from the editor
The severe floods and storms affecting huge areas of
Britain since the New Year got under way have brought
home to all of us just how precarious our lives and
livelihoods are – and how near-helpless we all are, in
the face of nature’s immense and terrifying power.
Images of the floodstricken inland areas and
the devastation of parts of
the coast seemed scarcely
to relate to us: we are
more used to seeing such
catastrophic scenes in
other parts of the world,
when Britain is always
among the first to send
help those afflicted.
If there is anything positive
to be salvaged out of the
nightmare, it is the almost
wartime spirit of ordinary
people – many farmers
among them – who have
freely given their time, energy
and money to help those
in need. In a society that
is increasingly selfish, that
offers some comfort.
And despite the bickering,
this national emergency
also – after much criticism
- focused the government’s