.

It's apologised and is asking people to e`mail

The Eden Project's setting up a new apprenticeship programme

for 16 to 24`year`olds in horticulture and cookery.

Its aim is to have 25% of its workforce on the training scheme.

It's using a grant of ?80,000 from the Edge Foundation to set up

It'll be run in conjunction with the Cornwall College Group and be

The police are sending letters to more than 150 homes

in Exeter asking people to report irresponsible dog owners who are

teaching their pets to become vicious by attacking trees.

Volunteers from Exeter Parks Watch say they have evidence trees are

being badly damaged by dogs biting and clawing them.

Could this huge horse chestnut tree be a training tool

if the bark is damaged enough, it can actually kill the tree.

Here in Exeter's Bury Meadow Park, a ?500 award is on offer.

These volunteers believe dogs are being trained to attack trees

What happens is, they will get a lure on a piece of string, dangle it

from the tree out of reach of the dog, and as the dog leaps and

becomes increasingly frenzied, it will rip and tear the bark because

this simulates tearing flesh and bone, frankly.

It is a wholly disgusting thing to do.

It is difficult to imagine who would do this.

It was a shock when I saw the trees so badly damaged. I am a forest by

trade, retired now, and the damage is pretty bad for a tree of that

size. The RSPCA says this is not the work

of an organised dogfighting gang. What we're seeing is irresponsible

owners who like showing off. They like the status

of having this type of dog. People do call them status dogs

because it is all about Last year 30 trees were attacked

in a nearby cemetery. Following this new attack, police

are sending out letters asking Devon and Cornwall police say

although dogfighting appears to be rare in this area,

it will not be tolerated. They say they welcome any

information about it, which will a Cathedral

for endangered species on Portland. Left for dead on the battlefield `

how this World War One soldier survived to return to

St Michael's Mount. And crossing

the finishing line after crossing the Atlantic ` the duo who've rowed

from New York to Scilly. There's growing support

among some of the biggest names in science for the creation

of a giant monument, featuring The MEMO project,

which will cost nearly ?30 million, could attract up to 300,000

visitors a year to the island. Here's our Dorset reporter

Simon Clemison. A stone carver and the dream. It

will take more than a few chisels to create this masterpiece, however.

The monument here will rise 70 feet into the air. The rugby views from

outside and within, where carvings of more than 800 species to have

been declared extinct since the builder will be displayed.

It will be fantastic, an extraordinary architectural thing.

On the cliff, we are building a clifftop cathedral.

The site is desolate, a disused quarry. As visitors dwell on the

dead, the hope is they will think more about the living. White

Portland and its lifeless down to celebrate life? It was a piece of

Portland stone that helped scientists realise the creatures

were being wiped off the face of the earth. Be found fossil but could not

find a match for it in the living world them. In many ways, question

could be, where else would you build a ?20 million monument to extinct

species? Planning permission has been granted and work is beginning

on some of the carvings. It may have taken a few centuries for 800

species to disappear, but in the history of the planet that is no

time at all, and researchers say extinction rates are much faster now

than in the days before human beings.

In geological terms it is happening In geological terms it is happening

like lightning. Tinge in terms it is slow. At the moment we are in a

period of geological scale extinction. If you were the Earth

correspondent for Mars, the Martian broadcasting Corporation, this is

the biggest story in 65 million years, and yet, if you look around

you in our culture, how would you know?

Some of the artists recreating the animals are having to work from

models of newest relatives. It is recognising their life, that

they have been alive and they are now gone forever. Their relatives

need to be looked after as well. The big question is funding, but

leaders of the project are confident the money will come in, and with

visitors it could further revitalise Portland as part of this

coastline's past becomes part of its future as well.

Many men who fought in the First World War never spoke

of their experiences and the horrors they'd witnessed,

but tonight, in the third of our World War I At Home series, we hear

John Mathews was left for dead on the battlefield but went on to

lead a long life in West Cornwall working on St Michael's Mount,

and sometimes sharing his memories of the Great War with his family.

