A pair of South Hams Council officers behind the district's rescue operations in the face of the winter storm disasters, have been given a royal pat on the back. South Hams emergency planning officer Peter Dale and James Kershaw, team leader for environmental protection were the men co-coordinating the district's emergency response as the South Hams took a battering from the gales and heavy rain. Both were invited to Exeter to meet Prince Charles and Camilla as the Royal duo made a flying visit to the Westcountry to meet people whose livelihoods were hit by the flooding. Mr Dale and Mr Kershaw were among 150 police, fire and local authority emergency staff who met the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall at the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service Exeter Fire Training Centre at Exeter Airport. Both shook hands with Prince Charles along with the other representatives and heard the Prince issue his grateful thanks for all the effort they had put in to contain the winter chaos. The South Hams duo headed up the team co-coordinating the emergency measure as areas like Torcross, Slapton Line and Beesands were hit by huge storms and Modbury, Salcombe and other areas were hit by flooding.