EdBlog

Notts police dog tragedy: Stop looking for vengeance.

nigel.pickover@archant.co.uk — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:25:00 GMT

CAN you imagine, just for a moment, the mixture of abject horror, sorrow, and torment that a police dog handler felt when he returned to his van and found two German Shepherd dogs dead on the floor.

It is a moment he will never forget - and the dreadful loss of the dogs, on one of the hottest days of the year, will haunt him forever.

In a world of wars, famine, credit crunch and swine flu, this story has touched the heart of the nation - the thought of two dogs dying together in a hot vehicle was too much for many.

By last night there was talk of possible prosecution of the officer concerned - which, I, as a dog owner and lover, find utterly ridiculous.

The policeman concerned in the incident, which happened while he attended Nottinghamshire police headquarters, may or may not have been guilty of an oversight, a simple human error.

But as he is wracked by grief and regret this weekend, I believe he shouldn't have his shock and misery exacerbated by thought of criminal proceedings.

The sight of those two poor dogs will never leave him - and all the publicity since the tragedy was revealed help stop similar tragedies in the future. Enough is enough and the Vengeance Squad should retire for more sensible contemplation.

I'm today sending in a tenner to the Notts. police chief constable, Julia Hodson, to start a fund to buy two new puppies and to help everyone get over this sorrow.

God bless the tragic dogs but I hope we can start a pot to come up with a positive way out of this unfortunate incident.

Take That's Wembley sensation

nigel.pickover@archant.co.uk — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:36:00 GMT

Ipswich and Suffolk fans swelled the 80,000 crowd as a hot summer's night turned into a Wembley Stadium sensation for reformed popsters Take That.

I rated the show as gob-smackingly fantastic, not only for the music.

The Circus name for the Manchester boys' event had led me to believe there would be costumes here and clown postures there - but there were eye-opening moments and gasps at every point in a two-hour set.

This was world-class music - and a real circus to outshine any big-top spectacular. It was out-of-this-world but I won't give away any secrets as more than 250,000 people, many from Suffolk, will enjoy three more Take That shows over the next few days.

I've been to most of the England matches at Wembley - it's the home of English football - and I thought the venue was perfect for a major pop gathering.

Take That have come back so strongly after a decade away ... when they counted their fortunes and watched as ex-member Robbie Williams became a world star.

Now Robbie is in the shadows and Gary Barlow and Co are stronger than ever, their music capturing the hearts of a new, teenage, generation, as well as the mums (and a few dads like me) of yesteryear.

The band is a serious musical force, never mind all the clowning around.

To cap a marvellous evening I had good journey to and from Wembley thanks to my a sneaky way in to north London, parking for free at the top of the Jubilee Line, north of the stadium, and stopping at just four tube stations, avoiding any hot dash through the city centre.

There was even time for a cooling soft drink in a trendy bar, near Canons Park station, before the drive back to Suffolk, via the A1 and M25, which took under two hours.

What an evening ... Take That!

Fond farewell to Jacko

nigel.pickover@archant.co.uk — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:49:00 GMT

FEW will forget the scene outside a California court when pop legend Michael Jackson was cleared of a succession of child abuse charges.

One older female fan, standing on a wall above the crowd awaiting news of the verdict, released a white dove as every " not guilty" statement was issued.

She sent a dove skywards for each result - and the crowd was overjoyed with the jury's decision and the fact that he was cleared of every charge. A white flock took to the skies by the end of the jury's deliberations.

Pop icon Jackson, who died last night, evoked high emotions wherever he went and millions will today mourn his passing.

Whatever happened in his tortured private life, which resembled a mind-boggling dream rather than real life, Jacko was loved by many who grew up with his music.

He was a simply brilliant performer and writer and his tour-de-force Thriller remains the biggest-selling album of all time.

Like many rock and pop legends, he died too young, before many of his later-life dreams were fulfilled.

Farewell Michael, the world is a less colourful place without you but your music remains forever.

Join our fight for Ipswich Hospital

nigel.pickover@archant.co.uk — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:30:00 GMT

TODAY I make a simple plea to the people of Ipswich and Suffolk – join The Evening Star in a renewed fight for the future of our much-loved hospital. Join us, consistently and relentlessly, and we’ll secure a bright future for the Heath Road institution which has served so many, so well, for generations. Sit back and ignore what is going on around you – and Ipswich Hospital will become a second-tier, second-rate, organisation. Brilliant services, high expertise and exceptional doctors...(read more)

Suffolk's amazing bread-dunking crows!

nigel.pickover@archant.co.uk — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 07:48:00 GMT

FOR some months have been baffled by a mystery in my lovely garden, near Felixstowe ....

