Cheers! Prince praised after visiting village hit by flooding
PRINCE Charles visited flood-hit families yesterday and was told that many will not be able to return to their homes until next Christmas.
Around 1,000 homes and businesses in Fishlake, South Yorkshire, were hit by devastating floods last month. Yet grateful residents still shouted “thank you for coming” as the Prince walked along their once submerged streets.
One family told Charles that they had spent three days and three nights trapped upstairs in their water-swamped home.
Grant, 51, and Samantha Berry, 53, said they are now living in a caravan after their home was surrounded by 4ft of water when the River Don burst its banks on November 8.
The couple, who had no phone signal, lived on a diet of crisps, biscuits and fizzy water, lighting candles when the electrics went out.
Mr Berry said: “It was too deep to get out. Three days later we were able to wade out to the church.”
Charles spent two hours in the village chatting to locals lining the streets, and looked inside some of the badly damaged homes.
He was also introduced to emergency workers, soldiers drafted in to help the village and farmers struggling to survive.
Many of the villagers gathered outside the Old Butchers cafe which owners Louise and Claire Holling turned into a relief centre during the worst of the flooding.
As he left, Charles told crowds: “I hope you’ve been in and tried those cakes. They’re amazing those two, aren’t they?”
It has since emerged that Charles has donated to flood funds in South Yorkshire and Derbyshire, matched by the Duke of Westminster.
The Prince also met Angie and
Scott Godfrey, who run the Hare & Hounds pub, which gave shelter to stricken residents and sent out hot meals on boats.
Mr Godfrey said to Charles outside the pub: “We were just going to get you a pint when you got here.
Heartbreaking
“You might have needed one by this time.” The Prince replied, “I do”, and went in for a swig of beer.
Charles also chatted to volunteers in St Cuthbert’s Church, which is continuing to act as a hub for donations for those hit by the flooding. Mum-of-two Claire May, 45, said: “This is a massive thing, raising the profile of villages that had been forgotten. It is especially good of him to come so close to Christmas.”
Farmer Jane Southwell, 51, was also grateful for the royal visit. Her mum and dad, Bill and Maureen Raper, aged 81 and 80, had their bungalow destroyed in the floods.
She said: “My mum said to me, ‘I’ve no home’. It’s heartbreaking for them. But she’s living with us now.We have turned the downstairs sitting room into a bedroom. She’ll watch Prince Charles from there. They lost furniture they’ve had for 60 years – one cabinet her uncle bought her for a wedding present.”
Jane and husband Alan used their tractor to help rescue stricken residents. They recalled that one man they found was visibly shaken and frightened after being trapped at home for four days with no food.
“It’s been a terrible business and we’ve had sleepless nights because of the trauma of it all,” Jane said.
Yesterday many houses had caravans and skips in their drives as the clean-up continues.