The Adventures of Trevor Corner…Water A Night Out! (From The Northern Echo)

The Adventures of Trevor Corner…Water A Night Out!

2:59pm Wednesday 5th May 2010 in Cockfield

To understand this tale you need to know that it only rains 3/4 times a year in the UAE and because of this they do not have road drains, gutters etc.

As we live at the base of the Hajar Mountains, when it rains you know about it. It gushes down the wadis in torrents making high force look like a dripping tap and sweeping everything in its path.

Well, one of the benefits of living abroad is you get plenty of visitors and in February my long time friends Colin and Maureen paid us a visit.

Colin is originally from Wearhead and Maureen from St Johns Chapel.

An interesting aside is that in the 60s Colin worked for Martins bank at Barnard Castle and his job was to operate sub-branches in remote areas.

Well he did most including Cockfield!

He used to get the bus from Barny with the guard, as the guard had lost his licence due to the breathalyser and could no longer drive!

Colin loaded his case with money (no lock) and travelled to the Cockfield sub-branch which was the front room of the house attached to Stirk’s shop.

He used the dining room table and the guard sat on the sofa.

Colin used to count the money and do the balances on the backseat of the bus and to be safe they gave him a whistle to blow in case of problems! (How things change).

After their stay here, I ran them to the airport and as rain was forecast I said to the missus that I would like to see a good storm.

Well, during the journey of 70 miles it started!

I could not see a thing, the wipers couldn’t cope, so I carried on until the traffic suddenly stopped; accident we thought. Then six lanes went to one and everyone bumped and barged their way through until I got to the front and saw the road was under 2/3 feet of water, but the high side was passable in a 4 wheel drive, which I have. Cars were stuck all over!

After another 2/3miles I saw the other side of the road was under 3/4feet of water and hundreds of cars floating with masses of cars and people stuck on the high side of the road.

Eventually we got to the airport late, but so was the plane due to the storm.

Then I had to get back!

I could not go the same route as the road was closed, so I tried to skirt around the high side.

So had everyone else and that was under water 2 feet deep. I pushed on for about 20 miles but I was getting really tired as it was 2am. I couldn’t go to sleep in the car as I didn’t know how high the water would rise so I kept on going.

Eventually I got to a stretch of motorway which was full of water with no cars in front of me, so I did not know how deep it was and so I daren’t go on!

Then, on the other side of the motor way I saw cars coming towards me, so I decided the safest thing to do was to use the wrong way on the motorway, as if they could pass, so could I.

I only needed to be sure I didn’t hit anybody!

I drove this way until the water cleared and got home 7 hours later.

The motorway was closed for three days and four people were killed as a result of the rain, so I was well pleased to be back in my pit, regretting my comments that I would like to see a good storm!

By the way, Trevor Close from Australia got in touch as a result of the last blog. The last time I saw him was in Evenwood Club 40 yrs ago… My God!!