Community commemorates the man who steered Morpeth's post‑flood campaign
A memorial plaque has been installed at High Stanners to honour the work of architect Alan Bell, the long‑serving chair of the Morpeth Flood Action Group (MFAG). The plaque, placed close to the flood gates on the riverbank, recognises his leadership of the community in the aftermath of the River Wansbeck breach on 6 September 2008.
The 2008 event damaged more than 1,000 residential and business properties in the town when the river burst its banks and surface water flooded surrounding areas. In the years that followed, MFAG campaigned for improved defences and changes to flood insurance arrangements – work the plaque explicitly acknowledges.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by local Labour MP Ian Lavery, members of Mr Bell’s family and representatives of MFAG. The plaque notes that Mr Bell "remained chairman until he died in December 2024" and that he was awarded the British Empire Medal for his role in reorganising flood insurance nationally and for his service to local residents.
“Alan was the guy who first stuck his head above the parapet and he always had the support of the group, an interesting mix of people with a wide range of skills,”
The remarks came from MFAG member John Best, who paid tribute to Mr Bell’s single‑minded pursuit of the group’s goals. Mr Best said Mr Bell had not sought leadership but nonetheless provided steady direction during long years of campaigning.
- More than 1,000 properties were damaged in the 2008 flood.
- Alan Bell chaired MFAG until his death in December 2024.
- He received the British Empire Medal for contributions to flood insurance and local advocacy.
Speakers at the short ceremony thanked those who worked alongside Mr Bell during the campaign, and singled out Mr Lavery for his support. John Best described the MP as having been "Morpeth’s MP during most of the campaign for defences and flood insurance", adding that he had acted as the group's presence in Westminster and had lobbied ministers and officials to secure the necessary funding.
| Event | Detail |
|---|---|
| Flood date | 6 September 2008 |
| Properties affected | More than 1,000 |
| Chairmanship ended | December 2024 (death) |
The plaque is a local reminder of both the physical damage inflicted by the River Wansbeck and the sustained community effort that followed. MFAG’s campaigning ultimately led to funding for defences designed to reduce the chance of a repeat of the 2008 catastrophe. Those defences and the High Stanners flood gates are focal points for visitors walking the riverbank; for residents the plaque adds a human story to the town’s flood memory.
For a town where flood risk has shaped households, businesses and public planning, the commemoration serves as recognition of sustained civic effort. The presence of family, fellow campaigners and the town’s MP underlined the plaque’s dual purpose: to remember an individual and to acknowledge the broader community campaign that has altered Morpeth’s relationship with the river.
While the plaque specifically commemorates one man, it also marks the work of a volunteer group composed of people with varied skills who, according to MFAG members, combined to press for change over many years. The ceremony returned attention to the process by which local voices influenced government funding and insurance practice, and to the personal toll of long campaigns carried out on behalf of a community.
The new memorial is now in place at High Stanners, beside the flood gates, where residents and visitors can reflect on both the events of 2008 and the campaign that followed.
