In 1968, severe flooding brought death and disaster to Blackford village..

At the time of the flooding, I (Martyn James) was a fifteen year old pupil at Sexey's and I can remember Mr Ravenscroft, the headmaster, telling us, in the days that followed, about what had happened and organising parties of some of the older pupils to go down into the village to help the residents with the clearing up.
(As far as I can remember, the school building, being on higher ground than the village itself, remained largely unaffected although there was some quite extensive flooding to the playing field)

I recall that a number of us went to quite a large house on the left hand side of the road  as you faced the village from the school where, I believe, an elderly lady lived on her own.

The lower floor of the house was totally ruined with a tide mark around the walls about five feet high. There was a terrible stench everywhere and everything was covered in mud, silt and dust. We dragged carpets and furniture out onto the lawn for cleaning and generally mopped up where we could.

For most of us youngsters, It was the very first time that we'd seen the effects of what severe flooding could do and we were amazed by the damage. (My memories are still quite vague about the details of the clean-up, does anyone else remember what they did to help on that day? - MJ)

Of course, the events of Wednesday, July 10th were heavily reported in the local newspapers of the time.The Weston-Super-Mare Gazette ran the story of the efforts of three men who tried to save an elderly Blackford resident, Earnest Duckett.

The brave trio (Jeremy Maud, Godfrey Maud and Michael Collins) had already carried out a dangerous, night-time rescue of Mrs Duckett but despite brave efforts, were unable to help Mr Duckett, who had been trapped in his home, Ivy Cottage, by the rising water. His body was to be found later in the churchyard behind his home.

That night, a number of the villagers made their way through the flood water and were given refuge at the Old Vicarage, home to Jeremy Maude and his wife, where they were comforted and given food and drinks.

Later, Jeremy Maude wrote a formal report of the dramatic events that unfolded that evening -  

'On the night of July 10th 1968 at about 9.30 - 10.00 p.m., Mrs Collins called at the Old Vicarage and asked for someone to go down to Ivy Cottage as her son was there and the position regarding Mr and Mrs Duckett was not clear. My son and I with steelcord ropes and torches approached the cottage from Reckitt and Coleman's yard.'

 

'Michael Collins was at the first floor window and after asking him how he crossed, I climbed over the outbuilding roofs with one end of the rope while Godfrey paid out the other end. This was then secured to the window mullion as a lifeline. Michael Collins was cold and wet from the thighs down. Mrs Duckett was sitting on the bed in the front first floor room and in a state of shock. Michael said he had had a quick look downstairs but had not seen Mr Duckett. All the lights were on. I took Michael downstairs; the water was 5' - 6' deep and into the rear room.'

 

'I was told that Mr Duckett may be in the front room. I waded to the door and cleared away the debris; one pane of glass only was broken in the door and I was able to force it open. I then told Michael to come across and hold the door to prevent it shutting and carried out a search of the whole room. I was unable to find any sign of Mr Duckett and as the window was open, decided he was no longer in the house. My primary responsibility then was to ensure the safe evacuation of Michael and Mrs  Duckett.'

 

'We returned upstairs and I instructed Godfrey to go and get hot coffee. I also removed Mrs Duckett to the rear bedroom as I considered the risk of collapse of the property real, due to the speed and depth of the water in Church Street. I returned to the front of the house and with my torch attracted the attention of Mr and Mrs Larder (in the house opposite) who by signs indicated that they were alright. Godfrey returned with the coffee and I swam across the yard and returned to the cottage with it, and the cigarettes.'

 

'We all had coffee. Michael then helped Mrs Duckett pack her bag and get her into a warm coat. She said that all her personal papers were in a wooden box downstairs so Michael and I went down and found this box floating in the water in the rear room, and we returned it to Mrs Duckett. I then called Godfrey across and he swam to the cottage.'

 

'As Mrs Duckett was in a shocked condition, I considered it was essential to get her out without getting her wet. I went upstairs to help get Mrs Duckett down. I instructed Godfrey to search the passage and rooms downstairs to make quite sure that Mr Duckett's body was not in the house and he did this alone and when Mrs Duckett came downstairs reported a negative result.'

 

'Godfrey and Michael then carried Mrs Duckett on their shoulders across the yard where she was helped up the bank by Mrs Collins and Mr Lockyer. I switched off all the lights, released the safety line and returned to the Reckitt and Coleman's yard. Mrs Collins took Mrs Duckett to her house and Godfrey and I returned with all our ropes to the Old Vicarage.'

 

'I telephoned the police at Wedmore and informed Mrs Sheldon that Mr Duckett was missing. I also telephoned Dr Hodge and suggested that he visit Mrs Duckett as soon as practical. Later that night I met P.C.Sheldon and Dr Hodge outside the Old Vicarage and they informed me that they had found Mr Duckett's body in the churchyard.'

 

'I formed the opinion whilst in the house, and confirmed it by visiting it the next day, that the flood water forced the door to the ground floor front room closed  and debris against this door prevented it from being opened. This exit being blocked, I assumed Mr Duckett crossed the room and opened the window leaving the property by this means. At the time there was sufficient air space on the ground floor and the current of water through the cottage was not of sufficient speed, due to the construction of the building, to sweep anyone away unless they suffered a heart attack etc.'

 

'This was confirmed by hearsay next day by Mr and Mrs Larder who said they had seen Mr Duckett leave the cottage by the window.'

 

'I consider it an error of judgement by Michael Collins to enter the cottage alone under the prevailing conditions with no rescue or safety equipment at all, nevertheless, I feel that both Godfrey and Michael behaved with great courage under conditions of considerable danger and the way they carried out all the instructions I gave them without hesitation is to be highly commended.'

 

'Prior to my arrival, I cannot state what happened but to my knowledge (of the actions I took), the foregoing statement is correct.'

12th July 1968.

 

( This report appears with the kind permission of Mrs Maude).