FOR Ray Yoward, the flood water which swept through his North Yorkshire home a year ago today was only the beginning of 12 months of heartache.
He has endured a series of harrowing experiences which culminated in the death of his wife, Mary, in April when she lost her fight against breast cancer at the age of 66.
Mr Yoward is still living in a caravan next to the bungalow and kennels business that were devastated in the flash floods which struck the village of Hawnby on June 19 last year.
A dramatic rescue involving an RAF helicopter saw his partner airlifted to hospital with chest pains which was initially thought to be a heart attack. However within two months, she had been given the news that she was terminally ill with breast cancer.
The diagnosis was a shattering body blow to the couple, who were still facing the massive clear-up following the floods.
But they decided to marry in November after they began a relationship in 2000, although they had been friends since 1984. However, within five months Mrs Yoward had succumbed to the cancer which had spread to her lungs, liver and brain.
Mr Yoward has been battling to obtain planning consent from the North York Moors National Park Authority to relocate his bungalow and kennels business in a neighbouring field further away from the River Rye in a bid to avoid future flooding.
Work is now due to start on the development, but the cost of the relocation is expected to exceed £150,000. While the majority has been covered by insurance pay-outs, it is still costing Mr Yoward £20,000 of his own money.
Mr Yoward, 64, who is a chronic diabetic, moved to Hawnby to take over the Rye Boarding Kennels business, which looks after up to 42 dogs and a dozen cats, after running the Melbourne pub in York's Cemetery Road.
He said: "It's been an extremely tough 12 months, but I've been determined to get things back up and running. Mary's goal was to get into the new home, but that was obviously not meant to be.
"But for all that has happened, I have never once thought about moving away. I do love living out in Hawnby, the people here have been great and kept me going."
Speaking to the victims of last summer's flash floods, it is apparent that the close-knit communities throughout the Hambleton and Ryedale districts have united in the wake of the disaster.
While the multi-million pound clear-up operation is largely complete, the legacy of the floods continues.
Despite reassurances from the Environment Agency and the Met Office that last summer's disaster was caused by freak weather conditions, many people remain concerned that flash flooding could return with the ongoing threat of climate change.
Brian Thompson runs the butcher's shop in Helmsley and admitted that the business, which has been run by his family for 96 years, has only now returned to normal.
The shop in Bridge Street and Mr Thompson's home next door were swamped in the water brought about by the torrential downpour, and the repair work has cost more than £130,000.
Mr Thompson, 59, who also farms 250 acres of tenanted land with sheep, said: "We have faced BSE and foot-and-mouth and now there has been the flash floods.
"It seems as though everything has been thrown at us in the last 20 years. But without the help of the community, I certainly wouldn't have been able to open up again as quickly as I did."
North Yorkshire County Council has estimated the repair bill for roads and bridges damaged in the floods will cost more than £3.5m.
More than 30 footbridges were also swept away, and the council has worked closely with the North York Moors National Park Authority to ensure repairs were undertaken as quickly as possible to ensure minimum disruption to the vital tourism industry in the area.
Efforts have intensified following the floods to attract more visitors to the area. A partnership between Ryedale District Council and local businesses has led to a new marketing strategy being drawn up.
The Ryedale Tourism Initiative launches its latest project on Thursday, which includes a new leaflet and website to promote tourism in Hawnby and the surrounding area.
A series of promotional schemes have been funded by development agency Yorkshire Forward and the European Regional Development Fund, which is aimed at supporting business growth.
Work starts today on the last major repair contract with the rebuilding of Shaken Bridge at Hawnby after the 18th century structure was severely damaged.
The work will cost £900,000 and is scheduled to last for 39 weeks. The bridge has been by-passed by a temporary structure since last winter.
Work has already begun on repairing Chapel Bridge in Hawnby, and the £200,000 contract is due for completion in October.
David Bowe, the county council's assistant director for highways, said: "Work has been continuing, but we are getting to the later stages of the repairs now.
"The floods of 2000 affected a far larger area, but the flash flooding last summer caused a great deal more damage to the parts of North Yorkshire which were hit.
"The ferocity of the water was so much greater. It has had a big impact on the communities, but we have worked closely with them to try and get things back to normal as quickly as possible."
paul.jeeves@ypn.co.uk