Medway Mail

Medway Mail
Friday, February 1, 2013 50p
EXCLUSIVE: Chief of Medway Police says govt proposals to skip the beat are bad for the force
By Matt Charles
A TOP Kent cop today slammed Government plans to allow outsiders to skip the beat and claim senior positions.
The proposals were announced on Wednesday by Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Tom Winsor, as part of his biggest review of policing in 30 years. Chief Superintendent Neil Jerome said: Experiencing what it is actually like at three in the morning to be plodding the beat, when you are on your own, gave me a far better and greater understanding of the job. My credibility, to my officers and staff, going out doing what I am asking them to do, is so much more enhanced because they know that I have done it myself. Ch Supt Jerome started as a patrol officer in Rochester in the 1990s and now he oversees policing in Dartford, Gravesham, Medway and Swale. He said: Having 5 GCSEs and 3 A-Levels doesnt get that kind of quality. You have got to be courageous, you have got to be fit and you have got to be able to deal with the drunk on a Friday or Saturday night. You have also got to be able to go and break the news to a loved one that someone has died. And I have had to do all of those things. Under the plans put forward by Mr Winsor, the service would target university graduates, as well as ex-military and security officers in a bid to attract the brightest and the best. It takes approximately 25 years for a new recruit to reach the most senior positions in the force and this is believed to deter people from joining. But for Ch Supt Jerome, who reached his position in 19 years, recruits should not join the force if they see it as just a job. However, Ch Supt Jerome said: You dont come into policing unless you fundamentally believe in some of the ancient traditions around policing in this country. It is set around people within the community doing this job on behalf of the community and that is what sets British policing apart from almost any other in the world. Tory councillor Mike OBrien was also critical of his partys plans, calling them a step too far. Cllr OBrien, the head of community safety at Medway Council, said: I am a Conservative but I think on this, they are fundamentally wrong.. Turn to Page 4
TOP KENT COP SLAMS FAST TRACK PLANS
Meet Luke Jackson folk sensation

See page 11
Chief Superintendent Neil Jerome of Medway Police
Page 2
4,000 iPads in Newton Scam

A WOMAN accused of 620,000 iPad scam appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court today, County Durham. Kirsty Cox is accused of taking orders for 4,000 iPads - many intended to be given as Christmas presents - but only being able to complete some of the orders.
Olympic fraud trio
THREE MEN appeared in Westminster Magistrates Court today, accused of accessing confidential information during the bidding process for tenants of the Olympic stadium. Howard Hill, 58, from Stockport in Greater Manchester, Richard Michael Forrest, 30, from Crawley, West Sussex and Lee Stewart, 39, from Esher in Surrey, are all facing charges. Hill is accused of two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, and Forrest and Stewart of one count each.
Phone hack cop sent to jail for 15 months

By Michelle Gleaves A SENIOR counter-terrorism detective was sentenced to 15 months today after being found guilty of misconduct in public office last month.
Detective Chief Inspector April Casburn, 53, was sentenced at the Old Bailey today over a call to the (News of the World) NOTW desk on September 11 2010 claiming she was concerned about counterterror resources being wasted on the phone hacking inquiry. However the jury found her unanimously guilty within three and a half hours. Speaking after the verdict, Detective Chief Superintendent Gordon Briggs, who is overseeing inquiries into phone hacking, corrupt payments and other privacy breaches, rejected that the call was whistle blowing. He said: There may be occasions when putting certain infor-
Medway Mail, Friday February 1, 2013
Teenage hacker in court
A TEENAGE hacktivist from Chester was due to be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court today for his part in a plot to carry out cyber attacks with the notorious Anonymous group. Jake Birchall, 18, admitted conspiring to impair the operation of computers between August 1 2010, and January 22 2011, including sites such as PayPal, Mastercard and Visa as the hackers did not agree with their views. The groups sabotage cost PayPal 3.5 million in loss of trading, paying for extra staff and new software and hardware to defend against future attacks. Birchalls three co-accused were jailed last week, with sentences ranging from 18-month sentence to a six-month suspended sentence.Their attacks paralysed computer systems. Victims websites would be directed to a page displaying the message: Youve tried to bite the Anonymous hand. You angered the hive and now you are being stung.
Plebgate continues
Latest botched cosmetic surgeries leave patients disfigured

By Cecily
Bill calling for minimum standards in cosmetic surgery gains momentum

Snowball
mation in the public domain, so called whistleblowing, may be tolerated. This is not one of them. Its totally unacceptable for a serving police officer to leak confidential information to journalists for private gain. In doing so they let down the public and they let down their hard-working, honest colleagues. Tim Wood was the journalist she spoke to, who made a note that she wanted to sell inside information, although she denied asking for money. The judge said at her sentencing today: It seems to me Mr Wood was a reliable, honest and disinterested witness. He had absolutely no reason to lie and every cause to be cautious given the risk that the newspaper was to be the victim of a sting, as he suspected. Casburn is currently in the process of adopting a child, and had she not been Mr Justice Ful-
ford said he would have sentenced her for three years. Defending, Patrick Gibbs QC had asked the judge to pass a suspended sentence, on the grounds that Casburn serving time in prison could cause life-long damage to the child. Fulford said he was concerned about Casburns child, admitting that her absence whilst in prison could be damaging. However, he added that if she had not been arrested she would have returned to work by now and someone else would be caring for the child anyway.
He said her offence could not be described as whistle-blowing, and went on: If the News of the World had accepted her offer, its clear, in my view, that Ms Casburn would have taken the money and, as a result, she posed a significant threat to the integrity of this important police investigation. Casburn was facing a seperate charge under the Official Secrets Act, which could only be dealt with the magistrates, but the prosecution offered no evidence in that matter today.
easyJet creates 330 new jobs
A fourth suspect has been arrested in relation to the plebgate affair. A 46-year-old woman in charge of protecting Government officials, who works in the Diplomatic Protection Group at the Metropolitan Police Service, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office. She allegedly leaked information to the media about the row between former Tory chief whip Andrew Mitchell to resign after being accused of calling officers plebs.
LABOUR MP goes into second reading for Cosmetic surgery minimum standards bill The bill planning to introduce minimum standards for cosmetic surgery is gaining momentum as it reaches its second reading. Labour MP Ann Clwyd, who is spearheading the campaign, will be appearing in the House of Commons today to present the bill. The latest news of botched cosmetic surgery came in three days ago, from Rocklin Plastic surgery, where a patient was unable to use her right hand following a breast augmentation last September. The bill calls for a minimum standard for the practice of cosmetic surgery, including non-surgical
procedures. There will be an implant registry and a cosmetic surgery regulatory and standards authority. All practitioners in the cosmetic surgery trade will have register with OffCos. In a press statement, Ann Clwyd revealed her disgust over the consequences of unregulated surgery. She said: too many people are suffering and being disfigured at the hands of cowboys who are being given a free rein to abuse the British publics trust in the voluntary system of medical ethics. Responsibility clearly lies with the government to take action as soon as possible to stop any more innocent people being subjected to butchery. Controversy surrounding cosmetic surgery increased dramatically with the PIP breast implants, which affected almost 50,000 women.
AIRLINE easyJet is to create 330 new jobs for pilots this year across all of its 11 UK bases. The new posts will be in Gatwick, Southend, Luton, Stansted, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol and Belfast. Captain Brian Tyrrell said: We offer a clear career path for pilots with the potential to move from first officer to captain more quickly than at other airlines. Jim McAuslan, general secretary of the pilots union Balpa, said: EasyJet has been dragged kicking and screaming by Balpa into offering a permanent contract to some of its growing casual pilot workforce. Despite the spin in todays easyJet announcement, this take-it-or-leave-it contract is being denounced by pilots across easyJet.
Medway Mail, Friday, February 1, 2013
Shard opening brings surprise engagement

Couples delight at Londons most spectacular new height
By Michelle Gleaves
Love knows no limits as a man proposed at the official opening of the Shard earlier today, 800ft above the capital.
James Episcopou, 22, asked his now-fiance Laura Taylor, also 22, for her hand in marriage moments after London mayor Boris Johnson cut the ribbon welcoming visitors into the highest vantage point in western Europe. Mr Episcopou, from Epping Forest, Essex, had planned the proposal from July last year. The supervisor at John Lewis said: When tickets first came out I thought Ive got to buy them. Its the perfect place to propose. Laura means everything to me and I wanted to make her feel on top of the world. Miss Taylor, a 22-year-old accountant, said: I had no idea he had planned it. I thought we were going up to look at the view. James asked me to come over to him because some photographers would like to take our picture. The next moment he was on one knee and proposing. I was so shocked. I said yes, definitely, but then I was speechless. On a clear day, visitors to the Shard, which towers over the city at a height of 1,016ft, are promised a spectacular view of the capital, being able to enjoy a 360-degree view of the capitals skyline. Boris Johnson said: You can see all
Page 3
the bends in the river, you can see my office, you can see Buckingham Palace, you can see the whole thing for 40 miles around. Some 4,800 people paid for admission today - at 24.95 for adults and 18.95 for children, being whisked up to floors 68, 69 and 72, in two high-speed lifts in around 60 seconds. The Shards architect, Renzo Piano, said about the building that has a platform almost twice the height of any other in the city. This building is magic for a number of reasons. First, because its in London, second, because its so tall, and third, because this building is a part of London. Its a sense of London.
Engagement had been planned for months
Its sad when London is sad, its joyful when London is brilliant and joyful. Anders Nyberg, chief executive of The View from The Shard, claimed it offered a unique experience. Youre seeing a tapestry of history, he said. Were in a 21st century tower, right across the river from an 11th century tower, the Tower of London. Nowhere else in the world can you get that kind of perspective. The 1,016ft tall building is now the tallest in Western Europe. It took four years to build and consists of a 22-floor hotel with spa and restaurants.
Feeling on top of the world

By Katie Palmer
After four years of building, people of London can now see the city from a whole new perspective, as its newest and grandest attraction opens to the public today.
The Shard, standing 1,016ft tall, is now the tallest building in Western Europe. If built any higher, it would have interfered with jet aircraft. This no doubt iconic and mesmerizing landmark will change the way that tourists recognise London for years to come. It was designed by Master Architect Renzo Piano who, in an interview with The Guardian, described his masterpiece as a sensor of London, changing with the weather and reflecting the mood of passers by. London taxi driver David Russell said: I like the building because of its height, you can see it from pretty much anywhere, from North and South London. I like the distinctive shape, there is no other building like it. The building consists of 25 floors of offices, a 22-floor hotel with spa and restaurants, 13 stories of luxury apartments and a steel-frame spire. On level 72, at 244m, you would be standing on the highest public level of the building. From here you can see The Shards glistening point reaching up towards the clouds. Looking around London from here seems like looking down from another universe, it is indeed a whole other world. The View, which is double the height of any other viewing platform in London, is situated on floors 68, 69 and 72. Here you are 800ft above the city, in the same proximity as the birds and feeling one step closer to the clouds. Level 69 offers a 360-degree view with multimedia displays of the city. The viewing gallery experience does come at a minimum price of 24.95, The sky-high costs could pose a problem, however for some, this price is justifiable. London architecture student Becky Davies, 18, said: Of course I would pay 25 for a ticket. It is quickly becoming an iconic building. Personally I love the shard, mainly because its just something completely different for London, as most of our well known architecture is pre-1900. After years of building and bracing hostile weather conditions, the 95-story building is here to stay, as the
The view from the Shard gives you a 360 view of London in its glory
Page 4
Action week prompted by the homeless

