I was born right in the middle of that winter. Forunately, I was 6000 miles due south of it at the time
That's a blast from the past and my teenage years. I was in North London. We had never seen chains on vehicles before, but it was the only way service vehicles could get around. Milk bottles with up to two inches of frozen milk sticking out the top - and we had it comparatively easy. Amazing ice patterns on the bedroom windows - on the inside. It could happen again. We still don't have the equipment for big freezes.
Yes - unfortunately in our temperate climate we don't have them frequently enough to justify spending millions on equipment that might just languish unused in a shed for maybe 10-15 years. Or, fortunately maybe, depending on which way you look at it. I also remember the winter of 1963 - in early January, I built an 'igloo' on my uncle's back lawn which didn't completely melt away until late March (the igloo, not the lawn!)... Here's the winter of 1955 and an incident that took place about 30-40 miles from here. Some Tilleys being shown in use. I had no idea that railway snowploughs were used at such a speed - I thought they were used to just gently push the snow to either side. I bet the blokes sitting on that fence got quite a surprise!
David, I remember both of these winters and to be honest we probably thought they were quite normal then. But the winter of 46/47 now that was one to remember - and I do.
I don't remember the '46/'47 winter, but my parents did. Like many, to keep warm they stayed in bed when not working, and begat me! There I was joining the rat race in September '47.
In Shetland severe winters were what we got every winter back then, but rural people were prepared for it, we had to be.
In the video "The Big freeze of 1963 Remembered", the frozen Aysgarth Falls mentioned at 28.48 is actually Hardraw Scar also known as Hardraw Force. The surrounding area forms a natural amphitheatre and Brass Band competions used to be held there. More information here: Hardraw Force - Wikipedia and here: Images for Hardraw Scar Henry.
Should have included this link for comparison between Hardraw and Aysgarth. Images for Aysgarth Falls
Alfred Wainwright certainly said it many times but apparently, it's originally Swedish - some sort of rhyming couplet from what I hear. Christer will probably know...
I don't... It's an often used expression here, of course. However, I never reflected over it being a specifically Swedish proverb, but it seems like you are correct.
I JUST remember the winter of 1963 as I was a small child then. We still had a coal fire in the living room, an oil burning heater in the bathroom, and used the gas cooker to heat the kitchen. Gas central heating was installed a couple of years later. And as regards the saying "theres no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing" These days I would add "and inappropriate BEDDING" It worries me that most people these days expect central heating all night to avoid being cold in bed. Would not an extra blanket, or a thicker duvet be more sensible ? These are sold everywhere and need not be expensive. My bedroom is unheated and fairly cold in severe weather, but I have never felt the need for overnight heating. I use 3 large thick wool blankets in winter and find this warm enough. Others prefer duvets. £50 spent on warm bedding will keep you warm for a lot longer than £50 spent on fuel.
Well, in the '50s and early '60s, we just had a Tilley R1 radiator to heat the entire upstairs of our house - which is why I think I've ended up here! Many's the night I went to bed with the orange glow and gentle hiss of that R1. I often wonder what happened to it... Well, every winter, that nice Mrs May gives me £200 to spend on heating throughout December, January and February so I leave my central heating on 24 hours - turned down to 15 degrees C when I go to bed then back up to 19 degrees C when I get up next day. With a 9.5 Tog duvet over me, I'm not cold in bed (especially those nights I drop anchor in the lee of Bum Island ) but the house quickly warms up to a comfortable temperature next morning. Works for me...
We didn't have a bathroom. But the outside toilet got a hurricane lamp hung under the cistern to stop it freezing. Nice to see the frost patterns on the inside windows of the two upstairs bedrooms (not). Body heat was what we had, and running on the spot lying down in bed to create some heat through friction. Kids today eh!
Great things! In what my friends refer to as my 'black period' I used one as a of heater for a couple of winters along with a Valor wick room heater & gifted paraffin. It was often sat on the toilet seat while I was taking a bath. Cooking on Primus stoves too of course!. I remember the challenges that poised when it was your turn for Dogeye (watch) at boarding school. When the Reveille bugle was sounded at 7am we kept watch for old Creighton coming across the parade square to make sure everyone was out of bed. It was the Dogeyes job to spot him & run round the 3 dugouts (dorms) & alert everyone to avoid people getting on report.
Back then I remember the river Dee freezing over, with folks skating on it etc. I believe even the Thames froze over. Imagine the fun the climate change doom mongers would have if that happened now
When I was a kid, we used to go to bed with a hot brick wrapped in flannel shoved down the end of the bed to keep the feet warm.
