|
It was all hands to the deck last Thursday morning as the people of Newlyn
helped each other mop out homes and businesses in the aftermath of Wednesday's
destructive storm.
Then they had to do it all over again on Friday morning after Mother
Nature decided to throw everything it had at Newlyn at high tide on Thursday.
In war-time spirit townsfolk offered a hand wherever help was needed,
ensuring the elderly were high and dry and that flooded homes and shops
were cleared of ruined carpets and damaged goods.
But it was Newlyn Green that took the full brunt of the storm, with massive
waves pounding the beach, green and gardens.
The footpath across the front of the green developed gaping holes and
was completely washed away in places and the sunken garden became a deep
lake.
Debris, rocks, sand and tons of seaweed covered the grass, paths and
gardens until council workmen arrived on scene and started clearing the
green.
Glenys Peake, whose home in Tolcarne Place is the closest house to the
sea wall, said she had never seen such huge waves hit Newlyn Green as
they did on Wednesday.
"I've lived here nearly 40 years and have never seen the waves so
high," she said. "Thankfully my home wasn't affected."
The Co-op supermarket and petrol station at Wherrytown, although set
back from the sea and protected by a stretch of The Promenade and a car
park, was totally flooded and had to close for a day.
In the port, the Seamen's Mission sustained most damage from Wednesday's
storm.
Huge waves surged up the Newlyn river, smashing the windows of the meeting
room known as Nora's Room and poured through the corridor and out the
front door.
Acting Superintendent Keith Dickson, who was on holiday in Scotland when
the storm hit, drove through the night to get back by Thursday morning
to help clear up.
Simon Jones, the assistant superintendent, who was in the mission when
the water started pouring through the windows, said that people appeared
from nowhere to help rescue furniture and move computer equipment. "Everyone
was marvellous," he said.
"Builder Geoff Richards rushed down to us with wooden boarding and
had a real fight on his hands to get it up at the windows because the
sea surge was so strong. But he managed it."
Boarding was also needed for the windows of Tolcarne Garage, smashed
by the sea for the first time in its history.
Marilyn Baker, who has worked at the garage for the past 38 years said
she has never seen the sea break through the garage windows before.
"It has been bad in the past, especially the year the storms broke
the bridge, but this is the first time our windows have been put out by
the waves," she said.
"Luckily it didn't do very much damage and we managed to move equipment
and furniture out of the way of the water."
Mike Smith, the garage's warranty administrator, had the task of clearing
sea water from the garage showroom. "Luckily none of our new cars
were affected by the water, but a used car did get a soaking as the sea
poured through the roof of our workshop," he said.
The Tolcarne Inn next door was also battered. Landlord Alan Thompson
said water poured into the kitchen which faces the sea wall and put it
out of action for a few days.
Newlyn Surgery was another victim with a massive surge of water pushing
up the Newlyn River and swamping a consultation room.
Christine Thomas, practice manager said: "We had to evacuate the
surgery on Wednesday afternoon when our receptionist noticed the water
had risen to windowsill level.
"The water then seeped through to a consultation room and also damaged
our front door and entrance hall. We will be closed for a few days with
all patients transferred to the Alverton surgery."
Stevenson's office in The Strand was also badly flooded, but not so much
by the rising sea water, but by inconsiderate drivers of four-wheel-drive
vehicles, who caused waves of water to pour into the office every time
they drove by.
Two volunteers at the charity shop next door - Lorna McCathy and Cynthia
Penrose - have experienced many storms at Newlyn over the years. They
said that at the height of last week's storm the old quay in the harbour
was disappearing under the sea and they saw waves completely swamping
South Pier.
Former landlord of the Tolcarne Inn, Bill Merrifield and his wife, Kathy,
of Tolcarne Terrace, said most villagers escaped flooding thanks to the
quick action of Penwith Council, the county council, local police, fire
officers and officials from the Environment Agency.
"Sandbags were delivered to all the houses around here and that
prevented many of our homes from flooding," he said. "They did
a marvellous job and stayed around and were on hand to help out throughout
the worst of the storm."
article copyright © THE CORNISHMAN
 |