By Molly Pike
The Medway Mail, Friday, February 1, 2013
AN ESTIMATED 135,700 Kent families live in poverty it has been revealed as Poverty and Homelessness Action Week kicks off all over the country.
Poverty and Homelessness Action Week began January 26 and ends February 3. Its aim is to raise awareness of poverty and homelessness and raise funds for community projects tackling them. The issue is ongoing with a further 14 million people at risk of falling into poverty and social exclusion. Liam Purcell, a spokesperson from Church Action on Poverty, one of the three charities involved with the week said: This year, the theme for Action Week is Can you cast the first stone? So our focus is on raising awareness of how poor and homeless people are stigmatised. We want to counter the harmful myths and misconceptions which get spread by some jour-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE
Tory councillor says party plans are wrong

must be prepared for anything when working the beat and it helped them to gain valuable experience. He said: They dont know what they are going to find until they get there. It could be anything from someone with a machete to someone with a gun to domestic incidents, where you have alcohol involved, where you have a very volatile situation between ex-partners. However, Kents first Police and Crime Commissioner, Ann Barnes disagrees with Ch Supt Jerome and Cllr OBrien. She said to the BBC: Its virtually impossible to attract experienced older talent into the service because they dont have time to climb the police ladder to the top jobs. We are saying goodbye to fresh talent and new ideas. The UK police are currently facing a series of cuts and reforms, some of the biggest in 30 years. Keith Vaz MP has called for a Royal Commission to review the current role of policing in society. The consultation on the proposals launched on Wednesday 20 January and closes on Thursday 28 March.
nalists and politicians. According to Government statistics, 22% of the population are living in poverty. A further 14 million people are at risk of falling into poverty and social exclusion. In Kent, 19.7% of households are estimated to be in poverty which is below the national average but in some places the poverty levels are above average with Thanet district having the highest proportion of households in poverty in all of Kent at 26.3%. The main focus for this years action week is the stigma surrounding homelessness and poverty and Mr Purcell thinks this is a growing problem. The stigmatisation of people who are homeless or in poverty is actually rising sharply. Its fuelled by media stories and politicians using abusive language and images. Scroungers. Skivers. Chavs. Underclass. It is used to justify cuts to our safety net, which will drive hundreds of thousands of people
further into poverty. It dehumanises and degrades people who are already struggling to survive. It blames them for an economic crisis which is not of their making. It is deeply unjust. The Action Week website has a section called Tell My Story which shares the real experiences of homeless people, showing how stigmatised and excluded they feel. The growing stigma has had a harsh affect on Kent locals that have found themselves homeless and living in poverty. Kieran Hunt, 20, from Gillingham was left homeless last year after being unemployed for 2 years and his fathers business collapsed. Kieran said: A lot of people just put my situation down to laziness or a non commitment to help yourself when in reality the situation is mostly out of your control. People were so quick to judge without questioning why or how it had occurred. Kieran lived off of the kindness
Kieran Hunt: formerly homeless of friends with a sofa to spare or an odd job that he could do to earn an extra bit of money. It was a real wakeup call realising how self reliant you have to be. The security of family life is gone and you might end up dragging people around you down just to accommodate you. The feeling of being a burden is awful. Kieran has now found a place on his own through the help of his father and is still searching for a job to support himself. My dad helped me find me a room. He paid the first months rent and helped me on to benefits and took me job hunting. He couldnt support me himself but he gave me the best he could. Kieran has high hopes for his future and doesnt plan on staying in his small flat for long. Ideally Id like to become a software designer; anything that involves some level of being able to create something I can be proud of. I know that Im lucky to have found a place and I plan on working as hard as I can to get a job so I never end up homeless again.
The job that they do every day involves a great deal of people skills, an experience that can only come from working the beat. That two year period gives them valuable insight into the job, which will be sorely missed if the proposals go ahead. Cllr OBrien said officers
Cllr OBrien
The Medway Mail, Friday, March February 1, 2013
Page 5
Bridge plans labelled as mirage in desert

Labour councillors disappointment as planning costs spiral at Darnley Arches
By Jem Collins
PLANS for a bridge in Strood were described as a mirage in the desert at a council meeting yesterday.
Residents had hoped that the Darnley Arches bridge would be widened for greater pedestrian access, after the council spent over 150,000 on planning and design. However plans were scuppered after Network Rail were forced to carry out emergency repairs on the bridge over Christmas. Cllr Harriott (Lab) said: Looking at this whole project, would anyone from the outside say we receive value for money? Would any of the general public think were a competent council when we spend that amount of money on something were not going ahead with? He added: Its like a mirage in the desert - youre seeing a plan which doesnt exist. There comes a time when you must question the sanity of our own design team. Medway Council have been considering plans for improved pedestrian access at the site since 1999, with Tesco and Morrisons supermarket donating 500,000 to the council in 2006. However, Medway council now estimates the cost of the project to worse than they thought and they only had one window of opportunity, there simply wasnt time in the time that we had. The bridge closed for 13 days over Christmas, causing traffic chaos and cancelling trains on the Victoria lines, so another closure will not be allowed until Easter 2014. Cllr Hubbard (Lab), member for Strood North, said: The only thing that happened suddenly is that Network Rail took a survey of the bridge. The point is we had six years between the summer of 2006 to get them on board. I am desperately disappointed. Were going to end up handing back whats left of this half a million pounds to Morrisons. Its scandalous whats happened. Conservative Councillors, however, stressed that the failure was due to unforeseen circumstances and not bad communication. Cllr Hicks (Cons) added: It seems fairly pointless exercise for us to continually go round in circles and find someone to blame. The most sensible approach seems to me to find a constructive way forward to spend this money. The issue was referred back to the portfolio holders for further consideration, who will report back to the council.
Unsafe sex causes rise in HIV cases for gay and bisexuals
AS many as seven gay or bisexual men are getting HIV a day despite improvements in testing and treatment across England and Wales. Unsafe sex has been blamed as the key factor in causing this, as well as a lack of awareness. The Health Protection Agencys head of HIV surveillance, Dr Valerie Delpech, said: Men who have sex with men should get an HIV and STI (sexually transmitted infections) screen at least annually, and every three months if having unprotected sex with new or casual partners - and we urge clinicians to take every opportunity to offer the test to this group. The number of cases has continued to rise year after year, but putting a number on how many have been infected is made difficult, by the delays between getting the infection and finding out. However, between 2001 and 2010, about 2,300 cases a year were identified, showing that medication and early diagnosis were not helping as much as hoped. Sir Nick Partridge, the chief executive at Terrence Higgins Trust, a campaign on sexual health, today said that money spent on safer sex campaigns had fallen dramatically over the last decade. He also said more focus needs to be put on prevention, calling it under-resourced. However, it has also been put down to poor immunity. No new infections were found between 2001 and 2010 yet the number of gay and bisexual men who were tested for HIV rose from 16,000 to 59,000. The diagnosis time fell from four years to just over three.
Darnley Arches was closed over Christmas

be over 1m and any money from the supermarkets must be spent by August 2014 or returned. Robin Cooper, Director of Regeneration, Community and Culture, however, stressed that the money would be spent on pedestrian improvements. He said: We still have money left and we are hoping to allocate it to pedestrian improvements before the cut-off date in 2014; were getting some consultancy to look at what options we have. We do know now that the cost of the project is about 1.6m so
High satisfaction figures for train users despite recent price hikes
By Laura Griffiths
DESPITE train cancellations and delays after the poor weather conditions, commuters using the Southeastern service appear to have had very little problems with travelling.
It was expected that they would be very annoyed after all the recent problems, yet it was announced that 84% off passengers have no problem with the service. This score marks the highest ever awarded to a rail network in the South Eastern area. James Wick, 29, an accountant, said, To be honest I havent really noticed a change, though Ive never really had that big of a problem with commuting in. Yeah there are delays sometimes, but thats the same with all types of transport. Teacher Craig Hart, 31, said, Ive never really had a problem with the trains. I always leave out with plenty of extra time in case of delays, and once Im on the train the journey always seems smooth. The figures come from the National Passenger Survey, conducted by the Governments official passenger watchdog, Passenger Focus. Kirsty Pike, 43, PA, said: I think the trains have been more reliable this year apart from when it snowed but then again, this country is never prepared for snow! Peter Mckellen, 45, Booking Clerk, said: Everyone looks moody at 7.30 in the morning! So, no, I havent really noticed a change in peoples attitudes towards Southeastern rail!
153,000 is of course a lot of money, but only 10% of the project, and its not an unusual figure. The council had hoped that the improvements could be worked in Network Rails own renovation of the bridge, but a survey revealed the work had to be done urgently. Mr Cooper explained: We were talking to Network Rail when we knew they were going to replace the bridge and those conversations were going reasonably well. What went wrong was the fact that the bridge was significantly
Anarchist walks free

A 21-year-old man walked free from court today after receiving a suspended jail sentence for collecting and distributing information which could be useful in terrorism. Niall Florence previously pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to five offences of collecting documents, including the Anarchists Cookbook, the Al Qaida Manual and the Expedient Homemade Firearms manual. He also pleaded guilty to distributing two editions of the Anarchists Cookbook at the hearing in November. The offences were said to have occurred between February and August 2011. Returning to the same court for sentencing, Florence was handed 18 months on each count, suspended for two years.
A staggering 84% of commuters were happy

The most sensible approach seems to me to find a constructive way forward to spend this money. The issue was referred back to the portfolio holders for further consideration, who will report back to the council. Charles Horton, Managing Director of Southeastern, said: To achieve both the best customer satisfaction and best punctuality figures in this regions history is great news.
Page 6
Young smokers are a target for Kent council

By Cecily Snowball
KENT County Council has revealed that 13 per cent of 15 year-olds within Kent are regular smokers, and comprehensive plans for the next ten years are in the works.
The growing concerns over young smokers inspired the Tobacco Control Strategy, created two years ago. Kent County Council is aiming to eventually reduce the 11-15 year old smoking rate to 1 per cent or less by 2020. Despite increasing controversy over investing over 24 million in tobacco firms last year, Kent County Council is determined to see the number of young people smoking decline at a speedy rate. According to the report, smoking is the greatest cause of premature death in Kent, and the concern over younger smokes has reached its peak. The report also claims that 5,600 more young people will begin the habit this year alone. County Hall Chiefs for Kent County Council are planning to bring down that statistic to just 12 percent with a new Tobacco Control Programme. The effectiveness of similar schemes for adults has given hope to Kent County Council. However younger smokers are not convinced. Allan Gregory, Tobacco control lead for Kent County Council and contributor to the report, said:
Medway Mail Friday, March February 1, 2013
Parents furious at school expansion

