Storm Desmond, an extratropical cyclone, hit Lancaster, UK on December 5, 2015. The Lune River swelled almost four metres. This community photo essay tells the story of the impacts on and recovery efforts of the John O'Gaunt Rowing Club. Storm Desmond is a significant chapter in the Club's 175 year history. The damage to the Club's many rowing shells was a set back. All boats required repairs, but with the benefit of experienced members -- and countless volunteer hours -- only seven boats were written off. A year later, the Club has recovered and is back to where it was before the floods, if not in a stronger position. Eight boats were replaced and many improvements to the facility made.
Lancaster rowers as enthusiasts of water generally and the Lune River specifically offer an up close and personal perspective on the human relationship with a beautiful and changing environment. Desmond revealed the physical vulnerabilties of the rowing club, but also illustrated the Club's capacity to take a hit and surface stronger. The impacts of Storm Desmond on one small but active rowing club offers a glimpse into the types of events that communities (with widely varying resources) in the UK and around the world will be tackling with climate change.
... water rising ...
dec 5/2015
dec 5/2015
"I couldn't get to the boathouse so took a bunch of pics and video upstream at Caton, fearing for what we would find when the waters subsided."
(View of road bridge at Crook O'Lune between Halton and Caton)
Jonathon Abra, Club Supporter
(View of road bridge at Crook O'Lune between Halton and Caton)
Jonathon Abra, Club Supporter
"You live next to the river you expect floods - but not like that. That was exceptional."
Colin McDermid, Vice President
Colin McDermid, Vice President
Water levels at Skerton Weir across from the club peaked at
3.845 metres at 12:15am on December 6, 2015.
3.845 metres at 12:15am on December 6, 2015.
"The Lune spilling out onto the road where Halton Road meets Aldrens Lane -
it was relentless!"
Freda MacPherson, Lancaster Schools Rowing Association
it was relentless!"
Freda MacPherson, Lancaster Schools Rowing Association
"We prepared for knee deep."
Colin McDermid, Vice President
Colin McDermid, Vice President
"I'd never seen the river so high - all we could do was wait in the hope that the damage was repairable."
Lewis MacPherson, Junior Rower
Lewis MacPherson, Junior Rower
"I'm normally late so look down on everybody merrily getting boats out and chatting, but instead you can't even tell that there's land to stand on."
Megan Abra, Junior Rower
Megan Abra, Junior Rower
"This was an image that featured on the facebook group on the evening of the 5th December. At this stage there was nothing that we could do. The water level was still to rise above the skirting boards on this floor."
Steve Sullivan, Club Treasurer
Steve Sullivan, Club Treasurer
... water subsiding ...
dec 6/2015
dec 6/2015
"Steve Sullivan uses his gymnastic prowess to inspect the damage."
Stephanie Sodero, Senior Rower
Stephanie Sodero, Senior Rower
"This one shows how high it got."
Scott Houghton, Club Captain
Scott Houghton, Club Captain
"Normal" flood level. Can we put the boathouse on stilts?"
Michael Pugh, Safety Advisor
"Another fine mess you've got me into!"
Laurel & Hardy / Colin McDermid, Vice President
Michael Pugh, Safety Advisor
"Another fine mess you've got me into!"
Laurel & Hardy / Colin McDermid, Vice President
"Colin wondering where he left his shovel."
Michael Pugh, Safety Advisor
"We're all in the shit, just the depth of it varies."
Colin McDermid, Vice President
Michael Pugh, Safety Advisor
"We're all in the shit, just the depth of it varies."
Colin McDermid, Vice President
"That's my boat! The one with a rigger through the wooden hull."
Michael Pugh, Safety Advisor
Michael Pugh, Safety Advisor
"The force of the water completely tore through the hulls of newer, fiberglass singles."
Lewis MacPherson, Junior Rower
Lewis MacPherson, Junior Rower
"The buoyancy of the boats had enough power to bend the steel racks upwards, luckily protecting one of our newest doubles."
Lewis MacPherson, Junior Rower
"One double in there had just been refurbished - it was never on the water.
It was a complete right off."
Colin McDermid, Vice President
Lewis MacPherson, Junior Rower
"One double in there had just been refurbished - it was never on the water.
It was a complete right off."
Colin McDermid, Vice President
"The larger boats fared surprisingly well. All needed some repairs,
but only the eight was written off."
Scott Houghton, Club Captain
but only the eight was written off."
