Volunteers turned out to build sandbag dams to protect singer George Michael's home from the floods

 

 

 RECRUITMENT consultant was stranded by the floods in his cottage in Goring over the weekend. But Ben Murphy insisted he was enjoying himself, saying: "I've got my own private moat!"

Mr. Murphy, aged 29, arrived home from a skiing holiday in the United States with his wife Julie, 25, to find they needed wellingtons to get into Ferry Cottage.

But after she left to visit her parents, the water level rose and Mr. Murphy, who runs his own business, Orbis Resourcing, from home, was stranded in the cottage.

He told the Standard: "I am completely cut off. But I'm alright as long as I've got power - I've got my own private moat.

"I'm working from home but I think visitors might be unable to get here at the moment. This kind of weather isn't ideal for pinstripe suits.

"I've lived here since September and, even though I'm from the country, I've never seen anything like this before."

John Farr, of Gatehampton Manor, who owns and lets Ferry Cottage, said: "We have lived here for 20 years and we have never seen the river as high as this.

"Unfortunately Ben will be completely cut off for a few days."

His wife, Tina Farr, added: "The river has risen a tremendous amount in the last 24 hours - we have moved most of the items out of our stables, except the dinghy we store in there which is floating quite happily."

Peter Cleary, assistant divisional officer for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service who was in charge at Goring, said: "The river is rising rapidly, and we are currently helping people in five separate incidents in the village.

"But we are fighting a losing battle, because the water is still rising.

"We are now bringing in a boat so that we can get up and down the river to warn people they may be at risk, and to help them with any preparations they may need to make such as sorting out electricity cables and moving their belongings upstairs."

Millionaire singer George Michael also found himself battling the elements as water levels near his Goring home rose and entered houses in Ferry Lane.

Staff and friends helped to move hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of recording equipment from the star's studio, while sandbags were filled and put around the house to minimise the damage.

Water levels across Goring Lock increased so much that the levels of water either side of the adjoining weir were virtually indistinguishable.
 

http://www.henley-on-thames.com/main/news/Previous%202003/100103/news/story16.htm

5th January  

In GORING, Oxon, firemen had to barricade singer George Michael's riverside home after the Thames burst its banks.

 

http://infobrix.yellowbrix.com/pages/infobrix/Story.nsp?story_id=35645273&ID=infobrix&scategory=Business+and+Finance&

 

Pop star George Michael's Oxfordshire mansion was also at risk. Fire crews had to pile sandbags around his multi- million pound home in Goring-on-Thames

http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/homepage/news/page.cfm?objectid=12502882&method=sm_full&siteid=81959

 

In GORING, Oxon, firemen had to barricade singer George Michael's riverside home after the Thames burst its banks.http://www.people.co.uk/homepage/news/page.cfm?objectid=12503419&method=thepeople_full&siteid=79490

 

At the riverside home of George Michael, the pop star, in Goring-on-Thames, Oxon, firemen and domestic staff piled sandbags against doors to prevent water reaching his home. At one stage, rising water threatened his recording studio.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;$sessionid$GNKYZWE4ANTJVQFIQMGSFFWAVCBQWIV0?xml=/news/2003/01/06/nwet06.xml&sSheet=/news/2003/01/06/ixnewstop.html

 

 Thanks, Elena. :o)