By Michelle Gleaves
ANGRY parents are trying to get their voices heard over proposals by Kent County Council to expand primary schools.
A staggering one in eight 15 year olds in Kent smoke regularly

getting adults to quit smoking is the most beneficial way of getting younger people to stop smoking. Adults and young people need comprehensive support. If adults stop, then younger people have nothing to aspire to. Gregory also highlighted the reports targets for the next few years. He said: we want to target families. If children grow up in a smoking household, they are four times more likely to take up smoking themselves. The smoke free legislation has been fantastic to reducing harm. Were targeting what is going to help you. Aine Walsh, who began smoking when she was 13, says that she is surprised that the statistic is not higher. I thought it would be more because when I was that age, there were more people than that smoking that I knew of. Walsh, who continued to smoke through her teens and still does so today at 21, believes that little can be done by authorities or government. My family smoked, and the perception of being cool is why I started. I continued because it was accepted because everyone else smoked. I dont think young people will take any notice and there is too much anti-smoking things for older smokers. It sounds like us against them.
Airport set to wreck 23,000 lives in the Hoo Peninsula

Life for 23,000 residents of the Hoo Peninsula is being paralysed by plans to build an airport.
Robin Cooper, Medway councils communities chief, told MPs this week the airport would make villages cease to exist.The historic Hoo Peninsular villages have struggled with the threat of airport proposals since the 1970s. After fighting off plans in 2002, new proposals have been presented, which has undoubtedly been met with opposition. Reverend Stephen Gwilt, from the All Saints Church in Allhallows said, when asked how residents feel about the threat of demolition and relocation: If it meant losing home you wouldnt be pleased.Reverend Gwilt said the proposals, the same as the ones presented in 2002, made no sense, were not cost effective and no benefit to anyone. He added: I do not see them happening.Hoo St Werburgh Parish Council chairman, Lionel Pearce, said his council has always been against big plans for the Peninsula, and the airport is included in this.A guesthouse owner, who did not want to be named, said that the uncertainty is ensuring paralysis in the region, as residents are being told conflicting things. The business owner went on to say: Weve heard that one village, Cliffe or Cliffe Woods, would survive but in what shape would it survive? Reflecting the views of the villagers he added: We just want a decision. Allhallows, Cooling, Cliffe, Cliffe Woods, Grain, High Halstow, Hoo St Werburgh, St Mary Hoo and Stoke are the villages that are affected. Two of the villages Allhallows and Cooling were the inspiration for the author Charles Dickens Great Expectations. US Warship SS Richard Montgomery, loaded with explosives, is submerged a few miles from the location of the proposed airport. It would take 11 years to build the airport
Parents at Pembury School, near Tunbridge Wells, are petitioning over the proposed expansions due to fears of traffic congestion, a fall in education standards and a strain on school resources. 44 schools are being considered for expansion, including 11 in West Kent around the Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks area. A spokesperson for Kent County Council said: Any objections from the local community are taken into account. We need to make sure everyone is happy with the proposals. We consult the school, parents and the local community. Expansions may involve adding extra classrooms or simply accepting more pupils. It is proposed that Otford Primary, near Sevenoaks, takes another 70 pupils. The KCC spokesperson added: There have already been expansions, and some schools are taking on nearly 30 more pupils, which is what they have in a year group. Therefore, we need to expand to accommodate these pupils. When considering the expansions, the council look at how many people have been born in a year and plan four and a half years ahead for the Reception class intakes. The popularity of Tunbridge Wells as a place to live is also thought to have contributed to the increase in the number of pupils requiring primary school places in the local area. Gary Cooke, deputy cabinet member of Education, said: Each school needs to be looked at carefully. Its a detailed process and we probably wont expand all 44 schools.
An info-graphic to show the Hoo Peninsula
Page 7
Medway looks back on flooding anniversary

By Stine Wannabo
THE VIOLENT storm that crept in over the east coast is by no means forgotten, as the people of Medway remember how their homes were mostly spared while others were so badly hit.
Between Saturday January 31 and February 1, 1953, a storm rose up in the North Sea, pushing the roaring sea towards the coast of the British Isles, Belgium and Holland. The unexpectedly low wind combined with the high tide resulted in one of the worst floods the UK has ever seen, claiming 307 lives, leaving thousands without homes and over 24,000 homes flooded. Although East Anglia was the area that suffered the most harm, the storms also swept north to Scotland, inland, and south to Kent, causing damage and destruction wherever it went. An exhibition opened in Strood yesterday, which seeks to examine the effects of the flood on the Medway towns and its residents. While Medway was spared from loss of life, many woke up to find the streets flooded and their cars dangerously far below the water. The exhibition, Water Everywhere Floods in North West Kent in the Twentieth Century, was created for the Medway Archives and Local Studies Centre and is on display in their rooms until March 15, 2013. While Norma Crowe, a local studies librarian and the creator of this exhibition, mainly chose to focus on the Great Flood, she also included footage and material documenting floods in North West Kent prior to 1953. The collection consists of photographs, newspaper articles and explanations, which along with other material form a very coherent and interesting account of the disaster. Cindy OHalloran, senior archive and local studies assistant in the centre, said it was surprising that Medway was not affected more by the floods than it was. She said: A part of Strood used to be known as the swamp because it flooded so often. Rochester and Strood used to flood regularly but this flood did not hit the area centrally, she explained. Although previous floods are said to have hit Medway much harder than the Great Flood, the consequences of it were said to be much larger as other areas in Kent were severely damaged, which also affected Medway. Whitsable and Faversham were particulary affected. Chatham Dockyard, however, was able to operate as usual during the flood, but the same cannot be said for the Anglo-Iranian Oil Refinery on the Isle of Grain, which was under construction at the time. The area was entirely flooded and workers on the refinery were told not to try to get to work the following week. Few of those who have visited the exhibition so far have been able to describe their own memories from the flood, but the centre expects more people to turn up and tell their stories as the weeks go by. I suspect a lot of them were children at the time, Mrs OHalloran said. Leslie Higerly, 60, was only a few months old when the storm hit her home in Gravesend. It is very interesting. I cannot remember it, but I do remember my parents talked a lot about it, she said when visiting the exhibition yesterday. I know it was a devastating event.
An exhibition looks back at the North Sea storms and flooding which hit Kent sixty years ago today
A child saves a doll from floods in Whitstable
Medway exhibition
A herd of cattle gathers at an abandoned farm on a hill in Foulness
Page 8
Talks between Brits and Argentina are unlikely says Foreign Office
By Josh Margrie-Rouse
THE FOREIGN Office has expressed concern over the Argentine foreign ministers refusal to meet with William Hague to discuss the Falkland Islands.
Tensions between Britain and Argentina worsened still further today after Hector Timerman pulled out of diplomatic talks over Hagues insistence that representatives from the Falklands assembly be present. Mr Timerman was scheduled to meet with his British counterpart to discuss the Falkland Islands when he visits London next week but he has publicly rejected the opportunity for talks, citing the presence of members of the Falkland Islands government, whom Argentina do not formally recognise. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: We have always said that we are open to discuss a wide range of issues that affect our two countries, including our respective interests as members of the United Nations Security Council. However, it is clear from Mr Timermans plans in the UK that the Falkland Islands are already on his agenda. We remain concerned about the Argentine governments behaviour towards the Falkland islanders, so it is right and proper that they are involved in the part of the meeting that concerns the islands. We have made that clear to the Argentine government in recent exchanges, and the Foreign Secretarys offer of a meeting on these terms still stands. In a statement released last night, Mr Timerman announced regret that Mr Hague would not meet without the supervision of the colonists from the Malvinas. The Argentine instead invited Mr Hague to meet him in Buenos Aires where he claimed my fellow foreign ministers can freely meet with whomever they wish without being pressured or having their presence conditioned on meetings that they havent asked for and dont interest them. The Islands representatives were due to demand to be left in peace by the Argentines and stressed that they would not be negotiating any deal. This is the latest in a string of incendiary incidents between the two countries in recent months as Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has stepped up her campaign to reassert her countrys claim to the islands. British Prime Minister David Cameron has repeatedly asserted that the sovereignty of the islands should be left to the residents themselves to determine and a referendum on the issue is due to be held later this year. In early January Miss de Kirchner had an advert published in British newspapers alleging that Argentina had been forcibly stripped of the Falklands in a blatant exercise of 19th century colonialism. In a statement yesterday, the Falklands assembly cited Britains opposition to any negotiations over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands unless and until the Falkland Islanders so wish. The Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly believes that the result of the forthcoming referendum will demonstrate definitively that we do not. Should the issue of sovereignty be raised at the meeting, it will not be discussed, it said.
Cameron to chair peace meeting with Pakistan and Afghanistan

By Sanam Zeb
A TRILATERAL summit between Pakistan, Afghanistan and the UK will be held in London this weekend to discuss peace strategies.
The leaders of the countries hope to find a way to bring stability to Afghanistan once foreign troops are withdrawn in 2014. Pakistans President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai will arrive in London tomorrow for a twoday meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron. This will be the third summit between the countries in six months. The first summit was held in Kabul in July 2012, where Pakistani Prime Minister Ashraf and Cameron reaffirmed their support for the Karzai government. The second summit was held in September 2012, in the United Nations headquarters in New York. The Foreign Ministers of the three countries also met in London last month. David Cameron has reiterated the United Nations commitment to supporting the two countries in bringing peace and stability to the region, and in helping their socio-economic development. Prime Minister Ashraf of Pakistan had said Pakistan will continue to play its role for regional peace. He said a peaceful Afghanistan was imperative for a safe and peaceful Pakistan. Prime Minister David Cameron termed Pakistans role for regional peace as significant. He said Islamabad was playing the frontline role in the war on terror. The UK has been supporting the quest for security and prosperity in the region as one of its most important foreign strategies.
Defence: Hector Timerman of the Argentine govt
NY Times: China have hacked our computers for over 4 months
THE NEW York Times has accused China of hacking its computers after it published a report on business dealings that had netted relatives of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao billions of dollars.
The newspaper endured four months of persistent attacks from Chinese hackers. The Wall Street Journal is also believed to have been infiltrated.
What the UK has to offer

The British government was the first to welcome the agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan to develop a Strategic Partnership, and committed its unwavering support. The two countries aim to join forces to ensure the establishment of an administration that would ensure stability in war-torn Afghanistan in the wake of the withdrawal of foreign troops. Mr Muneer Ahmed, the press attach at the Pakistan High Commission, said: Pakistan is not bringing anything to the table. We are waiting to see what the UK has to offer.
No legal aid for the Bali grandma

THE GOVERNMENT was accused of being unlawful for not funding a lawyer for Lindsay Sandiford.
The 56-year old grandmother is appealing a death sentence after she was found guilty for smuggling 4.8kg of cocaine into Bali. The Foreign Office said the Government does not fund legal representation for British nationals abroad.
Talks: David Cameron will host the talks in London
Fatal explosion at the US embassy in Ankara

Suicide bomber kills security guard and injures woman in Turkeys capital
By Zeynep Karabuda
A DEADLY blast which hit the US Embassy in Ankara today was believed to be caused by a suicide bomber.
The Turkish provincial governor, Alaattin Yuksel, told reporters: There were two dead in the suicide bombing, a Turkish security guard and the bomber himself. A woman was also wounded in the attack, which took place at 13:15 (11:15 GMT) local time. Nihan Sevinc, from Turkeys NTV news, said that the attack happened in front of the visa section. A Turkish journalist, Kemal Goktas, told the national Turkish newspaper Vatan: We rushed to the scene. There were pieces of flesh scattered around, there was a leg and a severed head right at the entrance door. It was horrifying.
Page 9
Cameron promises support for renewed millennium goals

