June 2010 - Unsung flood heroes saluted with top tourism award
A group of unsung heroes who swung into action during the Cumbrian
floods have been recognised for the first time with a unique award.
Roy Campbell, representing staff at The Shepherds Hotel and Restaurant,
Cockermouth, collected the Bernard Gooch Tourism Personality of the Year
Award at annual general meeting of Cumbria Tourism on Wednesday 23rd
June.
They were nominated by Cumbria Tourism’s Commercial Members
Committee – consisting of leading businessmen and women in tourism
throughout the county - who choose a winner every year for their positive
contribution to the industry.
Staff at The Shepherds worked around the clock both in the immediate
aftermath of the floods and in the weeks that followed when the hotel –
part of the former Sheep and Wool Centre - became an unofficial refuge
centre, close to the outskirts of the flood-stricken town on the A66.
As the rain came down on Thursday November 19th 2009, scores of people
from residents flooded out of their homes, health agencies, police and
other local authorities, gravitated to the hotel as a major meeting point.
