![]() |
Photo taken by Martin Parr:1975: Manikinholes Methodist Chapel [near Hebden Bridge]. |
It was suggested less than two years ago that my town of Hebden Bridge should be designated the UK's second city.
Today,as I write this ,the only businesses now left open in the town are Nathan's Barbers: Marco's Italian Greasy Spoon
,2 small charity shops: Bonsalls DIY shop; The White Lion Pub.; Boots Chemist &The Town Hall.That's all that left open/ habitable!
A week ago .Rain Came over a 12 hour period when Floods of Biblical Proportions happened...
Destroyed in Hebden Bridge alone are...2 churches;.3 Banks:8 pubs;The Post Office& sorting office; The Library:The Theatre:The Cinema:The Council's Elderly Day Centre:many hundreds of homes wrecked and/or evacuated: The Coop Supermarket & approx 200 shops & business:factory units:are not habitable :bridges have collapsed:the only road out has a dirty big crack in it between Hebden bridge & Mytholmroyd.
Even 2 days ago 500 other homes in Hebden Bridge were without electricity.
Even 2 days ago 500 other homes in Hebden Bridge were without electricity.
This was just one town ! Others along the valley were just as broken or,arguably, even worse.The towns and villages of Mytholmroyd:Todmorden;Copley:Sowerby Bridge:Brighouse:Midgley.etc etc all got hit .......
A Million things happened this week.Here are just a few Vignettes that will have to act as a taste of things.Over the New Year Weekend, the local Town Hall is where the volunteers are organised.
A huge room (the size of a half a football field) has free dry foods that have been donated & you can come in and help yourself.Plus cleaning products.etc:a kitchen & cafe were the Muslims serve the free hot food. Legal Advice etc etc is also given.
Local People offer their skills for free so,[Hebden being Hebden ] you can even get free Reflexology!
Today (new year's eve) I went to our only remaining barber to get a haircut.The owner Nathan (with beard) was offering haircuts/beer & disco.A interesting combination........The kids & Mums seemed to enjoy it..!
![]() |
Loyds Bank: Hebden Bridge: last Saturday morning. |
Sadly I have heard some terrible stories from neighbouring Mytholmroyd. The (fairly new build) Catholic church The Good Shepard ( a mini Liverpool cathedral / built in-the-round) is totally fucking. I hear the 80 year old Parish Priest was rescued in the dark while wandering dazed & confused down a side street.waist deep in water.
Nearby, in a big posh housing estate , rescue services couldnt reach because of water levels.Local farmers went from door to door to check everybody was ok (apparently a lot of elderly people lived there) .They burst into one Living Room and found a silent, immobile elderly gent sat upright in his armchair with water all around his waist.......Two big farming lads had to carry him out to safety.......
Read *here* how the town is organising how to mend itself (& how you might wishes to help)
![]() |
Dec 31st 2015.Beer/Disco/Haircut Promotion:Nathan's Barbers,Hebden Bridge. |
This week i having been doing my small bit by trying to help salvage the Council's Elderly Peoples Day Centre.
The British Army are here.So are groups of Muslim volunteers, from as far afield as London, who have been here this week helping us.
![]() |
A few of the many Muslim Lads from London (300 miles away!)who came this week help us. |
The local Muslim Community has been amazing !Halifax Mosques have set up a food kitchen & have been shipping in daily hot free food.