By Clara Easthill
David Cameron today called for renewed millennium goals to end poverty. The prime minister is currently in Liberia to co-chair a UN committee working on renewing the millennium goals, which are set to expire in 2015. He is jointly chairing the High Level panel with Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. The panel is planning on releasing a report that looks into further millennium goals in May 2013. Cameron commented this morning: I think it is very important we keep a focus on eradicating extreme poverty. But I also think it is important we look at those things that keep countries poor. Conflict, corruption, lack of justice, lack of the rule of law. These things matter as well as money. After further cuts to the defence budget were announced yesterday, Tory backbenchers may not be happy to learn that Cameron is planning on increasing foreign aid spending by 0.7 per cent of GDP. The UN meeting in Liberia follows a visit by Cameron to Libya yesterday, where he spoke of Britains pride in its role in bringing down Colonel Gaddafi.
Chaos ensued at the US Embassy in Turkey after the suicide attack

One source suggested that the suicide bomber blew himself up when he was entering an X-Ray device. The US Embassy said that appropriate measures have been taken by the Turkish National Police who are now investigating the incident. The US ambassador to Turkey, Francis J. Ricciardone, Jr. said that he was very sad. A red alarm had been issued at the embassy after the attack, and staff had been taken to secure rooms in the building. It has emerged that the US embassy was already planning to move its compound somewhere else. So far, no one has claimed responsability for the attack.
Lockerbie police to go to Libya
Continuing search for survivors after fiery inferno in Mexico city

By Zeynep Karabuda
Around 500 rescuers helped by dogs are searching the Mexico City headquarters of the state oil company Pemex for survivors of yesterdays explosion.
The blast killed 25 people and injured over 100, but those numbers are expected to rise. Mauricio Parra, a paramedic at the scene, said that as many as 100 people could still be trapped inside the building. The explosion took place in the lower floors of a neighbouring building adjacent to the 54-storey Pemex skyscraper. The cause of the blast is under investigation. A government official said that a preliminary line of investigation was a gas boiler explosion. Relatives of the employees have gathered for information, some trying to reach their loved one by phone. Ana Vargas Palacio, whose husband works in the building, told the Associated Press she had spoken to her husband two hours before the blast. I called his phone many times,
British police investigating the 1988 Lockerbie bombing are to be allowed to travel to Libya for the first time, David Cameron revealed yesterday during a surprise trip to Tripoli. The announcement follows months of behind-the-scenes negotiations. Officers from Dumfries and Galloway police are expected to travel to Libya in the next month.
Emergency landing after pilot faints

An Alaskan Airlines jet bound for Seattle made an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon last night after its pilot lost consciousness. Paul McElroy, a spokesperson for the airline, said the co-pilot was forced to perform an emergency landing after the pilot lost consciousness somewhere over Oregon. A doctor on board tended to him while the co-pilot took charge. None of the 116 people on board of the Boeing 737-700 from Los Angeles were injured during the incident. The pilot in question has been flying for Alaska Airlines for 28 years.
Rescuers attempt to find people that are still buried in the rubble
but a young man answered and told me he found the phone in the debris, Ms Vargas said. Gloria Garcia, 53, a Pemex worker who was not present in the building during the explosion, came to look for her son, who also works there. Im calling his phone and hes not answering. They wont let me through. I want to see my son whatever state hes in, she said. Pemex said that its operations will continue to run normally despite the blast. So far, noone has claimed responsability for the attack.
Club owner tries to kill himself
One of the owners of the Brazilian night club that burned down last week, killing 223 people, tried to commit suicide while in police custody. Elissandro Spohr was one of four people arrested after the fire. He was under police guard in a hospital,
Page 10
Medway Mail
Chief Supt Jerome is talking sense
COMMENT
CHIEF Superintendent Neil Jerome has spent his life protecting his community. He has faced down gunmen, pulled apart fights and offered his shoulder for grieving families to cry on. He has quite rightfully worked his way into one of the most senior positions in Kent Police and for him, it started at the very bottom. Under Coalition plans, men like Ch Spt Jerome will no longer exist. They propose that outsiders can miss out on the experiences that Ch Spt Jerome had, in favour of fast-tracking them to become top dogs. This is wrong. We need officers who know how to deal with real people in real situations Otherwise, the force will be run by inexperienced target-chasing bureaucrats who do not understand the real value of policing Recruits need to look up the hierarchy and see men or women who have done what they have done, earned their stripes and rose through the ranks through hard work and determination. The system that Tom Winsor is putting forward would see this disappear This is another example of the Coalition meddling with things that do not need meddling with. They have cut police numbers and reduced their budgets, whilst taking away the powers they need to properly deal with crime. They want to replace cops like Neil Jerome with university graduates who see it as simply a good career choice. Policing is more than a career. Its a life and these reforms will be spitting in the face of every man or woman who wear their badge with pride and dignity.
How safe are you from Internet sexploitation?

THE US Sextortion case has renewed the debate about internet safety.
With social media websites such as Facebook and Instagram allowing people to post pictures freely, the question of who has pictures of you is a very current one. Los Angles FBI arrested Karen Gary Kazaryan, 27, of Glendale, California, after he blackmailed hundreds of women into stripping nude for him on webcam. Kazaryans hunt for nudity on the internet could land him in prison for 105 years. Despite using naked pictures of his victims to blackmail them, he has only been charged with hacking and aggravated ID theft. Federal prosecutors have accused him of hacking into hundreds of social media and email accounts and forcing more than 350 women into showing him their naked bodies. Authorities found approximately 3,000 pictures of nude or semi-nude women some of which were taken from their online accounts, and some of which were taken by Kazaryan on Skypeon Kazaryans computer. Kazaryan is alleged to have hacked into the victims accounts and changed the passwords so they would be locked out of their own accounts. He then searched the accounts for naked or semi-naked pictures of the women. Posing as the women, he also sent instant messages to their friends asking them to remove their clothing so he could take pictures. When the victims began to wonder why their friends had stopped speaking to them and discovered their accounts had
Nageen Anwar
been hacked, Kazaryan would use the naked pictures he had found to blackmail them into stripping for him. The case has restarted the debate of internet safety and whether or not it is safe to post pictures online. The question of online safety has also affected people in the UK. Alex Thornhill, 32, of Gillingham, had an ex-boyfriend who posted sexual pictures of her on Facebook. She says it is appalling how unsafe people are online. She says: Some people have too many friends on Facebooklike 800 and some they havent spoken to in a long time. How can they trust all 800 people with all kinds of their photos? Felecia Ayers, 29, of Chatham, sends her husband sexual photos because he works in Scotland. She says: I send my
husband photos of me because he works away. I never thought about them getting out. I would be horrified if they did. Rebecca Hamilton, 22, of Gillingham says cases like these worry her. I post my pictures on Facebook very carelessly. I have my account on private but I still have over 400 friends who can view them anytime they want. The question that comes up is: how safe are you on the internet? When chatting online, you dont know who could be sitting on the other side. A recent example is that of Notre Dame linebacker Manti Teo, who was deliberately misled to believe that his online girlfriendwho existed only on social media websitesdied of leukaemia in December last year. His story captured the heart of America when he went on to win a football match mere hours after receiving the tragic news, citing his girlfriend as his inspiration. In reality, his girlfriend was Ronaiah Tuiasosopo,a 22-year old man who claims he was in love with Teo and never actually meant to hurt him. The hoax and the apparent ease with which it was carried out shows just how easy it has come for people to be misled online. A decade ago the main purpose of the Internet was purely focused on email communication and web browsing activities. Commercial, critical or even complex transactions were rarely performed on the Internet. Internet security measurements in private or corporate environments are being taking more seriously as internet fraud has become quite common.
Big spending clubs in big spending league
LGBT history month events at Kent Union