During a long process of garden clearance and landscaping I built two ponds, one for fish and one for the wildlife that miraculously "just arrives."

We live in the middle of dry, sandy, fields, so many birds use the water in the wildlife pond, complete with its own stream, for for drinking and preening. But for months I have been baffled at the appearance of chunks of white bread, midpond, just as if someone was feeding the ducks.

With no "quackers" in sight - the dog sees to that - and no access point for any human intervention, the riddle remained unsolved untill last night.

A family of crows has taken up residence in the garden and their antics give me pleasure and concern in equal measure.

They eat my fish food, pop in to the greenhouse, steal just about anything edible and generally just hang around, often attacking the bin liners if they are left outside the house for a moment or two. There are six or seven of them, I estimate.

Last night I watched as a couple of them flew in, over the fence, carrying large pieces of bread which they then dropped into the pond.

It appears the clever creatures are picking up chunks of stale, dry, bread that are left out for them elsewhere in the area ... and are softening them up in my pond!

For once the bread had been dunked the clever crows picked them up again and flew off for a meal somewhere else.

Our garden birds and animals never cease to amaze - a slow worm (like a small snake) appeared in our barn this week, and terrified youngest son Josh for a while!

Heart battle plaudit for Jeremy Pembroke

nigel.pickover@archant.co.uk — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 07:52:00 GMT

PRAISE for political leaders does not come easily in these turbulent times - but today we put the spotlight on Suffolk’s Jeremy Pembroke.

The county council leader has spoken for hundreds of thousands of people when he demands new heart care facilities at Ipswich Hospital.

He talks of his fury that the Heath Road site has been overlooked in favour of distant centres in Norwich, west Cambridgeshire and west Essex.

He talks of his dismay and fear that Suffolk lives will be lost as serious heart attack patients are carried out of the county – on long, agonising,journeys before treatment can begin.

Well done Mr Pembroke for seeing through the smokescreen put up health chiefs – and backing The Evening Star’s campaign for new facilities for Ipswich.

NHS Suffolk chief executive, Carole Taylor-Brown, last week apologised for the shambolic lack of public consultation on this issue but, when this shoddy affair is analysed in full others will be revealed for not standing up to be counted.

They will have to answer to the public of Ipswich and Suffolk in due course – but Jeremy Pembroke will not be one of them. All he needs to do now is to follow through on his pledges … and not be lulled into acquiescence when the spin doctors come to call.

How Google was bamboozled in Felixstowe!

nigel.pickover@archant.co.uk — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 08:26:00 GMT

GOOGLE'S controversial Street Map cars have moved in to Suffolk in recent days - but were out-foxed in Felixstowe thanks to a couple of fast-thinking teenagers..

The cars are at large in many parts of Britain - taking video footage of the nation's streets ... not always to the liking of the people who are featured.

There have been rows about who has been seen popping out of an adult shop, people who have been seen where they ought not to have been and some have grumbled about lovely streets becoming targets for thieves and fakirs.

The mappers use cars with tall video towers projecting through the roof - so they were easily spotted as they prowled the streets of old Felixstowe.

They go rather slowly too - so it was easy for the two teenagers, in their own car, to overtake the Google-mobile.

They did this three times - and quickly got out of their vehicle to walk nonchalently towards the camera.

The last time they had enough time to grab two WWE wrestling medal-belts to wave/brandish at the camera.

The Google brigade tell me the pictures will be uploaded over the next couple of months - but on one Felixstowe street there will be the rather unusual site of the same two young men, walking along the pavement at the triple!!

Wonderful Blackpool hero, Mickey Walsh

nigel.pickover@archant.co.uk — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:19:00 GMT

I can't begin to tell you how thrilled I was to see Blackpool soccer legend Mickey Walsh on TV last night.

Mickey was on Sky Sports, telling people of the joys of Porto, Portugal, where he now lives ... just before the city's team took on Manchester United in the Champions League.

Seeing Mickey brought back memories of one of the all-time great football goals, which he scored for the Tangerines back in 1975.

His winning strike, in a 3-2 Bloomfield Road victory over Sunderland, became the 1975 Goal of the Season and a couple of years later (when Mickey and his wife were celebrating the joys of a multple birth) I wrote to ex-Arsenal star Bob Wilson and asked him to play a repeat on Football Focus.

This he duly did and I have the tape to this day.

Mickey, who scored a winning goal for the Republic of Ireland in a match against Russia, is one of the Lancashire club's all-time heroes.

