Ten years since the BBC Radio York team served the county of North Yorkshire during the worst floods in living memory and in some areas, since records began.
Staff worked a 24 hour shift system and we broadcast live throughout a seven day period. People came to rely on our service, listening to the updates in remote places cut off from the outside world by the rising waters.
At times I became part of the county’s emergency response team – invited in to briefings at Silver Command at Fulford Road Police Station in York. A fine line had to be drawn between our public service and our impartiality – one I think I stood astride with integrity.
The following spring BBC Radio York was honoured with a Radio Academy Gold Award for Community Service. One of the memorable proud moments of my broadcasting career – possible only because of the great team I worked with at the studios in Bootham Row.