SO FEBRUARY is here and spring is on its way back but for many LGBT activists this is the busiest time of the year as February marks the UK LGBT history month.
As a bonus this year we will see the first reading of the governments Equal Marriage legislation- something which would have seemed unthinkable even a few years ago. Here at Kent Unions LGBT Campaign we have weekly events: From MP speakers to debates on whether Science (the theme of this years LGBT history month) has been an ally to the movement and to forums on mental health issues in the LGBT community. This is all part of national events happening up and down the country- as can be found at www.lgbthistorymonth.co.uk. But with the upcoming introduction of same sex marriages I worry this might lead to more and more calls and questions about why we need a LGBT History month or, even more importantly, why we need a LGBT movement at all? Gay couples can now get married, the Equalities act means that it is illegal to discriminate against someone for their
AT least 120m has been splashed by Premier League clubs in the January transfer window this year, double the amount seen in 2012. Upwards of 35m was spent yesterday alone, with clubs frantically trying to bring players in before the 11pm deadline. The biggest transfer was of enigmatic Mario Balotelli, as he ran to AC Milan from Manchester City for 19m. Although this years total is double the 60m spent by Premier League clubs in 2012s January window, it pales in comparison to the 225m spent in 2011. And with League clubs each raking in 30m in broadcasting revenues from next season it is possible the total spent could rise.
Karl Lewis
gender or sexuality and the majority of people are accepting of the LGBT community. But the LGBT movement still has a strong basis for its existence: People are still being attacked, even on our campus. Young school children are being failed by the state school sector at a time where they most need advice if they are questioning their gender or sexuality. The trans* community is still failing to be accepted by many in society. This is where the history month comes
in; we need to highlight not just the great achievements especially in our recent past as well as the struggles members have gone through but also the issues that still exist in our society. Its not right that being a gay man increases your chances of committing suicide by 8 times. Trans people have a 25 times greater chance of attempting suicide and something needs to be done. So as much as this month should be ensuring that we get Equal Marriage there is still a lot of work to be done in the LGBT movement. We need to make sure that this government makes all schools teach LGBT issues as part of citizenship lessons to help young minds and break down stereotypes at a young age. We need to lobby to preserve the support networks for LGBT people and to try and get a more sympathetic NHS system for trans* people- let alone campaigning locally to ensure our message is heard. This LGBT History month will probably be a celebration of the introduction of what is a landmark bill- but the battle is far from over. The LGBT movement is strong and will carry on, but we need to remind the rest of the community that LGBT issues are still there and equality is not solved by a silver bullet.
Page 11
The young face of Folk
LUKE Jackson is an acoustic performer with as much power as a rock star.
By Clarissa Place
At 18, he is at the beginning of a promising career and was nominated in two categories for BBC 2s Folk Awards. Sitting opposite me in Canterburys Gulbenkian caf he wouldnt look out of place as a member of One Direction, he is wearing a maroon jacket over a blue collared shirt and a beanie hat. As he meets me he says its been a while since he performed here, that was five years ago. A Canterbury boy born and bred he lives in Chatham, he went to school in Canterbury and studied music at Canterbury College. He has been performing since the age of 12 with his first gig at The Orange in Ashford at an open mic night; six years later he is a signed artist and is attending ceremonies in Glasgow. So how did he get there? Luke said: My dad always
Didnt buy a gift for Valentines Day? Your relationship might end sooner than you think...
By Zeynep Karabuda AS THE 14th of February approaches, the annual hunt for presents has begun again. While shop windows will be turning red in the next two weeks, couples will search for the perfect present to show their affection for their beloved one. However, receiving a gift on Valentines Day is likely to be considered a mandatory act by women rather than a kind gesture. 53 per cent of women said that they would end their relationship if they didnt get anything for Valentines Day, according to a survey of the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association. Pairavy Santhakunesan, 20, said: I would be completely p****d off. I probably would have been hinting for at least a month. Its the only day they think they can be romantic. If they ruin that, then its, you know. Another woman, Bukola Adedeji, 22, said she would beat her boyfriend up. The pressure to be given a present on Valentines Day, which women feel themselves under, leads them to find alternative ways to avoid being empty-handed. 14 per cent of women send themselves flowers on Valentines Day. Sam Connely, 19, said: Obviously girls are like in a competition with each other. You have to get her something; she should be able to show it to her friends and show off. However men do not put as much emphasis on Valentines Day as women. Instead, they are more likely to consider Valentines Day as a stressful event, and Valentines Day shopping as a task fulfilment. Hudson Zimba, 20, said: I see it more as a rip off, a massive excuse for traders and shops to just flog a load of unwanted chocolate they cant get rid off. Theres a lot more stress and hassle for men. Theres always that extra mile you have to go for one day. Stephen Bayles, 22, said: Its more of a womens event which has to be, like, initiated by the men. Its kind of annoying. Despite mens unwilling attitude towards buying presents, Valentines Day spending continues to grow each year. Over 41 million is spent just on cards. Sharon Little, CEO of the Greeting Card Association, said that Valentines Day cards are prepared up to a year in advance and go on sale as part of the spring season card-sending events, which start off with Valentines Day and followed by Mothers Day and Easter. If theres anyone else who is as excited for Valentines Day as women, it is the florists and chocolate companies, who boost their sales significantly over that time of the year. John Greeves, manager of Flow-
played that music, it wasnt necessarily on my Ipod, I listen to loads and loads of different genres of music, so when I set about writing songs thats just how the genre came out. I didnt write to try and fit a genre; I just wrote what I felt needed to come out of me really. This support has stemmed through school who were always willing to let him go early if he had a gig. His standout performance was being selected to perform on the main stage of Trowbridge where he performed to nearly 7,000 people. The applause blew him away and he started to work on his stage presence trying to avoid hunching over his guitar and staring at the floor. I try and pick a person and sing to them. Luke was nominated for The Horizon Award and BBC 2 Young Folk Award after his debut album More Than Boys wowed critics. The album, described as a rite of passage is written by
Luke himself. The lead title song More Than Boys is about a group of friends going for fishing for the day and Luke described the album as 11 different ways to talk about growing up. The song matter is about youth but the lyrics are mature. Though his music falls under the category of folk, Luke described his sound as far from traditional folk. The genre has expanded in recent years due to acts such as Mumford and Sons and Jake Buggs, two artists Luke admires. He said: Its good that theyre spreading out and thats like the folk awards, the contrast between each artist is massive. The BBC Folk Awards happened Wednesday in Glasgow and brought the best of old and new talent. Luke had to spend a weekend away as part of Top 10 shortlist before the panel cut it down to the final four who went to the ceremony. In the end Luke left emptied
handed but was very happy about the whole experience, it became more a family gathering rather than a competition. Luke said: Thats the thing, you go through the first round and then its not like a competition by the end of it, its like a weekend with your mates playing music, its fun and thats the way it should be really. He explained the jury had a wide selection this year, whereas previously artists that specialised in the traditional, such as jigs were always triumphant. This year there was the poignant speech from Nic Jones, who won Folk Singer of the Year after returning to the festival scene after been nursed back to health. He thanked his wife Julia for being his ultimate nurse after the car he was travelling in was hit by a lorry 30 years ago. Mr Jones has released five albums, the fifth; Penguin Eggs (1980) is considered one of the finest folk albums of all times.
For Luke it is all about experience, he now performs full time and his schedule never seems to stop. The next item in the pipeline is a second album which will be a more ensemble piece. He said: Theyre still my songs just played as a three piece and thats the style Ill go for on the second album to have a sort of contrast between the two. He continued: Instead of sticking out another eleven songs with just me and my guitar but different material, itll have a different sound and production on the album. However he isnt too concerned about breaking through into the charts though. He said: At the moment Im happy doing what Im doing, consistent gigs, Im now making a living out doing what it is that I love and the music I do is the music I want to play. Luke will be performing two gigs this weekend on Saturday at Blackheath Hall, London and on Sunday at Canterburys West-
ers UK, said that they were expecting a 400 per cent increase in their sales, with the peak time for orders coming on 13th February. He added that they offered special bouquets for Valentines Day which consisted of 12 to 100 better quality roses that cost 50, while a regular bouquet costs 35. Tony Bilsborough, spokesperson for Kraft Foods, said that they were expecting a 50-100 per cent increase in the Milk Tray sales. He also said that womens and mens reasons for consuming chocolate were not the same, by the means of women considering chocolate as a sensual treat, whereas for men it is filling their stomach.
Page 12
life
by Lola Sole
TS 31 DAYS INTO 2013 and the resolutions which brought us merrily into the New Year are beginning to fade. The promise which we cemented in our hearts- this year will mark a fitter, healthier and slimmer you, is starting to show signs of age.
As you lay in bed and remember the excitement you first felt when buying your new workout clothes and the complimentary gym bag you were given once you made yourself a full member - of course, doesnt seem to awaken any willpower for you to get up and get fit. It is known that the first four weeks of signing up to the gym is when you are most committed, as you pedal at the speed of Chris Hoy on the spin bike, blissfully watching the calorie count increase. You are now accustomed to the once foreign machines and your body has adjusted to the 45 minute cardio class which used to leave your muscles sore and aching. But as the days grow colder, the thought of going to the gym seems more of an unattainable mission. The procrastination starts, along with the frivolous excuses to justify why you cannot make tonights aerobics class. The initial excitement begins to erode and the enthusiasm for the gym depreciates
Fitness fever: Why new gym goers shouldnt hang up their running shoes straight away
- as your gym bag lays untouched for days. And here you have it the January fitness fever. Figures produced by Arthritis Research UK and The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy show that a third of Britons give up their New Years fitness regime just after one month. Common excuses include a loss of interest, lack of time and unwillingness to exercise in the cold weather. According to Dina Sowamber, membership advisor at Crook Log Leisure Centre in Bexleyheath, members are more inclined to stay on at the gym if they have a friend to go with them. She also found that those who do it alone struggle to keep up and eventually become disengaged. She said: At the moment we have a bring a buddy promotion on. If you refer your friend and they decide to join you will get a month free at the gym. These small incentives may sound like a great way to keep Britain moving, but the weather has a stronger impact on people psychologically, more than the marketing strategies affecting peoples gym attendance. Sowamber said: This is a tough period for anyone who has gym membership. At the moment being at home in the warmth may seem like the best option. But once you start to eat carbs you become lazy. The best advice I can give anyone wanting to quit is to remember how good you felt after each workout and the progress youve made since you first joined. The 2012 Olympics was a boastful year for Britain as we promoted ourselves as a new healthy nation. It was impossible to ignore Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, calling for people to be more active and fit throughout the games. For that short period of time we swapped the fizzy drink for Evian, walked to the station rather than using the bus and hired out a Boris Bike to make our daily commute. But that was last year, and since then more of us have waved the white flag and surrendered on the idea of wanting to keep fit. For some, like Cassandra Simpson, 22, a sales assistant from Thornton Heath, staying committed to the gym seemed difficult as she began to take on more hours at work. Initially she attended the gym three times a week, but is now struggling to get back into working out, despite the fact she is tied down to a 12 month contract. She said: When I get in from work Im gearing up ready to work out but as soon as I decide to take a little break before setting off I just dont end up going and its starting to become a habit. It is annoying because 42.50 comes out of my account every
month and Im barely there. I need to find the right balance. For now I cannot commit to the gym as I did once before. 24 year old receptionist, Kelly Vein has a similar story. She said: I thought Ill be able to keep up with the monthly payments but once I paid my rent and other utility bills I realised that I couldnt afford to go anymore and had to pay almost double to cancel my contract. Low-cost The Gym Group are shaking up the market. They provide a basic service with the latest equipment. They recognised through consumer research that more than 70% of people who use health clubs only use the gym and not the saunas and steam rooms, which bump up monthly payments. The 24 hour gyms have been specially designed to attract a wider demographic and cater towards peoples lifestyle and work pattern, providing a tailored service and helping people keep up with their training. Alison Bledge, account manager at Promote PR said: We have listened to what our customers want and we found that a lot of people dont have the traditional 9-5 timetable. Weve recognised that there are people out there who require a 24 hour service. We have no contracts so people can opt out at any time and re-join online with no additional charges. This makes us very competitive and we have welcomed new members transferring from other chains because of the unique service we provide. The Gym Group have seen a record number of new members in the first two weeks of January. It increased by approximately 15% across 32 clubs, with another 16 gyms set to open this year and a further 18 in 2014.
Dear Mr President heres your Oscar

by Cecily Snowball
HYDE Park on Hudson, which is released today, is the story of the American President Roosevelt meeting a young and naive King George VI, is one of many American President films that have audiences running in from miles around.
133 awards in total, from small American Critics awards all the way up to the big guns. The Oscars are right around the corner, and the American bio-pic is destined to win something; however what is it that makes the American President so bankable at the box office? The trend of historic, biographical, and especially American, does not appear to be slowing down. Hyde Park on Hudson is Lincolns younger and less adventurous brother, but it still tries to encapsulate everything that a good American President film should have. The glory, the grace and the ailment that only makes them stronger. Everyone but Nixon. Obviously. Apparently, were not that dissimilar from our US counterparts. Professor of film at the University of Kent, Peter Stanfield, suggests that film dramas about US presidents are like UK films about royalty, they both play to national myths and fantasies. The idea is that presidents and Kings are human beings, just like you and me. The feel-good factor of seeing the American President win in times of hardships is also a crucial factor. The winning American Institution represents the will of the people, and we all know how strong the will of the American people is. It is, of course, not just the Presidents themselves that make the movie. Daniel Day Lewis reportedly didnt stop being Lincoln until the last day of filming. That kind of commitment would be intimidating, if not overbearing. Awards season always favours the biographical picture, and even more so if there is a high profile character involved. Professor Murray Smith, who is a member of the advisory editorial board on the film magazine, Screen, says that a serious tone is what the audience, and judges, are looking for. Its not the amount of money it makes, but the amount of tears it sheds and blood it spills. According to Professor Smith, there is a general tendency towards recognizing worthy films in the Oscars - films with serious, high-minded themes - which accords with the role of the Academy in providing cultural legitimacy for Hollywood and the film industry. So if youre James Bond or Batman, you can forget the golden trophy. Playing the Caped Crusader or the spy with a license to kill does not have the same flare as an American president. The coveted best actor and actress awards are also handed out to those who are worthy enough. Presidents who risked everything to bring down slavery, or were perhaps brought down by their own troubles, are considered worthy. Someone tell Leonardo DiCaprio to forget the CIA agents and the Plantation owners. Presidential acting comes with Presidential rewards.
life
Page 13
It may not be Lincoln, but it still has that air of gravitas that only a President would have. Critics and historians have not been impressed, with Bill Murray not joining the ranks of Oscar nominated Presidents. Even though he is barely recognisable as FDR, audiences were not taken with Murrays performance or the film. The phrase bucking the trend comes to mind. In the middle of the awards season, its hard not to analyse the winners and what makes them work. If youre an American film producer, a US President usually ticks all the boxes. Lincoln is close to sweeping all the awards within the next month, nominated for
Bill Murray in Hyde Park on Hudson
In a time when relations between the UK and US are weaker than they once were have been stronger than they are today, Hyde Park on Hudson reminds us that there was once a comradeship that began as cautiously as any friendship.
Hyde Park on Hudson is definitively an Anglo-American film, but still manages to create that nostalgic sense that so many films miss out on. Dont expect to see Bill Murray
with his comedic charm. Hes barely recognisable as the ailing President Roosevelt, who takes a young King George VI under his wing before coming together for war. The plot loses its way once the subplot, where FDR becomes the womaniser everyone expected, takes over, however the American-British style flows effortlessly to create a fantastically moving biographical piece. Hyde Park on Hudson, the story of American President Roosevelt meeting a young and naive King George VI, mixes American history, if slightly confused, with British style
effortlessly. The biographical piece, which centres around the first monarch to visit the US, does not have much of a story to tell, regardless of what could have been an intriguing subplot, which focused on FDRs affairs. The lack of plot did not take away from the impeccable acting. Remember that Bill Murray is playing the ailing President FDR, and the rest falls into place. Olivia Coleman as Queen Consort Elizabeth could give Helena Bonham Carter a run for her money.
Page 14
Balls: Why I would cut VAT on Monday

