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ITSY
25 January 2015 00:06:25

Great little thread this! Though it pales into comparison against most on here, it has to be Feb '09, simply because it was the first time in my life that I had seen a cold/snowy spell last more than a couple of days. In two weeks we had 4 heavy snowfalls (by heavy I mean heavy for Southern England, in Cambridgeshire at least, of no less than 2-3inches), with two particularly memorable days. The first waking up to a good 3 inches of snow outside entirely unexpectedly, only to have another 3 inches fall in a much overhyped blizzard that afternoon. The first time I had seen 2 major events in one day. The second was when college in Cambridge itself closed due to snow about a week later - which was most odd as it hadn't snowed a bean in Cambridge. After being on the bus to my village for little over 15 minutes the snow appeared, and by the time we got to my village a mere 7 miles from town there was another 2-3inches - the first genuine experience of urban/countryside differences.


The second favourite has to be a combined Dec '09 for the sheer speed of the snowfall in my only experience of a Wash Streamer. The snow lasted for about 6 hours and gave about 4-6inches. March '13 the other joint second spot with the heaviest single snowfall I've experienced - a level 5 inches out the front, and 8 inches on the back garden. Remarkable scenes for March - I doubt I'll see the likes again.


Honestly, between '09 and '13 we were quite spoilt as a country. Can't really complain can we?!

Allyj
25 January 2015 00:14:55
I remember some great spells in my home town of Shenfield in Essex, especially the 80s but one spell always stands out and that was 7th February 1991 in central London. I was 19 and started my first full time job at the later to be bust Barings Bank. The office was at 8 Bishopsgate and my commute was the train from Shenfield into Liverpool Street.

I knew the forecast was going to be cold but had no idea of the chaos about to come that day. It was already snowing when I went in but nothing heavy at 8.30am got in the office for 9am. As the morning progressed it became increasingly clear that this was going to be a large dump of snow. We were on the 16th floor and it was a total whiteout outside. I remember going out about midday to get some lunch and walking down Bishopsgate in about 4inches of lying snow on the pavement and a blizzard in progress. It got to 3pm and the bank basically said anyone not London centric go home now as the trains were struggling. About 1/4 of the staff were booked into hotels.

I remember getting down to Liverpool street and seeing the whole concourse full, every platform all 18 of them, had people crammed to the very end and Police had closed access to the station from all points except the Bishopsgate stairs. Numerous announcements of 'due to the inclement weather' etc etc...At about 4.30 the tannoy announces a train will be arriving on platform 14 lucky for me the platform I and 2colleagues were already on. A sight I never wish to see again all the 100s of people on platform 13 then jumped down onto the tracks to get to our platform infront of the train as it was pulling in, people sadly were panicking that much!

With it seemed liked people hanging off train we pulled out and had a very slow journey back to my station. I remember the walk home of about a mile In a suit and overcoat and remember vividly snow up to my knees and the freezing and howling winds. Next day the Friday was a no go, then the infamous wrong type of snow from British rail excuse was in the paper, and a miffed PM John Major berating British rail. A memorable couple of days in history I will never forget.

bledur
25 January 2015 14:05:09

Probably the last one a few days ago as my memory is not too good. Blink

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