Government tribute to local flood heroes

Published	5 October 2007

Floods Recovery Minister John Healey today announced Government plans to publicly recognise the tremendous efforts of local people in helping their communities during and in the aftermath of the flooding in June and July.

The Prime Minister recently described this as 'the character of Britain'. The landlady who took in 30 stranded strangers, gave them food, water and bedding; the power boat instructor who voluntarily worked non-stop for three days to rescue stranded motorists and families from rising water; and the person who helped a pharmacist deliver drugs to old peoples' homes and patients with life-threatening illnesses when roads had been closed all demonstrate the strength of this character.

He said that people who showed this kind of courage, ingenuity and real community spirit during those very difficult times deserve recognition and the country's thanks.

The Minister announced that Government will hold an official reception later in the year and he has invited local authorities and MPs in the worst affected areas to nominate their particular local heroes who made a difference in their communities. These heroes will be drawn partly from the public services who responded so magnificently but also from those individuals who helped their neighbours and friends, often while their own homes were also affected.

He also said he wants communities to use the right of the people's nomination to put their own 'Local Heroes' forward for the Queen's Honours.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said:

"I want to recognise and pay tribute to the magnificent people who helped their communities in response to the unprecedented floods earlier this year. As I travelled around the country to the affected areas I was struck by the heroic actions of ordinary people who were prepared to selflessly help and support others. I am proud to support this initiative to recognise our local flood heroes: to recognise those who represent the very best of Britain, people who inspire us all and who are amongst the thousands of Britain's everyday heroes."

John Healey, while on a visit to a pioneering flood alleviation project in Rotherham, said:

"This summer saw the worst flooding for almost 150 years. It affected large parts of the country causing devastation and misery for thousands of people. I want to praise the emergency services for their outstanding work in responding to this crisis.

"But I have also been impressed hearing how communities have pulled together. In each of the many visits I have made as Floods Recovery Minister I have come across examples of such outstanding acts of community commitment in every area I visited.

"For example in Tewkesbury I spoke with people handing out water, housing officers and a man from the barber shop who all told me stories of how the community is coming together at this difficult time. This included a police officer overseeing the distribution of bottled water while his own home was flooded. In other areas I heard about the school secretary who had been running the school office from her front room since July; the haulage boss who put his trucks at the council's disposal to distribute essential supplies to flood-hit homes; and the councillor who organised five mosques to collect £5000 for flooded homes in a white working class area.

"These are real examples of the strength, ingenuity and community spirit that, as the Prime Minister has said, make up the character of Britain and demonstrate the extraordinary resilience of ordinary British people. We should be proud of them and grateful for their efforts. It is only right that these Local Heroes are fully recognised. So I am announcing that Government will formally recognise their actions with an official reception at Lancaster House and I have invited local authorities and MPs in the worst affected areas to nominate their particular local heroes during and in the aftermath of the flooding. I also want communities to use the right of the people's nomination to put their own local heroes forward for Queen's Honours.

"I know that some areas still face difficulties and Government continues to work closely with local agencies to ensure everything possible is being done. As Floods Recovery Minister my top priority has been helping life in flood-hit communities get back to normal as quickly as possible. A huge amount has already achieved and I will ensure this continues over the coming months - because the Government is in this for the long haul."

There were so many people who showed such strength of character in the flooding in June and July. Just some examples are listed below.

Protecting life and property

A lock keeper who worked for three days protecting a community of 300 homes encircled by the Thames at Oxford - sandbagging, taking hourly water level readings, checking on boaters and managing the locks, sluices and weirs to lessen flood risk.

A qualified power boat instructor from the West Midlands worked non-stop for three days helping rescue stranded motorists and families from the rising waters throughout the county. On one of the nights he was involved in the rescue in Upton-upon-Severn of two teenagers, whose boat had capsized, and were struggling for their lives clinging onto a tree in the water. He helped rescue the teenagers out of the water, and wrapped them in insulating foil, and took them to safety where the ambulance was waiting to take them to hospital.

The Doncaster council tax clerk who finished work in the town hall and then helped out in the community rescue centre in Toll Bar.

Providing essential services

The primary school secretary in the East Midlands who arranged for the school to use the social club based in the local power station as temporary classrooms and has been running the school office from her front room since July.

The haulage firm boss who put his trucks as the disposal of Sheffield council to help distribute supplies to flood-hit homes.

An Environment Agency employee who helped a pharmacist deliver drugs to old peoples' homes and patients with life-threatening illnesses when roads had been closed because of flooding.

A Neighbourhood Manager in Toll Bar and his team worked tirelessly and regularly outside their normal hours to provide support, help, advice and a cup of tea to the people so badly affected by the floods. He has done everything from signposting people who need benefits advice to fixing sewerage pipes on mobile homes.

The West Midlands milkman who, along with his wife, continued to deliver much needed milk to residents in flood hit areas.

Emergency services

A group of police officers and the fire service who battled to save a 15 year old girl from rising water in Cheltenham. Had she fallen in she would certainly have been swept away. She had climbed into the branches of a tree to avoid the water, which was rising rapidly - police officers took apart goal posts to try and reach the girl who was then winched to safety by the fire service.

The police officer overseeing the distribution of bottled water to residents in Tewkesbury while his own home was flooded.

Community spirit

The landlady and her family and staff at an Inn in the West Midlands who took in and fed 30 stranded people. Even though some people did not have enough money to buy a meal she still ensured everyone was given food and drink, and found bedding, blankets and places to sleep for everyone. They even put on a disco and magic show to keep people entertained.

A 15 year old boy in Gloucestershire who wanted to help those who had to leave their homes. He gave up his Sunday to hand out cups of tea to people in a community centre in Heywood and chatted to the older evacuees to keep them company for 7.5 hours.

The Rotherham councillor who organised five mosques and an Asian taxi firm to collect over £5000 for flooded homes in a white working class area.

Notes to Editors

1. As part of an ongoing series of flood recovery visits John Healey was today visiting the site of a pioneering flood alleviation scheme and urban wetland nature park in Rotherham.

2. As part of Rotherham's economic regeneration, a large area near to the Rive Don is gradually being redeveloped, placing the town at the heart of its renaissance and at the centre of a major social and economic regeneration programme. To enable this to happen a £14million flood alleviation scheme has been put in place along the river for the first phase of the works. This is a partnership scheme led by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council together with the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Forward and the Wildlife Trust for Sheffield and Rotherham.

3. For further information about this project please contact:Clark Herron and Alison Hall, Communications, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council: 01709 334163 (for further information on the Centenary Riverside Project, the visit by John Healey, and timetables)Greg Lindley and Steve Smith, Centenary Riverside Project, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council: 01709 823871/823807 (for information about the Centenary Riverside Project)

4. Nigel Doar, Director, the Wildlife Trust for Sheffield & Rotherham: 0114 263 4345 (for information about the management of flood risk in the Don catchment, the Wildlife Trust's involvement in the Centenary Riverside project and their future plans for the site) Laura Boyles, Publications and Media Officer, the Wildlife Trust for Sheffield & Rotherham: 0114 263 4335 (for information on SWT's involvement in this event, timetables) Tony Askins, Landscape Architect, the Wildlife Trust for Sheffield & Rotherham: 0114 263 4335 (for information on landscape design and biodiversity relating to Centenary Riverside)Volker Stevin, Steve Graham Volker Stevin Ltd 01709 720959 (Flood alleviation Scheme site construction contract ).