If you want to see his goal, follow the enclose U-Tube link. Happy memories.

In last night's match Ronaldo scored another goal-of-the-season contender with his winning 40-yard bullet strike - but for me, it will never come close to Mickey's magical moment

A Suffolk toast to living legend Clement Freud

nigel.pickover@archant.co.uk — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:28:00 GMT

Tributes flowed in from across the world today after the death of former Liberal MP, Clement Freud.

Freud, 84, who had a holiday home close to the Suffolk coast at Walberswick, packed an incredible amount into a life full of riches.

His roll of honour included - husband, father, actor, cook, soldier, poet, advertising presenter, writer, comedian, politician - and made him a British great.

His dry humour and blood-hound look, made him a perfect co-star in the much-loved Minced Morsels dog food adverts, which some considered better TV than the programmes themselves.

The former MP for Ely, in Cambridgeshire's fenland, joked that on his death his family and friends would be around to raid his wine cellar.

If they are there already, classic claret in hand, the toast will be to a legend who will live on through our smiles at his memory and appreciation of all he achieved.

The toast is ... Clement Freud.

G20 death should become murder inquiry

nigel.pickover@archant.co.uk — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 07:12:00 GMT

Newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson died from heart failure minutes after being struck by a police officer's stick and falling to the ground at the G20 demo in London a week ago.

There is video footage of the incident that has been broadcast across the nation.

Before the moment that has shocked TV viewers, Mr Tomlinson was seen by other witnesses coming into contact with police.

Flip this incident around, and assume, for a moment, that the man who died was a police officer, having been hit with a stick after falling to the ground after coming into contact with protesters/bystanders.

The nation would be in mourning, a police officer's face would be adorning front pages, the Prime Minister would have solemnly commented ... and a murder inquiry would have been launched.

In the G20 tragedy, the IPCC has taken over the case - but a week has gone by and, with all due respect to the IPCC, it cannot find the dynamisim and cutting edge that a murder-style inquiry demands.

There will be many sides to the sad story of Ian Tomlinson, there will be facts that we don't currently know, there will be details that emerge in days to come.

But the IPCC, whilst overseeing the inquiry, should not be the investigating force.

A chief constable from an outside-London force should be sent in with a murder probe team without delay - then the full facts casn be found and decisions taken appropriately.

A week has gone on and the slow nature of the current inquiry is just one of the facts that is worrying both Mr Tomlinson's family and the whole nation.

Masterchef winner Mat: Stop crying into your souffle

nigel.pickover@archant.co.uk — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:21:00 GMT

MASTERCHEF winner Mat Follas snatched the title last night - deservedly so, for some simply stunning cooking.

He defeated Suffolk's Chris Gates and favourite Andy Oliver to take the title after a series which has become TV's unlikely success story.

How we have loved baldie sex-symbol Gregg Wallace's grunts of delight as he has devoured exquisite puddings; how we have embraced fellow judge John Torode's "beautfuls and "stunnings."

How we have loved the failure of contenders who have been ditched into the dustbins of culinary history. It's been compelling.

But back to winner Mat. Enjoy your victory, lovely fellow, but please stop crying!

Every time Mat got a compliment, every time there was a whiff of praise, he seemed on the verge of a flood of tears, using his apron as a tissue on several occasions.

We love you, Mat - but just a reminder, this isn't a war zone, no-one has been killed, even if dreams have died. Keep smiling and enjoy your new-found glory with dry eyes.

Meanwhile, Mat, I'd have another trophy made, if I was you. The BBC's Masterchef Trophy looked as though it had come from the bottom of a Woolpit car boot sale boot, weak and wobbling and a poor memento of a great competition.

Fightback against merchants of doom and gloom

nigel.pickover@archant.co.uk — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:14:00 GMT

TODAY, on a very special day for Suffolk, the Fightback begins.

Angered by the merchants of doom and gloom and the constant messages of downtown and recession, The Evening Star is turning the spotlight on all that is good in Suffolk and the county town of Ipswich.

We’ve even turn the tables on the BBC’s Downturn logo – and done our own version which is today’s front page image!

Today we sent our reporters out and about on the streets of our towns – and it didn’t take long for us to find powerful stories of hope and inspiration. Incredible stories can be found on pages 4 and 5 and 10 and 11 inside this edition.

Yes, we’re well aware that there’ll be painful news in this period of change and re-adjustment. And, yes, we’re aware that the Government needs to grab hold of greedy bankers and bonus-obsessed dealers by the scruffs of their miserable necks.

