Thanks for your responses.
Sounds like it was a really big weather system, not just in terms of severity but size also, and everyone from controllers to aircrew must have genuinely had their hands full keeping everyone safe. Well done to all concerned.
Re. ExXB's post, the reason I was seeking comments was that I don't like to receive Daily Mail articles on my Facebook feed, so (as with stuff from Britain First and the like) I'm always anxious to find out the facts in order to refute what is written where possible. It is a nasty, spiteful publication with so many targets for its hatred that even most of its readership must find themselves in the firing line from time to time.
Unfortunately a distressingly large percentage of the population continues to have its opinions formed by the poison it pumps out.