I've been to meet his grandson, who's also called John Mathews,

My grandfather would have known what he was getting into, but like many

men at that time, King and country, he would have viewed it as an honour

to serve. But nothing can compare you for the culture shock that would

have faced him living on an idyllic island not much more than a boy.

In March 1918 like so many soldiers before him, John Matthews was

injured and knocked unconscious. When he came round he had been moved

to different place on the battlefield, but until a friend

visited West Cornwall in 1979, he never knew how or why.

The chap knocked on my grandfather's door and said, you are

John Matthews. Served in the great War? Yes. He said, you're dead,

Haji? And my grandfather said, I don't think so. And the chap said,

you're meant to be. My grandfather asked him why he thought he was

dead, and it transpired that when he had been badly wounded by shrapnel,

his best mate in the platoon had seen him fall and him and another

Tommy tried to carry him back. As they were carrying him, they thought

he was already dead, and there was another Tommy calling for help was

obviously a life. So they dumped my grandfather and picked up the other

Tommy. When he came to, he was faced with a German soldier, towards them

with his rifle and bayonet. And my grandfather 's thought he was either

going to shoot him or stab him, but the German soldier didn't, he

stabbed the end of his rifle into the earth to allow my grandfather to

pull himself up, and he was taken to a German field dressing station. The

easiest thing to do because of the amount of flesh that was blown off

was to chop his leg off armour but the German surgeon took time,

patched it up, and saved my grandfather's Lake. `` saved his

leg. When it was over, John Hahn time

convalescing in a military hospital. He became friends with a

young woman. When it was time to go back to the island, he said goodbye

to her, never dreaming he would see Doris again. But that was not to be

the case. One day the board called in, and my

grandfather on the front thought, "I know that hat!" And then, "I know

that what!" He started walking towards and being a romantic, he

said to her, " what entire nation are you doing here?" She said she

was a new kitchen maid at the castle. In 1923 they got married.

They were completely devoted to one another from 1923 until his death in

1988, completely and utterly devoted.

After their wedding, John Matthews worked back on the mound for 40

years. He was filmed in 1949 in his role as island postman, either

ruling to the island walking across the cobbled causeway to deliver the

mail. Every so often he shared stories of his wartime experiences.

As a man and a boy, his grandson so loved to listen to his tales of life

on the line. My grandfather would get a parcel

from home and give it all away. And his mates would say he was mad. "all

this handsome food!" And I could see my grandfather saying, " I knew,

boy, I knew! "because his mother thought the most important thing in

life was to be regular, and so every piece of fruit was laced with

something to make your regular! There were also other more gruesome

memories that John never shared. After he died, my Nan said to me

that write`up too close to his death she would be walking with him

sobbing with nightmares. He could never forget what he experienced and

what he went through. There are people who paid the ultimate

sacrifice, but they're suffering ended when they were shot. For my

grandfather, until he was two weeks away from 90 years old, he carried

that. 72 years of nightmares. John clearly never fully got over

to lead a long and happy life on the to lead a long and happy life on the

island with the wife he met when he was convalescing from his wartime

injuries, and the nobles rest here in peace. `` they both rest here in

peace. Tomorrow in the fourth

in this series of World War I At Home we'll hear about the unexpected

arrival of 32,000 Canadian soldiers in Plymouth, and how

their mascot went on to inspire the International cricket is being

played in Somerset today. England Lions are playing Sri Lanka

in Taunton as part of a triangular of a triangular series

which also involves New Zealand. Among the best

of England's young talent is North Devon's Craig Overton, who's having

his best season for Somerset. Spotlight's Dave Gibbins went to see

their preparations at King's College He is already touted as one who will

make it big for England. He has twice already recorded career`best

scores, and accompanied that with his best bowling figures. Not

surprisingly, he has been recognised by his country for this one day

international tournament. He spoke exclusively to Spotlight it is

massive for me. .