SHADOW Chancellor Ed Balls has called for an im- By Josh Margrie - Rouse mediate cut in VAT to haul because most people that start Britain out of recession.
Speaking in Medway yesterday at a meeting with several small business owners, he also described government attitudes towards small businesses as not good enough. When asked about the need for a tax cut in the current climate Balls said he would do it on Monday. He said: Its clear that with the economy flat lining, and with the deficit getting bigger, weve got to do something to kick-start the recovery. The quickest thing is a temporary tax cut to help middle income families. The meeting at Elm Court Village, Chatham, also attended by the Labour candidate for Chatham and Aylesford, Tristan Osborne, was a chance for owners of small businesses in the area to raise concerns about government support. Stephen Clark, owner of retro furniture renovation company, The Vintage Dove, criticised the accessibility of advice. He said: Its really difficult up small businesses have never done this before. Weve no idea what support there is out there. They need to make it easier for us because theres not one place you can go to for help. This was also highlighted by Andy Evans, owner of The Fudgery, who said that the Medway advice centre, Business Links, took three months to reply to his concerns. The owner of the Gillinghambased sweet company said By the time Business Links got back to me Id set up shop! Balls slammed the government for letting businesses just get on with it. He said: What were hearing here is that they do need advice, they do need support, and they need the government to play its part. Its not good enough really. The energy and the entrepreneurship is here in the business world but the governments got a part to play to back it. The shadow minister was visibly surprised when one man declared that he would never
Real people with real problems meet Mr Balls

COMMENT
by Chris Walker
ON THURSDAY, tucked away in Elm Court Village, Medway, the Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls met with a group of small businesses owners. They discussed the problems facing small businesses in the country.
The afternoon was full of the kind of rhetoric you would expect in a room of business owners, who feel increasingly like they have been left out in the cold by banks and the government. Mr Balls didnt waste his chance either. In among the well-trodden talk about lowering VAT and increasing government spending, there were real stories to be heard. Real people, real businesses with plenty of ambition, struggling against reluctant banks and ever evasive government support. Vintage Dove, the month-old furniture renovation shop which played host to the afternoons proceedings, was vocal in its disillusionment with current government support for small businesses. Owner Stephan Clark said: We have no idea what support is out there. They need to make it easier. With lots of big businesses crashing and burning, its small businesses that are the backbone of our society. Danny Gough, owner of G Force Motorcycles, noted that he had already opened his shop by the time he received a response to his start-up loan application several months too late. He was not alone; others said they had experienced similar delays. Although it is worth remembering that, as it approaches its fourth year, G Force Motorcycles are the exception to the rule. There were also complaints about the increased national
take out a bank loan to help his business. He did however warn against taking knee-jerk action against the banks. He said:Banking reforms are needed but we need to tackle the culture first. Balls did however concede that the conservative-led local government was doing a good job in the business sector. Kent County Council has always been quite innovative as far as business is concerned. With many local food suppliers present, including local produce promoters Produced in Kent, the Labour MP praised the regions potential for small businesses to thrive. He said: With a reputation as the garden of England Kents marketing potential is massive Fudge producer Mr Evans said there was hope for businesses despite the decline of the high street. He said: Its tough. High street rent is just too expensive to be worth it at the moment. However, what Ive found is that people still buy comfort food in a recession. Three things are certain in life: People will always be born; people will always die; and people will always eat sweets.
insurance levy on businesses, and how this is hindering their chances of moving onto the highstreet. Generally speaking, however, Thursday featured some of the more fortunate small business stories in the region and the country. Forced closures of businesses are now a frequent, almost expected occurrence. In this country it is no longer news when an age old, family-led shop shuts its doors for the last time. Medway and Kent councillors must continue to support reachable businesses, and they must expand on their scope. More must be done for those deserving businesses that are currently, for whatever reason, without the support they deserve. These business owners will tell you they take pride in the fact they are based in Kent. Mr Balls himself said that there was something about a product made in Kent which usually means quality. On that Ed and I are in agreement. Everything must be done to ensure it stays that way.
CITY & FINANCE page 15
Award-winning journalist on Hornby under the economic crisis and the new chairman future of business journalism
HORNBY, the company responsible for bringing us model trains for nearly a century, is today under new leadership.
Roger Canham, 45, has taken up the role alongside his current
We couldnt have seen the crash coming
Council denies responsibility for horse burgers

MEDWAY Council has distanced itself from any involvement in the horse meat scandal that has gripped many beef suppliers across the country.
Speaking at a meeting of regeneration, community and culture last night Cllr Mike OBrien assured colleagues food safety is taken very seriously. All the right checks were done at this end. Our officers go out on regular exercises and visiting local restaurants, takeaways and pubs advising and closing
down premises if necessary Cllr OBrien said. The news comes as Burger King announced they are no longer sourcing food from the Irish Supplier APB Food group that had been linked to horse meat in burgers. Traces of horse and pig DNA were found in the burgers which had been on sale in Tesco, Iceland, Aldi and Lidl. Silvercrest, a subsidiary of APB Food Group, has said they had never traded in horse products and are now conducting an investigating into the incident.
Administration numbers grow

THE number of companies that are filing for administration has increased by nearly 10 per cent.
Figures show 3,834 companies went into liquidation, 276 into
chairmanship of Phoenix Asset Management, Hornbys second largest shareholder. Hornby has defended their new chairman, saying that it is entirely reasonable for major shareholders to want someone they trust on the board.
Trevor Sturgess (second left) with his contribution to journalism award media for not spotting that in really changed enough, there are By Clarissa Place and advance when people with huge still too many bonuses and too Chris Walker knowledge didnt spot it. many people being paid too much
THE 2008 economic crash is regarded by many as a journalistic failure. Why had it not been predicted by experts and how does a business reporter operate in a financial environment which is still struggling after such a massive event?
Mr Sturgess was speaking after being presented with the contribution for journalism award last week at the Kent Media Awards and goes by the principle, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. The crash came as a surprise as in 2008. House prices were rising, money was easy to come by and banks were happy to grant huge mortgages. Mr Sturgess says there was no clear evidence but by looking to the past the troubles could have been predicted. He said: If you look back at the great crash of the late 20s early 30s, I suppose there were lessons there that all good things have to come to an end. Since the crash banks have become distrusted and unpopular as scandal after scandal has been revealed despite legislation being in place. In the last year the Libor and PPI have left banks paying heavy fines, but it is something Mr Sturgess cannot see changing soon. He said: That culture hasnt in the city, which is out of kilter with other people who are not getting pay rises or very minimal pay rises. Skeletons will always emerge from the closet. Like at the moment with the low tax regimes with placed like Amazon and Starbucks, something else the government didnt seem to foresee. I dont think you can ever wipe all these things out, and say it will never happen again. For the future business journalist this is an exciting time, termed by Mr Sturgess as the new rock n roll. He cited Robert Peston as an example of a great business journalist. New recruits will be expected to learn from the past by being sceptical about good news and not believing the spin. He said: If youre a good business journalist youve got to be on the ball, be able to network in high places, to get the stories and not have the wool pulled over your eyes.
Im in says Dragon Jones as he buys Jessops
receiverships and 151 entered into company voluntary arrangements. Companies such as giants HMV, Comet, Jessops and Blockbusters have already collapsed at the start of the year.
Trevor Sturgess has been the business reporter for the Kent Messneger group for more than 25 years and has his own views on the crash. Its not just a journalistic failure, its a failure of financial experts he said. You need the gift of foresight, you need to be a specialist in that field. I am not sure how many there were. I think some experts who were doing nothing else but looking at global financial situations such as Lehman brothers, they might well have seen something, but it wasnt widely known. I dont think you can blame the
Rob Hunt, speaking for administration company PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) said: We can confirm that we have sold the brand and certain other assets to a number of buyers including entrepreneur Peter Jones CBE. The sale was announced by PwC last night. Jones has been part of the TV show dragons den since 2005, after he made his money in mobile phones. He received a CBE
PETER Jones, best known for his role on Dragons Den, is part of a group that has bought camera retailer Jessops.
in 2009. Jones bought the Jessops brand, and will run it as an online retailer, but not reopen any of the 187 stores. The purchase is believed to include leftover stock and intellectual property, such as trademarks and patents. Jessops closed all of its branches earlier this month after going into administration following poor Christmas sales. The decline in sales is blamed on the increase of online shopping and has left 1,500 people without work. The collapse of the retailer was followed by household names HMV and Blockbuster also going into administration.
Council to tackle crack cocaine of gambling

THE highly addictive nature of betting machines in bookmakers has forced Medway council to meet with the Gambling Commission to try and tackle the problem.
CITY & FINANCE Page 16
NY Mayor Dies at 88
FORMER New York Mayor ED Koch has died aged 88. Mr Koch became mayor in 1978 and served three terms, cleaning up the graffiti and crime ridden streets of New York and bringing the city back from the brink of bankruptcy in the 1980s. He continued to practise law, hosted his own chat show and was a prominent figure within the city.
By Jack Reed
Voluntary code proposed in meeting to protect addicts from financial issues
Rise in UK output
January saw a marginal rise within British manufacturing, a survey has revealed. However, exports have fallen. The eurozone economic crisis has struck Britain hard again this month as exports to the continent fell for the thirteenth month in a row. Globally it appears Chinas industry has remained stagnant whilst Europe continues to see a drop in production.
Medway Council wants a voluntary code to reduce the impact of what has been called the crack cocaine of gambling. The council is calling upon local licensed gaming premises such as betting shops, bingo halls and amusement arcades, to draw up a voluntary code on gambling. The fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) offer a variety of different electronic games for punters to play; the most popular being roulette. There are around 30 of these machines across Medway. Councillor Mike OBrien, portfolio holder for community safety said: We are very concerned that these highly addictive machines can leave local residents in serious financial trouble very quickly. According to GamCare, an institution providing support for gambling addicts, the financial losses of a problem gambler addicted to FOBTs can be up to 8000 a year. This means an 18 year old addict who plays for their entire life could lose 500,000. Medway council has said the code we will be put in place to protect their most vulnerable residents. People using the machines refused to comment but other local punters have made their views
Barclays boss rejects bonus

