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14/01/2013

David Whiteley investigates why war veterans are being denied the right to receive medals. Plus, a look at the case for paying to keep cows in East Anglian fields.

A veteran from Essex is one of hundreds of men in their eighties and nineties being denied the opportunity to receive medals for their participation in World War II. Fred Henley took part in the Arctic Convoys, described by Churchill as the 'most dangerous run of the war'. The Russians wrote to Fred and several hundred others from across the country awarding them a medal in gratitude, but the British Foreign office have said that they cannot be accepted.

The government recently relented over a medal awarded to the men by the UK, but is still refusing to allow the Russian honour. A former Russian ambassador says why he believes the government should back down.

Richard Daniel reports on the future for the East Anglian dairies. An economist from the University of Cranfield says farmers have no reason to ask for subsidies, even if it means we lose local milk. Richard, who grew up on a dairy farm, visits one small business in Suffolk that is managing to keep afloat, and finds out how cows are now being kept in giant industrial units in America.

It is almost a hundred years since a man from Kettering bought a patch of meadow land to build his dream - a 'park for the people'. Charles Wicksteed had revolutionary ideas about how important it was for ordinary, working-class children to have access to open space and play equipment. And his legacy was Britain's first play park - a park which still claims to be the biggest free playground in Europe. But did he really invent the first children's slide? Des Coleman investigates.

29 minutes

Last on

Mon 14 Jan 2013 19:30

Essex soldier denied Russian medal

Essex soldier denied Russian medal

A serviceman who sailed on convoys to Arctic Russia in World War II has been denied a campaign medal.

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Fred Henley, from Clacton, Essex, was to be awarded the Ushakov Medal by Russia but the offer was withdrawn after intervention by the UK Government.

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on the ±«Óãtv NewsÌýwebsite.

Wicksteed's 'park for the people'

Wicksteed's 'park for the people'

One hundred years ago a piece of Northamptonshire meadowland was bought by a local engineer to create a "park for the people".

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Initially planned as a model village, Charles Wicksteed's vision eventually evolved into what the owners claim to be the UK's first leisure park with children's play equipment.

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on the ±«Óãtv News website.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter David Whiteley
Reporter Richard Daniel
Series Editor Diana Hare
Reporter Des Coleman

Broadcast