News
TRH visit flood-hit areas of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire
26th July 2007
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visited areas badly affected by flooding in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire today and paid tribute to the spirit of the British people in response to the disaster.
The Prince spoke during a visit to Tewkesbury, one of the areas worst affected by the recent flooding.
He said: "I've seen some obviously disastrous horrors that have affected so many people. What I have found so wonderful is the spirit the people have displayed.
"One of the things I have found about the British is when faced with disaster it brings out the best in us."
The Prince also praised the efforts of volunteers and the Army, during a day of visits to areas affected by the floods including Upton-upon-Severn, Tewkesbury and Cheltenham.
Their Royal Highnesses met residents in the Priors Park area of Tewkesbury and visited the Priority One Charity, which has been a focal point for the community during the crisis.
In Worcestershire Their Royal Highnesses met victims of the recent flooding in
Upton-upon-Severn and met business people and members of the public in the town, which was one of the worst affected and was completely surrounded by water at the height of the flooding.
Hundreds of locals turned out in sunny weather to see Their Royal Highnesses chat with residents in a street still partly underwater, and stop for a drink at a nearby pub.
John Fisher, whose house on New Street was knee deep in water earlier this week, was pleased Their Royal Highnesses visited the town.
He said: "Anything to help the struggle we're having is good news.”
Mr Fisher’s neighbour Jenny Gibbons said: "He asked me how the flood had affected me. I had to climb out of my first-floor window to get away from the water.
"It's good that he came, and I think it's nice they came down our street."
The swollen waters of the River Severn are only now beginning to subside enough to allow the clear-up operation to begin, and parts of Upton are still under water.
After inspecting flood-damaged homes, Their Royal Highnesses visited a cafe, taking away some home-made chocolate cake. The shop owner, John Hutchinson, joked that he was thinking of putting a "by royal appointment" sign over the door.
At Ye Olde Anchor pub, where the 400-year-old main bar remains littered with grime and debris from the flooding, The Prince drank a glass of stout and chatted to landlord Jonathan Butler about locally sourced food.
The pub underwent refurbishment shortly before the flood waters came, and the management staged a street party on Sunday to keep spirits up while the main bar was under water.
The Prince of Wales recently visited areas of Yorkshire affected by flooding in Sheffield and Toll Bar. Click here to read the story.