Testimonials

  • Joy Taylor and herRelated image family have watched the ominous brown flood waters inch towards their home since Saturday. Despite the sandbags and fire pumps their neighbors have been overtaken by the water, one by one. Finally, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, as a flood surge passed down the nearby Thames, it was their turn. More than a foot of filthy water bubbled through the floor of their brick, terrace home in Motley, Oxford-shire, destroying carpets, plaster work, kitchen appliances and furniture that could not be moved upstairs. Mrs Taylor, 54, a teacher, said: “With three children back from university for the holidays, it has been easy to move what they could and fill sandbags, but, in the end,they were powerless.

  • Harry Deane, the landlord of the aptly-named Waterman’s Arms, in Osney, on the outskirts of Oxford, offered refuge to nearby householders and has seen his trade soar, even tImage result for Harry deanehough his pub is flooded. “I have made the equivalent of three days’ takings in 24 hours,” he said. On the road outside, water has risen to a depth of 3 ft 26 Jul 2007 but locals and sightseers have kept him busy. Mr Dean, 58, added: “I have never known business like it”. With his raised lounge bar remaining dry and the promise of staying open all hours, he offered beer and sympathy to many who have been forced from their homes.

  • Glen Tiswell has beRelated imageen forced to close one of his restaurants in Gloucester because of the water shortage and the opening of the second has been marked with the arrival of portable toilets. Mr Tanswell said it was not the grand opening he had in mind for The Grill, a restaurant and bar, and said it was vital that water supplies were switched on as soon as possible. He has already been forced to close Bearlands, his other eateries, and his cheese shop, Gloucester’s Finest, until the water is back on, which could take up to two weeks. He said: “It has cost me £20,000 to set up The Grill. If the water is not back within two weeks, I will be bankrupt.”

  • Peggy CrossImage result for peggy cross has only been evacuated from her home once before – during the Blitz. The 86-year-old was rescued from her sheltered accommodation in Abingdon on Sunday morning and has spent three days in the Holiday Inn, which is acting as a rescue centre for 100 evacuees. Peggy is a resident of Cygnet Court, a sheltered block which was built on stilts to protect it from the neighboring river. She woke up on Sunday to frightening scenes. “It was ominous,” she said. “When I drew back my curtains and saw all the water, it was shocking – three or four foot deep and gushing underneath the building. “The only other time I was evacuated was during the war, from London to Arrogate during the Blitz.