But we say it’s the ordinary folk, the men and women on our high streets and the youngsters who want to buy their first homes, who will be the catalyst for a better future.

And we’re playing our part, with their good news stories, in our Fightback campaign

The “power of the positive” is an incredible tool – and we won’t be afraid to talk about “green shoots” as though we were committing a serious crime.

Today, our Stars of Suffolk campaign, in association with Suffolk County Council, culminates in a glittering ceremony at County Hall – where ordinary folk will be lauded for their incredible feats.

Join our crusade, the Fightback has begun.

Suffolk's heroes of the snow

nigel.pickover@archant.co.uk — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 11:48:00 GMT

NEW falls of snow came blasting in on Suffolk this afternoon after the county had escaped the worst of weather which paralysed many parts of the country.

Schools and airports were shut (some here) and airports and railways were badly affected. More snow is forecast overnight.

Snow, of course, is a delight for children ... they can get unscheduled days off school and the chance to make snowmen or join in snowball fights with their friends.

But for most people a heavy snowfall is a curse. Take, for example, those Suffolk commuters who reached London on main line rail services today ... only to find the capital was in a snow shutdown and they had to return home

Snow makes travel difficult and for many people the cold can confine them to their homes or chill them to the bone.

But at least this time we can’t say we were not warned – the Met Office has been flagging up the dangers facing us for several days.

And the emergency services and gritting lorries have been on alert to try to keep Suffolk moving and the roads safe.

They are making an heroic effort, and everyone attempting to travel in this dreadful weather owes them a debt of gratitude.

But when the green shoots of spring do finally emerge, there needs to be a long, hard look at how the county council handled this winter’s crises – how it organised the gritting of the roads, and which routes need to be re-organised in the wake of this winter’s problems.

Mugged Jessie, an Ipswich inspiration

nigel.pickover@archant.co.uk — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:50:00 GMT

In the doom and gloom of Britain in recession-hit 2009, pensioner Jessie Thorpe is, quite, simply, an inspiration.

Look at the face of Jessie and you see hope and happiness in equal measure – in stark contrast to the horrific day, eight weeks ago, when she thought an Ipswich mugging attack might end her life.

Just before Christmas, the 83-year-old was dragged to the ground in an attempted robbery – and ended up with a badly broken pelvis.

Angry, frightened and bewildered, Jessie, could have taken a turn for the worse … and become another sad statistic on the crime sheets.

But with a shining spirit that has impressed and thrilled everyone – and with the tender loving care of nurses at Ipswich Hospital - an amazing recovery began.

With family and friends rallying at every call Jessie is now on the mend, conquering her physical injuries and emotional scars, and is now back at the home she loves.

As from the start, when The Evening Star visited Jessie in an Ipswich hospital to find one of the most inspirational people around, we send her our love and ongoing best wishes.

Through our Ipswich-based reporter, Naomi Cassidy, we'll be keeping you in touch with Jessie's progress.

Britain's best is now Star of The East!

nigel.pickover@archant.co.uk — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:06:00 GMT

BRITAIN’S Daily Newspaper of the Year is today crowned as ….Regional Newspaper of the Year!

Our Evening Star staff and its army of friends across are celebrating after another huge industry accolade - capping an amazing year for one of the flagship titles of Britain’s regional press.

At the glittering EDF Energy Media Awards, held at Dunston Hall, Norfolk, your Star was heralded as a champion of its community and an outstanding title as it won the coveted Daily Newspaper of the Year title for the East of England.

The event was showered in Evening Star success stories:

· Jonathan Elsey was named Designer of the Year.

· Reporter Rebecca Lefort was highly commended as Journalist of the Year for her health exposes.

· Evening Star and Green Un24 were highly commended as Websites of the Year

· Nick Garnham, of Archant Suffolk Sport ,was highly commended as Sports Journalist of the Year for three articles in The Star.

I am delighted at the honour which is for readers and advertisers, newsagents and news boys and girls and website users, as well as our staff.

We are all thrilled that the judges said we were a class act – and that we are excellent value for money. In the last 12 years we have won more than 15 newspaper of the year titles – an astonishing feat.

BBC Radio Suffolk’s Breakfast Show, hosted by Mark Murphy, beat off three strong entries from Radio Norfolk to scoop the title of Radio Programme of the Year.

The Evening Star’s Suffolk sister title, The Lowestoft Journal, edited by former Star staffman Russell Cook, scooped Front Page of the Year for its poignant coverage of Lowestoft Town’s incredible cup journey to Wembley last year.