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14 Feb 2014

UK storms: the heroes of the floods

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We’ve heard about the sandbag stealers and the communities abandoned. But what about the stars of the storm? Channel 4 News lifts the lid on the misery and seeks out the heroes of the floods.

The ‘iron lady’ of Wraysbury

The most high profile hero of the floods has to be Su Burrows, a resident volunteer in Wraysbury on the banks of the Thames, who took on Defence Secretary Philip Hammond during a live television interview.

Kitted out in a fluorescent yellow jacket, the 38-year-old gave Mr Hammond a piece of her mind: “We need the army, we said that yesterday. You don’t take us seriously,” she told him, in a heartfelt plea for help. “What will it take for you to understand we are seriously in need?”

Within hours of her intervention, which was replayed across all TV stations and online, soldiers were in town, along with an air ambulance helicopter and an RSPCA crew – and it may have been a coincidence, but the prime minister had also cancelled his trip to the Middle East.

The manager at Waitrose in Newbury phoned me back and said; ‘we’re loading the van for your now’ Tony Stretton, Newbury

The so-called “iron lady of Wraysbury” also had an impact further afield. Another resident volunteer in Surrey, Jo Perandin, credited Ms Burrows for starting up a volunteer group in Egham, Surrey.

“I thought that she was really fighting for her community,” said Ms Perandin. “People here wanted to help but they didn’t know how… So we set up the Thames Flood – Surrey/Middlesex/Berkshire (Facebook) page, with administrators all over, finding out what was being offered and what was needed.”

And former deputy prime minister John Prescott also waded in to give Ms Burrows his stamp of approval:

‘People needed a gee up’

Further west in Newbury, Berkshire, another local hero emerged in the form of town councillor Tony Stretton (right). Not only has he taken a week off work to offer round the clock help to residents, but he convinced the local Waitrose to deliver supplies to local residents and volunteers in the area.

“I felt that people needed to be given a gee up,” Mr Stretton told Channel 4 News. “I was talking to my wife, and she suggested it. I phoned Waitrose and said, ‘we need some help’. The manager at Waitrose in Newbury phoned me back and said, ‘We’re loading the van for your now’.”

He joined a delivery van to drop off everything from biscuits and cakes, to bottles of water, throughout the main flood-hit areas – much to the delight of the locals: “If you could see their faces – they were just shocked,” Mr Stretton added.

But he has also been crucial to coordinating more practical help. Thanks to his efforts, troops have arrived to help in the village – a rifles regiment from Salisbury – along with a fire brigade all the way from West Yorkshire.

He’s responsible for keeping Worcester open for business – Andy Atkinson

On Thursday night, he also helped build a flood defence wall along the River Lambourne to protect Lambourne Court, which includes a residential old people’s home.

Local MP, Richard Benyon, paid tribute to the councillor, who is a self-employed wall and roof tiler and has lost at least a week’s worth of earnings. “I found him yesterday – he’d arranged the pumping out of flooded water, and was giving reassurance to residents,” he told Channel 4 News. “He was there, having not had much sleep, and he’s been up all hours… I think they’re all very grateful.”

Read more: abandoned in Surrey – how one flooded street is coping

‘It keeps you out of the pub’

Mechanic John Lee, from Shepperton, Surrey, has been busy helping with evacuations, giving lifts, and picking up prescriptions or essential supplies for stranded residents in his area.

When he realised he wouldn’t be able to work, Mr Lee posted his contact details on Facebook advising anyone in need to get in touch. He says the flooding in his area is the worst he remembers.

And he is typically modest about the crucial service he’s providing, passing off any praise with a nonchalent shrug. “It’s just this (car) can get through it, and these people can’t move. So yeah – I’ll go and get medicine,” he told Channel 4 News. “I ain’t got a problem with that. It keeps you out of the pub.”

‘Superdave’ to the rescue

The Environment Agency (EA) has faced heavy criticism for its failure to prevent the worst effects of the floods. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles caused a huge political row on Sunday when he declared that the government should not have followed the agency’s advice – much to EA Chairman Lord Smith’s annoyance.

Some EA officials have also come under attack on the ground. In Wraysbury, the EA said staff were staying away due to “hostility” from residents.

But in Worcester, there has been an outpouring of affection for Dave Throup, EA manager for Herefordshire and Worcestershire. A twitter fan club was set up at @DaveThoupFanClub in the midst of the weather chaos, and it has over 1,400 followers.

The man behind the account, Ross-on-Wye councillor Andy Atkinson, said Mr Thoup has been “invaluable” by coordinating all the traffic diversions, including setting up replacement buses, as well as helping with flood defences.

“He’s responsible for keeping Worcester open for business,” Mr Atkinson told Channel 4 News. “The world’s changed a bit, and the fact that’s he adapted – he’s constantly on Twitter – means we can pass that information along.”

Mr Throup has even been the object of some Valentine’s Day-themed poetry – proof if it were needed, of the special place he holds in the heart of Worcestershire.

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