A MARLOW flood-beating couple are an example to all of us.

We are often prone to moaning when the natural elements make everyday life a little bit more difficult.

Many people are too willing to take a defeatist attitude when faced with problems that affect our continental friends on a regular basis.

John and Gil Anderson are not these kind of people.

Gil, who is a drama teacher, could have easily let her students down over the weekend, even though they had prepared hard for an exam. The floods had prevented them getting to the Anderson home where they were due to take their test.

But instead of calling the whole thing off, Gil got in a rowing boat and made her way to the town centre, where she supervised the exam. Many teachers would not have shown this level of dedication to 80 students.

John has been equally pragmatic. He uses the rowing boat to collect the morning mail and milk for himself and his neighbours.

It's a fine example of community spirit and shows that at least in some villages people do not care only about themselves. The floods have been a real nightmare but it is some consolation that they have brought out the best in some of us.