Good Samaritans praised by stranded drivers (From Bucks Free Press)

Good Samaritans praised by stranded drivers

1:11pm Tuesday 22nd December 2009 in News By Andy Carswell

The scene on London Road in Loudwater this morning

RESIDENTS have thanked Good Samaritans who helped them get home or put them up for the night during Monday night's snow.

Many helped dig motorists out of a tight spot, and others helped push vehicles up slippery slopes as they struggled to get home.

Sarah Golding took four hours to get home to Chalfont St Giles after seeing a pantomime at the Elgiva Theatre in Chesham with her children.

She paid tribute to the group of eight to ten people who helped get motorists up and down Pheasant Hill.

She said: “There were quite a few people pushing people up, getting completely splattered. I don't know where they came from but it was really fabulous for them to be out.

“I don't know what I would have done if I'd got stuck.”

Mrs Golding, of The Lagger, also had a shock when a familiar face offered to lend her a hand.

The 34-year-old said: “My daughter needed the loo between Amersham and Chesham so we stopped at the Boot and Slipper and the landlord let her use it.

“Later, someone knocked on the window and he was the spitting image of the landlord. I asked him, 'Didn't I see you in the pub in Amersham three hours ago?' He said he had a twin brother who works there.”

Bucks Free Press readers leaving comments on our website also thanked people who had gone above and beyond the call of duty to help get them home safely.

'Snowgenie' from Farnham Common was stuck on New Road for three hours.

She said: “I just wanted to express my appreciation to the gentleman with the shovel and his helpers who dug my car out twice when I got stuck and also, the lovely lady who offered me a warm cup of tea on my way down when I had to turn my car around as I could not make it up New Road. All of you where fantastic and I can't thank you enough.”

'Rocky' from High Wycombe said: “I applaud the good work of the community on Desborough Avenue who helped drivers out of the treacherous road conditions.”

'Chelseafan' of High Wycombe helped come to the rescue of a coachload of people in Desborough Avenue trying to get to Gatwick Airport after having their flight diverted from Birmingham.

They said: “Really good to see a group of young men patrolling with their shovels to help out strangers who became stuck.”

One person who was glad to have found a 'welcoming inn' was Bucks Free Press sub-editor Liz Collins who found herself stranded in the car park yesterday at about 10.30pm.

The car would not move forwards or backwards, wheels spinning to no avail. After a quick slippery walk over to the Derehams Inn just off the London Road in Derehams Lane, landlady Margaret Sturgess was quick with a welcoming coffee.

Mentioning Liz's plight, Margaret rallied locals John Fisher, Margaret's daughter Elizabeth, Matt Newman and some friends who quickly brought out a shovel, walked the short distance to the car and proceeded to dig it out and push it across treacherous ice and onto the relative safety of Station Road, Loudwater.

From there it was a tricky and slow, but welcoming, ride for Liz to her home in Bicester via Beaconsfield.

Liz said today: "This morning I spoke to landlord Graham Sturgess. A cheery 'You're welcome' was his response to my thanks for what he, his wife and the 'locals' had done. Courtesy and care is alive and well."