Barclays, Anthony Jenkins will give up his estimated 1million bonus his year. As Barclays have suffered over the past year over mis-selling scandals and other issues, Mr Jenkins declined to accept the bonus as he felt it would not be in keeping with the success of the bank. Other banks, such as RBS, are setting aside up to 250million for this years bonuses.
Fixed odds betting terminals bring in 70% of bookies profts: Guardian

about FOBTs quite clear. Chris, 58, spends most mornings betting on horses in William hill in Gillingham and he said that: I dont go near them (FOBTs). You will never be up over the course of a week. You may win 500 one day and that can draw you in. Since they came in five or six years ago they have caused some mega aggravation. Gavin, 29, a frequent user of Betfred in Gillingham said: They will swallow your money. I dont mind them being there at all. At the end of the day if people are stupid enough to lose big it is their own fault. Earlier this month the government ruled out a crackdown on these machines. Culture minister Hugh Robertson said that there was little evidence the machines caused serious problems and the Association of British Bookmakers said that most people gamble safely and responsibly. Sophie Carroll, 18, who works in a Paddy Power in Maidstone said: We usually take anything between 2000-5000 on the machines a day, which is one of the lowest amounts within the district, and in busier shops they tend to take between 4,0008000 in machines a day. Paddy Power as a company makes up a staggering 70% of their profits through betting machines. Miss Carroll highlights how addictive the machines can be: The majority of the money put into the machines are from regular customers who are usually in for a couple of hours most days. If you need help with gambling problems you can visit www.gamcare.org.uk or contact your local gamblers anonymous group.
Taxes are becoming less Taxing

Less people have missed the deadline for filling in their self assessment tax form this year. Around 730,000 people missed the deadline which is down from 850,000 last year.
Traditional pub culture faces uncertain future, warns landlord

By Clarissa Place
BRITISH people are falling out of love with the traditional pub, a Michelin star landlord has warned. Phil Harris, 53, runs the Whitstable gastro-pub The Sportsman at Seasalter with his brother Stephen, 50, and they are concerned about the drop in local custom. Since receiving the Michelin star award in 2008, The Sportsman has provided for a number of overseas customers while the Kentish clientele has diminished. Customers come from 20 miles away, you find more Belgians in a week than people from Whitstable said Mr Harris. The Sportsman has bucked the trend and performed well in the recession. Mr Harris agrees the catering business has been hit hard with rising costs for travel and produce. He feels childish to complain but for many, it ends with publican houses closing. Mr Harris said: Were throwing our pub culture away and dumping it like it doesnt matter. The cheap supermarket prices are proving costly for landlords. On average a publican works 75 hours a week, earning 8,000 a year, roughly 2.30 an hour. He said: You were surrounded by people helping you out, teaching you how to socialise and drink and that is how we all learnt to be adults. That is how you knew what
Stephen Harris, Chef
was going on, about the local community, what happens if you take that away? Supermarkets now sell alcohol at cheap prices meaning the younger generations are drinking at home rather than the local. The Sportsman opened in 1999 and has thrived in 13 years through the support of local patronage The Seasalter came second in a nationwide competition this year.
America gripped by Harbough-bowl fever

By Ben Wright
Sunday night will see John Harbaugh, the coach of the Baltimore Ravens, face his brother, Jim, the coach of the San Francisco 49ers, at Superbowl XLVII (47)
It is a first in the history of the sport and gives the competition an extra edge. It will be played out of the Mercedes-Benz stadium in New Orleans, for a record tenth time. After both teams fell at the last hurdle in their respective conferences last year, they have returned and made good on a promise to come back bigger and better. Much has already been made of the brothers competitive spirit and it being an all family affair, but neither has given much away. John Harbaugh is 15 months older and is far more open than his younger counterpart: When we were in the backyard [as children], we did go against each other one-on-one in the Super Bowl - but we were playing, we werent coaching! I think we always thought wed be playing in one. Jims response about whether he was worried his brother could predict how he would manage the 49ers was merely: I am worried about a lot of things but I havent noticed he has any clairvoyant powers. Superbowl 47 is set to be an exciting affair, with both teams favouring offensive styles of deep running. The Ravens gangly quarterback Joe Flacco throws deep and hard, but doesnt have the frame to rush effectively. In contrast Colin Kaepernick, the 49ers athletic younger quarterback, possesses a cannon on his right shoulder, yet plays a shorter game and can make running yards himself. The 49ers have shown a more controlled offence throughout the season, whereas their opponents like to run, run and run. But Baltimore Ravens have their talismanic linebacker Ray Lewis spurring them on, who will end his career after seventeen years with the Ravens. Lewis spoke of how he wants his legacy to be inspiring the team he will leave behind: Your greatest leaders are also your greatest servants, and thats what this team is all about. My whole legacy from day one has been about grabbing someone and taking them to the next level. This years Superbowls halftime show will be performed by singersongwriter-actor Beyonc who will try to silence critics after she admitted to lip-syncing during the President Obamas recent inauguration.
Superbowl XLVII
Page 17
There was one wicket between Sri Lanka and England as the Asian side go on to produce a shock defeat for the English women.
England lose in World Cup opener
Georgia Elwiss bowled to Dilari Manodara hitting the last ball for six, leaving England without an opening win in the group table. Star player Sarah Taylor did not feature due to a hamstring injury, leaving bowlers Jenny Gunn, Arran Brindle and Georgia Elwiss with too much of a task on their hands. England captain Charlotte Edwards told the BBC: Were obviously disappointed, but what a game of cricket. Congratulations to Sri Lanka, but today we just werent good enough. We were happy with 238
World of sport
Golf
from the position were in. There were a few misfields that really cost us but you cant take away what a great effort it was by Sri Lanka. She added: That hitting towards the end was the difference, but weve got to pick ourselves up and come back hard on Sunday. The defending champions started slowly with 78-3 after the first 20 overs, while Sri Lanka chose to bat second, posting an impressive 107-1 after 25 overs. Sri Lanka captain Shashikala Siriwardene said: Its a dream come true, I think weve been waiting for this for 16 years. We did our homework and our bowlers did really well until the 40th over. England will now go on to play India in two days time.
ADVERT
Phil Mickelson leads the Phoenix Open while just missing out on breaking a PGA Tour record. Mickelson produced an 11 under par 60 in the first round, only needing a birdie to equal the all-time record. The three-time Masters champion missed out on joining the likes of 2001 Open champion David Duval in the exclusive PGA Tour club on 59. Ferrari admits that they need to make a strong start to the season as they unveil their new Formula 1 car. Their 2012 campaign led by Fernando Alonso missed out on the championship title when hindered by a poor start in the first stages of the season, finding themselves 1.5 seconds off the pace.
Alonso said that he will not expect a repeat of last season, when seven different drivers won the first seven races. But Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali insists: The key objective we have is of immediately delivering a competitive car. The world number two, Judd Trump, made a quick exit in the German Masters when he was knocked out by the world number 37 Anthony Hamilton. The game was 5-4 in the final frame as Trump continues a poor run of form following on from another stunning exit made in the UK Championships. Wednesday also saw John Higgins, world number three, fall short in the first round to Peter Lines.
Snooker
Formula One
Page 18
Old enemies prepare to do battle once again

By Ben Wright
30 years without victory, 30 years of misery and 30 years of travelling to South West London without success is a record which Scotland will be itching to erase.
England face the old foes at Twickenham tomorrow, confident that they have restored the fortress status to HQ after beating the world champions, the All Blacks, there only two months ago. Stuart Lancaster has had to re-arrange his midfield since that famous victory, replacing the injured Manu Tuilagi with Gloucester debutant Billy Twelvetrees. Manu is a big loss said the England coach, he was outstanding against New Zealand. But he missed the first two games of last years Six Nations because of a hamstring and its an opportunity for someone else. Tuilagi cemented his place in the squad with his battering ram style of play, creating two tries and scoring one himself against
Victorious: Robshaw with the Calcutta Cup last year
RBS Six Nations
Wales will need to be at their best to deal with Irish dark horses
New Zealand. This combined with Owen Farrells and Freddie Burns accurate kicking gave produced Englands highest winning margin against the All Blacks, 38-21. Twelvetrees, however, is no wilting flower in defence. The 24 year-old possesses a running and kicking game which is faster and more adept than the young Samoans. The Gloucester man has im-
pressed already this season, having made the switch from rivals Leicester, and advancing from the Saxons to get his first start in the Calcutta Cup. Whilst the England squad stays much the same, Scotland make the trip South with promises of redemption following an abysmal autumn, after an embarrassing defeat to Southern Hemisphere minnows Tonga. Jonnie Beattie will be hoping to kick-start Scotlands Six Nations campaign with a long awaited victory, if not just to settle a Scottish bone of contention, but also a personal one. His father, John Beattie, was playing numbereight when Scotland recorded that 12-22 victory against England 30 years ago. The Montpellier forward has seen resurgence in form and was surprised to get the call up from interim manager Scott Johnson. Johnson said: Ive been impressed by what Ive seen of Johnnie Beattie. He brings dynamism to our back row and were looking for him to bring that to bear on Saturday. Kellock Brown starts as captain
tomorrow and Kiwi-born Sean Maitland will make his first start in a squad re-shuffle by interim manager Scott Johnson. Ive spoken about the importance of this competition, the history and tradition of it, and you couldnt get a more mouthwatering opening than the game between international rugbys oldest foes, said Johnson. Lancaster is sticking with what has worked for him this autumn, helped by Lions coaches Rowntree and Farrell. It puts England up there with France as joint favourites for the tournament. Without Tuilagi, Lancaster will be relying on Twelvetrees. This will be the test that he has been waiting so long for where he must prove himself on the international stage. We need to make sure we can still break the gain line and have physical defenders. Weve got to have the ability to get across the gain line and defend. We cant wait to get back to Twickenham and hopefully experience the same atmosphere as the autumn when the crowd was superb.
For all of Wales confidence and the bragging rights retained from last years Grand Slam win, they are on perilously thin ice.
Ireland are the dark horses of the tournament, patchy throughout the autumn internationals, they will be given a confidence boost in the form of the returning Brian ODriscoll and the leadership provided by Jamie Heaslip and Johnny Sexton. Wales have too little experience within their pack and aside from Adam Jones in the midfield the squad are left wanting for any talent in the backline. In contrast, Ireland have the explosive Zebo, the enigmatic ODriscoll and an attitude within their camp that they, most of all, need to prove themselves as potential summer Lions. The opener of this years tournament could end in upset for Wales, but the daunting Millennium Stadium is a place where the Welsh dragons will always play to the last blow of the whistle. Underdogs Italy will host France on Sunday in the last match of the opening round.
ADVERT
Deadline day fails to provide dramatic end to transfer window

