Prince sends a message (From Gazette & Herald)

Prince sends a message

A MESSAGE of sympathy from the Prince of Wales was passed to the people of Helmsley and the surrounding villages of Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe, Rievaulx, Hawnby, Snilesworth and Arden by the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Lord Crathorne, when he made a fact-finding visit to see the aftermath of the flooding.

The prince had expressed his concern and sent best wishes to those affected, and praised the emergency services in his goodwill message.

Lord Crathorne said: "I am astonished at the amount of work which has been done since the floods. Helmsley is completely open for business and, for many people, life is getting back to normal."

He said he was anxious for would-be visitors not to change their plans.

"All the hotels, restaurants and shops are open and it is vital that Helmsley businesses and the community as a whole gets the support from tourists at this time of the year."

Lord Crathorne added: "It has caused devastation to a number of families, but people are being very resilient and are determined to show that Helmsley is open for business as usual."

Coun Lindsay Burr, chairman of Ryedale District Council (RDC), made several visits to Helmsley and the neighbouring villages hit by the floods.

"It is amazing just how quickly people have cleared up the debris - it shows the real grit of everyone."

She added that RDC's workforce was to be commended for working long hours, in some cases around the clock.

"What was even more encouraging was that on Friday, when the emergency team held a meeting because of the risk of more floods over the weekend, over 60 staff volunteered to work if necessary - and at no cost. It was a tremendous gesture, but, fortunately, we didn't need to call on them," said Coun Burr, who has been one of the leaders in the emergency co-ordinating team.

RDC spokeswoman Jill Baldwin said that not only had the authority's workforce responded promptly and effectively after the flood, but services had continued to be provided by Ryedale House staff.

The only casualty had been a slight delay in the collection of re-cycled rubbish at Norton.

Lady Clarissa Collin, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, said: "I am horrified at the devastation but I was delighted to be told while in London last week just what a wonderful job Ryedale council had done. Word has certainly got round."

She said one of her main concerns was for farmers who had lost their crops. "In many cases, they have just been washed away. The Government must realise how our farmers have suffered, not only through the floods, but through the foot and mouth disease outbreak five years ago. They need financial help from the Government."

One of her properties, Hold Couldron, an old mill a mile from Kirkdale Minster, had been under four feet of water and only quick thinking by the resident had saved dogs which lived there.

At Hawnby, one of the worst hit communities, a mammoth clean-up operation has been carried out to restore the historic church for the wedding of 43-year-old Robin Nicholson, a local farmer, on July 16.

His father, Barry Nicholson, churchwarden and parish clerk, praised North Yorkshire County Council for clearing the churchyard, where gravestones had been flattened by the impact of the flood.

"We are grateful to the council because they are also re-erecting the gravestones and the fencing."

His son's wedding will be the first for a year at the picturesque church.

"The fabric of the building is all right, but it will take a lot of drying out. The people of Hawnby have rallied tremendously."

He praised Julie Barr and Mary Griffiths, who run the kennels in the village, because they had bravely saved dogs housed in buildings, alongside one of the worst-hit areas.

Since the flood, there have been several stories of stock being saved, including a calf which was found safe a mile from Rievaulx after being washed away, and another which was retrieved from a tree and saved despite its injuries.

One of the biggest headaches for farmers has been the destruction of hedges, walls and fences, resulting in livestock from different farms getting mixed up.

Updated: 14:44 Wednesday, June 29, 2005