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HRH pays tribute to the Cumbrian spirit when visiting flood-hit Cockermouth

28th November 2009

The Prince of Wales said he was an “admirer of the Cumbrian spirit” and spoke of his pride at the resilience and character displayed by the people of Cockermouth and the assisting emergency services in dealing with the recent flooding in the area.

On his second day in flood-hit Cumbria, The Prince saw the devastation left by the flood waters as he toured the town and thanked those involved in the rescue effort.

Cockermouth was submerged just over a week ago following heavy rainfall which saw more than 12 inches of rain fall in 24 hours.

His Royal Highness met members of the mountain rescue service, police, fire rescue service, the ambulance service, the RNLI, the RAF and the RSPCA at the town's mountain rescue centre.

He also visited Mitchells Auction House in the town centre where a number of shops have been relocated to enable them to remain open for business while renovation works continue at their flooded premises.

The Prince said: "I have always been a large admirer of the Cumbrian spirit. What has been so incredible is people's resilience to the horrors.

"Everywhere I have been I have heard praise for the emergency services, especially for the mountain rescue team.

"I cannot tell you how proud I am to come up here and experience the fantastic way in which the British respond to a disaster. Everyone is helping together."

He added that Cockermouth was a "special place with character" where everyone was "so determined" to get their lives back to normal.

He added it was important to get the message across that Cumbria and the Lake District were "open for business".

Among emergency services staff he met was Cockermouth Hospital district nursing sister Violet Stafford who coordinated the plan to identify people in need of medication who were cut off by floodwater.

She would pass their details on to the emergency services who then retrieved the mainly elderly patients from their homes and take them to temporary accommodation at Cockermouth School and the town's Sheep and Wool Centre.

Mrs Stafford, 52, said: "We reached up to 200 people. They were distressed and very upset without their medication but no-one was extremely ill."

Speaking of the rescue operation, she said: "It was incredible to see all of these people come together and acting in such a positive way to ensure the safety of the people of Cockermouth."

The Prince also met the widow of PC Bill Barker who was swept away in flood waters when a bridge collapsed as he directed motorists away from danger in nearby Workington.

The Prince held a private meeting with Hazel, 45, and the couple's children Simon, 16, Melissa, 15, Daniel, 13, and seven-year-old Emma.

PC Barker was stopping people going on to Northside Bridge in Workington when it gave under the strain of the swollen waters.

Around 500 mourners attended his funeral service in his home town of Egremont on Friday.