Scott Houghton, Club Captain
"Water got into the buoyancy sections and the weight of it broke the hull as the flood receded."
Michael Pugh, Safety Advisor
Michael Pugh, Safety Advisor
"The small boats fared a lot worse. Three out of four doubles, and four out of nine singles were written off, most of the rest requiring off-site repair. Given we are a club which does a lot of work in small boats, this was a major blow to trying to get things back to normal."
Scott Houghton, Club Captain
Scott Houghton, Club Captain
"Our small and cosy boat shed is even smaller and cramped and totally wrecked. We're not a big club so we don't have a lot of boats and the ones we do have were so easily wrecked. It was so peculiar to witness."
Megan Abra, Junior Rower
Megan Abra, Junior Rower
"A number of boats stored in the building are privately owned. Many of these fared better than the club members' boats, as they are generally premium craft with a stronger building construction."
Steve Sullivan, Club Treasurer
Steve Sullivan, Club Treasurer
"Lots of members spent weeks clearing the mud from the boathouses, trying to figure out what was repairable and what needed to be replaced."
Lewis MacPherson, Junior Rower
Lewis MacPherson, Junior Rower
"Colin found the pressure washer was fun - and got the mud off."
Michael Pugh, Safety Advisor
Michael Pugh, Safety Advisor
"Wellies and gloves the order of the day! Lewis, Abby and I helped with the clean up effort on several occasions whenever we could get down to the club. It was rather messy to say the least!"
Freda MacPherson, Lancaster Schools Rowing Association
Freda MacPherson, Lancaster Schools Rowing Association
"LRGSBC boats were stored outside at Halton Army Camp. Many of these boats took the direct brunt of the fast flowing water and debris that ripped through the Camp. Many of the Grammar School's boats were written off."
Steve Sullivan, Club Treasurer
Steve Sullivan, Club Treasurer
First post-Desmond row!
December 13, 2015.
December 13, 2015.
... one year on ...
fall 2016
fall 2016
"James Sullivan, Future Rower, lets Scott Durant, Olympic Rower,
wear his medal."
Stephanie Sodero, Senior Rower
wear his medal."
Stephanie Sodero, Senior Rower
"Adrian Lees, Vice Captain, christens the new and aptly named double Desmond Tutu."
Stephanie Sodero, Senior Rower
Stephanie Sodero, Senior Rower
"David Morris [right], MP Morecombe and Lunesdale, visited the club in April to see how we were clearing up after the flood damage. He was helpful in pointing us to the City Council Flood Resilience support funding."
Michael Pugh, Safety Advisor
Michael Pugh, Safety Advisor
"I haven't done very much else [in the past year]."
Colin McDermid [left], Vice President on time spent assisting club with recovery
Colin McDermid [left], Vice President on time spent assisting club with recovery
"Cat Smith MP [centre], Lancaster and Fleetwood, visited the club a year on since the 2015 floods to see how the clubs (JOG, LSRA, LRGSBC and LUBC) are recovering."
Steve Sullivan, Club Treasurer
Steve Sullivan, Club Treasurer
"James Sullivan, future rower, keeping watch. The Club now has an improved
flood resistance programme."
Stephanie Sodero, Senior Rower
flood resistance programme."
Stephanie Sodero, Senior Rower
"I was walking past the club mid-day on November 16, 2016
and stopped in my tracks when I saw the weir was, seemingly, gone. It took me a moment to get my bearings! It was the super moon high tide and the tide reached 10.3 metres. The change in the river was huge, but nothing in comparison to the photos of the floods that I've seen."
Stephanie Sodero, Senior Rower
and stopped in my tracks when I saw the weir was, seemingly, gone. It took me a moment to get my bearings! It was the super moon high tide and the tide reached 10.3 metres. The change in the river was huge, but nothing in comparison to the photos of the floods that I've seen."
Stephanie Sodero, Senior Rower
"New bay doors, reinforced floors, walls and ceilings, upgraded racks and improved lighting are among the structural improvements made to the club in the year following Desmond."
Steve Sullivan, Club Treasurer
Steve Sullivan, Club Treasurer
Club Captain, Scott Houghton, prepares to go out on the water.
The prospect of returning flood waters is on everyone's mind.
"We know this can only get worse."
Neil Wigglesworth, Vice President
The prospect of returning flood waters is on everyone's mind.
"We know this can only get worse."
Neil Wigglesworth, Vice President