I have always wanted to play for England, and it is always nice to

test yourself against those kind of players. If you can prove yourself,

it is a massive confidence boost and you can take that on.

Andy Flower is head coach of the Alliance. The captain is James

Taylor of Nottinghamshire who has played for England, and wicketkeeper

Jonny Bairstow. They were sharpening up before taking on Sri Lanka. Creek

Overton knows he is just a step away from joining the elite band.

I need to be a consistent performer Tom and then I might hopefully get

the caller. I just need to concentrate on keeping my feet on

the ground. Best of luck to Craig Overton and

his England colleagues. beaten And in the first match

of the tri`series, England have Two South West rowers are

celebrating on the Isles of Scilly Elliott Dale

and Chris ?Darby? Walters from Lyme Regis have raised more than ?100,000

for Children's Hospice South West. They set off on Saturday the 7th

of June from New York, and rowed They arrived today at St Mary's

in the Isles of Scilly after 60 As Alec Collyer reports, they are

still waiting to find out if they've On June seven they left New York to

challenge a rude first road in 1896 by two Norwegian Americans. Today,

60 days later, we find them approaching the silly I is still a

ten miles to go out and covered over 3200 miles at sea.

Happy to be here. It has been a long trip.

It was beyond belief, the 3000 miles they have rowed in all sorts of

weather. Sharks following them, Wales surprising them. It has been

epic. A couple of hours later a small

flotilla escorted into St Mary's harbour where a true welcome waited

for the record`breaking pair. APPLAUSE

. We only said we would never do it

again. We're talking about doing another one now!

The pain was excruciating. But the welcome has been credible.

The guys have set a record today, 60 days, that is a tough record to

beat. On behalf of the children and

families who need our help, thank you, Chris, thank you, Elliott.

We're so proud of you. There are suspicions that and I's

party might go on into the early hours.

Someone was clever with the soundtrack, when they?

It was looking beautiful on the silly I, but they had some pretty

strong winds after hurricane after. We will have more in the way of

sunshine tomorrow. Mainly dry. This group of cloud is parting as it

moves towards us. It will produce some hybrids of rain. Behind that we

have a ridge of high pressure for much of the day tomorrow, and then

things start to go downhill somewhat. This is the chart for

Friday. It is that area of low pressure that could produce

outbreaks of rain as we move towards the end of the week. There isn't

high`pressure near as we go towards Friday, so it does become more

unsettled. A few showers this evening coming in on a gentle

breeze. Overnight temperatures will fall a little lower than last

night. Any showers we do see this evening will fade away. Enough clear

sky to bring the temperatures lower than last night. Between 12 and 14

Celsius for many of us. Tomorrow is not bad. Some patchy cloud, but

mostly dry. The chance of a few showers moving through the English

Channel. In terms of temperature, it will reach 19 degrees on the coach,

`` on the coast, but 22 degrees the top figure. Much lighter winds on

the Isles of Scilly and we have seen. The high water times: And the

surf isn't too bad. This is from today, glorious

sunshine and a proper summer day on the south coast of Devon. The

sunshine has been out over most of the area, some showers, but they

have been the exception. I'm sure our cameraman got himself an ice

cream. The sea temperature is around 18 or 19 degrees, still unusually

warm for the time of year. For the coastal waters forecast:

Rebecca mentioned that we have wet weather heading our way. We might

see showers on Saturday, quite blustery conditions. On Sunday the

remnants of an old Harry Kane that is moving across the Harry Kane as

an old tropical storm, it will be weak when it gets to us, but that

could bring a spell of unusually wet and windy conditions on Sunday. We

don't know the exact area of low pressure, it could be into the

middle of France or the south of England. I will update you using our

Twitter feed, or if you want to ask questions you can e`mail.

Asking for questions? You are brave! From all of us on Spotlight,

good night.