By Steve Gardner

Thursday November 2 2000

Chaos reigned in Worcester as the worst floods for 50 years split the city in two.
Worcester was bracing itself as news filtered through that upstream in Shrewsbury, the River Severn was already higher than during the devastating floods of 1998. The environment agency issued a severe flood warning for the River Teme between Ludlow and Bransford. A careful eye was kept on Powick, where the Teme and the Severn met.

Friday November 3 2000

The flood had finally peaked in the early hours and has now stabilized; however, the weathermen warned that there are storms coming on Sunday, bringing November’s entire average rainfall, accompanied by winds of up to 70 miles an hour.


Monday November 6 2000

Castle Street Royal Infirmary evacuated by the emergency services and volunteers. On the West side of the river, roads have more than 3 feet of water over them! The City had now turned into a large lake with the high ground now becoming islands.

These were the headlines that appeared in the local newspapers.

Wednesday November 8 2000 7-15pm

The Worcester CTC official Wednesday evening ride was to the Talbot Hotel at Knightwick. Phone calls were made and E-mails sent and it was decided that we would each make our own way. Members in Malvern and Colwall would try to get to the Talbot, via Leigh Sinton and Alfrick. The Kidderminster contingent would cycle via Stourport, Great Witley and Martley.

Three of us would meet in St Johns, which meant that Dave and I, would have to cycle from the East side to the West to rendezvous with Graham, for 7-30.
The Army finished transporting the residents of Worcester at 7 pm, so we had no choice but to cycle through the floodwater. At least the water had now receded leaving about a foot of water on the roads, enough for two cyclists to get through the worst of the floods with only our feet to get wet. Which did not matter too much as the weather was raining AGAIN!

We rendezvoused with Graham, and headed down the traffic free Hereford Road, only as far as Bransford Bridge where the police turned us round. The area had now become a huge lake, which became apparent when we turned right up the steep bank. The view from the top was quite amazing; we thought we were on top of cliffs with the sea crashing below. We now headed for the A44, where the same thing happened at Cotheridge. The police told us that the A44 was under water as far as Knightwick!
We had to re think our plans; the alternative was to have a drink back in one of the pubs in Worcester. Not wanting to dampen our spirits we decided that if we turned right again and went to Broadheath, and kept to higher ground through Tinkers Cross, Newtown, then up to Berrow Green, we could turn left here; go over the Ankerdine and down to the Talbot. There should not be any flooded roads, beside the rain had stopped. Everyone agreed and we did a leisurely ride still on free traffic lanes.

We got to the top of Ankerdine, got our breath back and admired the view. The rain had cleared leaving cloudless skies; the moon was coming up which revealed an eerie landscape. Where the A44 once was their was now a lake, we were on the one shore and Alfrick and Lulsley were on the other. At the bottom is the Talbot!
Well we just went for it! We descended slowly and eventually got to the bottom.
However, there was one more obstacle, The River Teme. We were a stones throw away from the Talbot but there was deep water between us. What do we do now?
Help was at hand; the Proprietor came out, only to vanish around the corner! A few seconds passed, when he returned in a rowing boat.

We locked the bikes, and the Landlord rowed us to the Hotel. The first drink was on the house because apart from residents and locals we were the first and only people they had seen for a few days. Needless to say we had to tell people of our exploits, and the way we got all the way from Worcester to Knightwick.
The Landlord had an interesting story to tell, and if my memory serves me well it goes like this: -

 CHAMPAGNE REWARD FOR HERO OF ANKERDINE HILL

Scaling Ankerdine Hill on a bicycle a century back appears to have been seen then as almost akin to climbing Everest on foot.

The bottle of Champagne offered as a prize by the landlord of the Talbot Hotel, Knightwick to the first cyclist who succeeded in reaching the top of Ankerdine Hill was at last consumed on Sunday by the North Warwickshire Cycling Club, one of whose members accomplished the task.

The hill rises to 382 feet in three-quarters-of-a-mile and has gradients of one-in-seven in places. To get into form and prepare his breathing, the cyclist rode about a mile away and, on returning, approached his task at a slow pace, breathing slow and deeply. He then scaled the hill to the “Danger” board.
“The cyclist and the witnesses of the feat were photographed at the summit, and a copy forwarded to the Royal Enfield Company whose machine the cyclist rode.”

Well now it was our turn to scale Ankerdine Hill. Normally we would have had several less hilly routes to go home, but they we all under water. Effectively, the City of Worcester was cut of from the South, West and the North. It seemed that only boats and bicycles could get through.

The three of us walked up the hill and admired the view again, in the distance, all lit up, was Worcester Cathedral, our destination. In between water reflecting the moonlight, a sight that the three of us will not forget in a hurry.

We all made it back safe, sound and dry, ready to cycle again.

More Headlines.

Saturday 11 November 2000.

The River level on the Severn has now dropped, and cleaning operations are due to commence immediately. All roads are expected to reopen at round about 2pm this afternoon.
The floods are finally over.

Wednesday 6 December 2000.

Chaos again hits the City, after heavy rain at the weekend. The River Severn has for the Third time in as many weeks, burst its banks and has divided the city in two.