Community turns out to save social club’s flooded dancefloor

A committee member at a social club has said it was “heartening” to see dozens of people turn out to help save its dancefloor after flooding threatened to destroy it.

The dancefloor at Walthamstow Trades Hall, a members’ club in north-east London, was under threat after the rain that battered the south of England led to water encroaching on the wood.

But one committee member said “most of the threat has gone” after around 30 people turned up to help avert the danger.

“It was pouring down one side and it was naturally running around the edge of the dancefloor,” Daniel Barnard, from Walthamstow, told the PA news agency.

“So it was a good two or three feet into the dancefloor all the way round.

“The carpet was completely sodden – we were talking about how that carpet is the original carpet that was there when it was built.

“The main problem was getting the water off the dancefloor, because had that been allowed to be soaked in it would’ve completely ruined it.”

A plea was sent out on the club’s Facebook page, reading: “URGENT – Can you help?

“We are all struggling with the flash floods but if you’re nearby and can get to us safely please come and help save our precious dance floor.”

Dozens responded to the call were able to give the dancefloor a better chance of a full recovery.

“It doesn’t sound a lot but it is a lot,” Mr Barnard said of the number of volunteers who arrived, some with mops and buckets.

“It was really heartening to see so many people turn up.

“Especially after the time we’ve been having recently… there aren’t many places left that are there for everybody, whoever you are, whatever you’re into.

“One of the really nice things was that only half of them were members of the club.

“If that many people hadn’t (helped) I think there’s a good chance that dancefloor would have been ruined beyond repair.”

Mr Barnard said it will be a day or two before they know the full extent of the damage, but added he was “hopeful”.

“It’s got to be dried out, I think it’s going to be a day or so before we really know whether the dancefloor’s OK,” he said.

“Buildings of that era, even though we joke about them, it’s close to people’s hearts because it reminds them of days gone by when we were more community-led.

“Most of the threat has gone – until it’s completely dry we are on tenterhooks, but I’m hopeful.”