By Sam Thompson
With Kieran Gibbs likely to be out for up to a month, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger completed the purchase of Malaga left back Nacho Monreal for a fee believed to be slightly under 10m.
The 26-year-old made 54 appearances for Malaga after leaving Osasuna in 2011 and has won seven caps for the Spanish national side. The length of the contract is believed to be fourand-a-half-years. In all, there were 76 deals completed yesterday, unsurprisingly making it the busiest day of the window. One of the longer running transfer stories this month involved Swansea City striker Danny Graham. But yesterday he finally got his long-awaited move back up north, in a 5m switch to Sunderland, signing a three-anda-half-year contract. Harry Redknapp was pleased to announce the purchase of defender Chris Samba from Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala. The 28-year-old defenders move will cost the Loftus Road club 12.5m and the four-and-a-half-year deal is believed to worth 100,000 including bonuses and add-ons. QPR also announced the capture of Jermaine Jenas on an 18-month deal for an undisclosed fee from Tottenham Hotspur. Perhaps the best bargain from deadline day was Stoke Citys purchase of 19-year-old goalkeeper Jack Butland. Despite being linked with the likes of Chelsea and both Manchester clubs, Tony Pulis has signed the highly promising goalkeeper for just 3.5m from financially troubled Birmingham City. Stoke have subsequently agreed to loan back Butland for the rest of the season to Birmingham so that he can continue his development in the Championship, before competing with Asmir Begovic for the number one shirt at the start of next season. Norwich City announced the signing of striker Lucciano Bechio from Leeds. The Argentine has scored 86 goals in over 200 appearances for the Yorkshire club and as part of the deal, former non-league striker Steve Morison has moved in the other direction. Despite interest from the likes of Chelsea, Aston Villa and Manchester City, Everton won the race to sign highly rated defender Jonn Stones. The former Barnsley player joins the Toffees on a fiveand-a-half-year deal for a fee believed to be 3m. Evertons Magaye Gueye, a former France under-21 international, has also agreed to join French side Clockwise from Stade Brest on right to left; loan for the re- Jermaine Jenas, mainder of the Nacho Monreal and Jack Butseason. Brighton secured the loan signing of Stoke Citys Matthew Upson until the end of the season. The centre back has been capped 21 times by England, but has only made one Premier League start for Stoke this season, scoring in a 3-3 draw with Southampton. Another former England player, Stephen Warnock, joined a Championship outfit yesterday as
Deadline Day 2013
Page 19
#deadlineday
Reactions from footballers and celebrities on deadline day: Monreal is a good signing. But he cant play against Bayern, and nor can Gibbs. So it will be Santos at LB, and that means were out. Piers Morgan David Beckham is donating his PSG salary to a Parisian charity. As beautifully delivered as one of his crosses. Gary Lineker Does Odemwingie need a place to stay tonight? Alex Oxlade Chamberlain Cant wait for Becks to do a pressa in Franglish! Watch this space. Great exposure for Ligue 1. #welcome Joey Barton Right then, time to eat all night while watching #deadlineday! Michael Owen Will Odemwingie ever live this down? Sign Me Maybe Hey, I just drove here. And this is crazy. Im in your car park. So sign me maybe Jake Humphrey
By Sam Thompson
Paris welcomes Becks

in Milans fabled fitness lab, Milanello, he was described during a loan spell with the Italian giants in 2009, as one of the fittest footballers they have ever seen. I can run around, he confirmed. Ive not lost any of my pace because, to be honest, Ive not had a lot of pace during my career. Beckham, who made a record 115 outfield appearances for England, was part of the Manchester United side that famously won the treble in 1999. After leaving Old Trafford in 2003, he joined Real Madrid before agreeing a move to the MLS and LA Galaxy in January 2007, where he spent five-and-a-half years. The key line from the conference was Beckhams intentions with his new pay packet. One of the reasons I wanted to come to Paris was we decided on something quite unique, said PSGs new number 32. I wont receive any salary. My salary will go to a local childrens charity. Thats one of the things were excited and proud to do. Its something exciting and Im not sure its been done before. Beckham confirmed that his family would be based in London, whilst he would live in a hotel in the meantime, but he refused to rule out staying after this season. I dont know if this will be my last contract. People have been speculating about that for a number of years, but I continue to play and sign contracts. Ill be playing here short-term but Im proud to be part of an organisation that will grow and be one of the biggest powerhouses in Europe. One thing journalists were quick to pick up on was that Beckham would be the oldest player in Ligue Un, but he was more than happy to take it on the chin. To be in Paris and at a club like this, to be an elder statesman, feels great said Beckham, dressed in a grey suit and matching tie.
Aston Villa allowed the left back to move to Leeds United on a free transfer. Elsewhere QPRs midfielder Alejandro Faurlin has moved to Palermo on loan, Tottenhams goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes has joined German club Hoffenheim until the end of the season and Paul Scharner has rejoined Wigan on loan from Hamburg.
AFTER months of speculation, David Beckham has finally found a new home, and on the streets of Paris no less.
The 37-year-old midfielder confirmed yesterday at a press conference, that he has joined Paris Saint Germain, the richest club in France, until the end of the season. I am very lucky, admits the former England captain. Im 37 years old and I got a lot of offers, more offers now than I have had in my career. I chose PSG because I can see what the club is trying to do and what players are coming in. Wherever Ive played, whatever team Ive played for, Im always 150 per cent committed. I dont expect to come into this team and play in every single game. I dont expect to start. I have to work for that. Fitness shouldnt be an issue for Beckham having spent time
And if I can give any advice to any of the players in the league then great. No matter whatever my age, I still feel 21 most days. So Im very happy. Thank you for letting me be the oldest in the league.
Priestfield welcomes Sky Sports cameras for Gills game

Gillinghams home game with struggling Wycombe Wanderers will be live on Sky Sports 1 on Monday.
Luckily for manager Martin Allen, he has a fully fit squad to choose from, making his side clear favourites to take all three points and stay on top of League Two. Bradley Dack is available following his one month loan spell at Braintree and new loan signing Anton Robinson has gone straight into the squad. Allen is in a position to name an unchanged team from the side that beat Northampton 2-0 at home on Tuesday evening. Wycombe come to the Priestfield 18th in the table having picked up just 36 points from their 28 league games this season. Due to postponements, this is their first outing since a 1-0 home victory over Dagenham & Redbridge in the middle of January.
Bonjour: Beckham will wear the number 32 shirt at PSG
ODEMWINGIE SHUNNED BY WEST BROM

Tried to force a transfer to QPR Says he has no long-term future West Brom say he cant train until next week
By Sam Thompson
WEST BROM striker Peter Odemwingie has been told he will not train with his team mates until next week.
Peace accused his striker of acting unprofessionally over his attempt to open talks without the clubs permission. The striker admitted to being a little unproffessional but defended himself by claiming the circumstances were very similar to when he left Lokomotiv Moscow in 2010 to join West Brom for 2.5m. I came to this club [West Brom] in a wholly unprofessional way. I wasnt given any written permission by Lokomotiv Moscow but I arrived at this club. I did a medical, I dont think everything went so professional when I arrived, he said. The striker puts his actions last night down to a misunderstanding. Im saying that these things dont matter so much when adults are dealing with each other. I think there was a misunderstanding somewhere because I could have held my goodbyes to the [West Brom] players if I was told it is not going to happen. Odemwingie says he believed had consent from West Brom to complete his move to the London club, but conceded he did not have written permission. They [West Brom] didnt give me written permission, but you know we are in England and when youre gentlemen you understand each other so easily. In my opinion, everything was done right and at the last moment, I dont know what really happened, but I think other people can answer this question as well. We were almost there, the club were angry that I went there and it was on TV. They werent angry that I went there, but when it
All the reaction to Deadline Day in the transfer window p19
England women lose dramatic Cricket World Cup opener p17
Six Nations Rugby preview with Ben Wright p18
Unprofessional: what next for Odemwingie?

came up on TV thats when they said that this deal is off and why did I do that? So I understand the club to be honest, it was a bit unprofessional but we all know our positions and we were almost there. I understand I have to honour any contract but the club know I have wanted to leave for some time now. The former Lille striker has scored 30 times in 80 Premier League appearances, including a hat-trick against Albions rivals Wolves. QPR manager Harry Redknapp said he felt sorry for the situation Odemwingie found himself in. The whole thing was a bit of a mess. I felt genuinely sorry for him. I think there was a mistake. He travelled down and I think he thought the deal was done and that is why he turned up.
Last night the 31-year-old tried to force a move to QPR on transfer deadline day but was unsuccessful. The Nigerian international arrived at Loftus Road despite the two sides not agreeing a transfer fee, meaning he was not free to discuss personal terms. Despite receiving negative reactions on social media sites, Odemwingie says he regrets travelling to London, but still insists he has no long-term future at The Hawthorns. Baggies chairman Jeremy
Superbowl XLVII preview p17

Medway Mail

Caricato da

Informazioni sul documento

Copyright

Formati disponibili

Condividi questo documento

Condividi o incorpora il documento

Opzioni di condivisione

Hai trovato utile questo documento?

Questo contenuto è inappropriato?

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

Medway Mail

Caricato da

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

Medway Mail

Friday, February 1, 2013 50p

TOP KENT COP SLAMS FAST TRACK PLANS

Meet Luke Jackson folk sensation

Chief Superintendent Neil Jerome of Medway Police

4,000 iPads in Newton Scam

Olympic fraud trio

Phone hack cop sent to jail for 15 months

Medway Mail, Friday February 1, 2013

Teenage hacker in court

Latest botched cosmetic surgeries leave patients disfigured

Bill calling for minimum standards in cosmetic surgery gains momentum

easyJet creates 330 new jobs

Medway Mail, Friday, February 1, 2013

Shard opening brings surprise engagement

Engagement had been planned for months

Feeling on top of the world

Action week prompted by the homeless

The Medway Mail, Friday, February 1, 2013

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

Tory councillor says party plans are wrong

The Medway Mail, Friday, March February 1, 2013

Bridge plans labelled as mirage in desert

Darnley Arches was closed over Christmas

Anarchist walks free

A staggering 84% of commuters were happy

Young smokers are a target for Kent council

Medway Mail Friday, March February 1, 2013

Parents furious at school expansion

A staggering one in eight 15 year olds in Kent smoke regularly

Airport set to wreck 23,000 lives in the Hoo Peninsula

An info-graphic to show the Hoo Peninsula

The Medway Mail, Friday, March February 1, 2013

Medway looks back on flooding anniversary

A child saves a doll from floods in Whitstable

A herd of cattle gathers at an abandoned farm on a hill in Foulness

Medway Mail, Friday, February 1, 2013

Cameron to chair peace meeting with Pakistan and Afghanistan

Defence: Hector Timerman of the Argentine govt

NY Times: China have hacked our computers for over 4 months

What the UK has to offer

No legal aid for the Bali grandma

Talks: David Cameron will host the talks in London

Medway Mail, Friday, February 1, 2013

Fatal explosion at the US embassy in Ankara

Cameron promises support for renewed millennium goals

Chaos ensued at the US Embassy in Turkey after the suicide attack

Lockerbie police to go to Libya

Continuing search for survivors after fiery inferno in Mexico city

Emergency landing after pilot faints

Club owner tries to kill himself

How safe are you from Internet sexploitation?

The Medway Mail, Friday, February 1, 2013

Big spending clubs in big spending league

LGBT history month events at Kent Union

The young face of Folk

The Medway Mail, Friday, February 1, 2013

LUKE Jackson is an acoustic performer with as much power as a rock star.

The Medway Mail, Friday, March February 1, 2013

The Medway Mail, Friday, March February 1, 2013

Dear Mr President heres your Oscar

Bill Murray in Hyde Park on Hudson

Balls: Why I would cut VAT on Monday

The Medway Mail, Friday, February 1, 2013