Assistant Manager's amazing journey !

As most people will be aware, this area was badly affected by the recent flooding. Surrounding towns and villages have been without running or potable water for days if not weeks. All weekend courses at Farncombe Estate were cancelled, and 10 Cotswold Conference Centre bedroom were damaged (repairs and new carpet fitting should be complete by 17th August).

On the day of the dreadful downpour, our new Assistant Manager, Chris Catford, left his home in Drakes Broughton to head to work. After considering a car would not make the journey, Chris decided to "cycle" the 20 miles - often wading through flood-water waist high. Some 10 hours later (with rather shaky legs) he arrived. Then stranded on the Estate until Sunday, Chris single-handedly catered for the few students that had managed to arrive, but then too found themselves unable to get home.

This is what Chris had to say ....

"I'm becoming a little self conscious about the fact that my cycling on the Friday has been made into such a big deal. I am starting to feel that it has hogged the limelight from the real stars that Day. Lesley, Paula, Lauren, Shirley, Tracey, Harry, and all the maintenance team, had been working tirelessly from 7 that morning until 11 that night. None of them even brought up the possibility of going home, no one person was willing to leave, and let the rest of the team take the slack. There was a real 'in this together' attitude. Not to mention the team still provided excellent service to the customers who made it.

My advice for anyone wanting to travel in adverse weather. If the elements are against you reduce the technology. Like so many people that embarked on a journey that day, I realised about half way to work I had underestimated the weather. As an experience it was unforgettable. Although it felt great to cruise past the stationary lorries and cars and plough into the floods, the people I passed looked desperate. This was nothing compared to the faces of the people in Evesham looking through their windows at the approaching water. After cycling for two hours I have never been so happy to arrive at work. Never before have I seen roads turned to rivers and rivers turned into what seemed to be lakes in such a short time. The flooding was spectacular to behold but held such terrible misery for the people I saw losing their cars, homes and businesses".