Infamous metmen/women
Linton Ken was probably Ken Dart
Harsh to mention, but MetOs failing to forecast is a theme....
Bruggen in the late 90s/early 00s had a rather large, Scottish lady forecaster and you could pretty much plan for the opposite and be safe!
John Dixon, SMetO Scampton in the last days of the V force. Said to have set up a race with a taking-off Vulcan, JD in his souped up Chevette [!] on the peri track. Result close.
Other met men:
- The dunce who persuaded the Domnie (the jet type!) squadron at Cranwell that the aerodrome would go out in fog - guaranteed. So they cancelled night flying, repaired to the pub and watched the twinkling stars....
The MetO later admitted that he'd misplotted his tephigram - but the Dominie squadron didn't get another crack at night flying for a fortnight!- The newcomer at Brawdy who hadn't been briefed on 'supersonic stratus' and other local quirks. His starring moment came when the gathering crowd asked "Any chance of snow today?", to be told "No - none!". "So is that white stuff gathering outside some mysterious new phenomenon?". Enter the Stn Cdr who greeted him with a cheery "Hello, Mac - have some actual!", then slung a snowball at him - it landed on his water-based lumocolour slides which then turned into a multi-coloured ruin.
- Griff-the-met who taught us at RAFC Cranwell. In those days the groundschool was down at the 26 threshold end, in wooden huts. One day, Plod declared bikini red, so the road was blocked solid. Griff eventually turned up and asked a chum "Have you seen the queue!". "Looks more like stratus to me, Griff", came the reply.
- And, of course, 'metman-with-waistcoats-of-many-colours' at Brize!
Tabs please !
A colleague and I stopped in the rain at Abingdon to offer an RAF officer a lift to the building he was walking to some distance away. I was later taken to task for telling him to hop into the back when I should have in fact changed seats to allow him to sit in the front.
There may or may not have been a Met man who soon after built a nest under the ceremonial eagle on a plinth and slipped in a few hens eggs for good measure.
There may or may not have been a Met man who soon after built a nest under the ceremonial eagle on a plinth and slipped in a few hens eggs for good measure.
Brawdy was fantastic for embarrassing met men. I remember late 80's, when the met man would remain in the windowless building for the half-hour between early & main briefing. He stood up once, forecasting gin clear, at which point one of the standing back row lifted a boot and tapped open the fire door. The back 3 rows disappeared in the fog which rolled in.
Fair dues. Next day he forecast ginners again, followed by an apologetic "Mind you, I said that yesterday."
Fair dues. Next day he forecast ginners again, followed by an apologetic "Mind you, I said that yesterday."
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Whoever they were, they were far better at forecasting (weather ships were useful) than the present crop. They used plain English (isn't the constant emphasising of words and phrases annoying?), and didn't flaunt about, theatrically. And they didn't cost us zillions, with satellites et al, all to no significant improvement in performance.
But some of the tottie is worth watching
But some of the tottie is worth watching
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The 'Duck' at Leeming in the 70's.
2 inches of snow in 10 minutes followed by him issuing a 'Snow Warning' which muggins had to Tannoy. I was known as 'Snowy' for weeks.
Then, months later, the Met Office roof blew off and landed on the ASP. 10 minutes later 'Ducky' issued a 'Strong Wind Warning'. Guess who had to Tannoy that one! Correct, I was 'Windy' for weeks.
2 inches of snow in 10 minutes followed by him issuing a 'Snow Warning' which muggins had to Tannoy. I was known as 'Snowy' for weeks.
Then, months later, the Met Office roof blew off and landed on the ASP. 10 minutes later 'Ducky' issued a 'Strong Wind Warning'. Guess who had to Tannoy that one! Correct, I was 'Windy' for weeks.
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Somewhere in Biscay in 2002 - about 0900.
Met girl briefs 'Blue,White', but says that Green is a possibility later - when we question this she gets a little defensive and dismisses the possibility of Green. 'Ace' we say because we are off to go splash bombing. The met girl leaves our room at 0915. At 0920 the met office pipes (tannoys) 'Green, Green'. At 0930 the met office pipes 'Yellow 1' and at 0935 a Bag shuts down on deck because he can't see the ramp. Good job!
Met girl briefs 'Blue,White', but says that Green is a possibility later - when we question this she gets a little defensive and dismisses the possibility of Green. 'Ace' we say because we are off to go splash bombing. The met girl leaves our room at 0915. At 0920 the met office pipes (tannoys) 'Green, Green'. At 0930 the met office pipes 'Yellow 1' and at 0935 a Bag shuts down on deck because he can't see the ramp. Good job!
Thread Starter
Was that the rather...'camp' chap who drove one of the rare Chevette 2300HS homologation specials?
I'd go for eccentric ........... and yes, thats the car. Lived in Doncaster, and drove to work via roundabout at Beckingham near Gainsboro. I lived near roundabout. On a quiet night the roar of the car under full steam was very distinctive. Distinctive enough for me to phone him once: "Dixon, were you spectacularly late for the morning shift, or ditto early for the evening?". "Admin day boss!".
He always answered phone "S Met O, YES YES!".
I'd go for eccentric ........... and yes, thats the car. Lived in Doncaster, and drove to work via roundabout at Beckingham near Gainsboro. I lived near roundabout. On a quiet night the roar of the car under full steam was very distinctive. Distinctive enough for me to phone him once: "Dixon, were you spectacularly late for the morning shift, or ditto early for the evening?". "Admin day boss!".
He always answered phone "S Met O, YES YES!".
Thread Starter
Dave Duck was a local farmer first and a met man second, in his mind. He was a bit too near a nuclear test earlier in life, and had more than his fair share of health problems.
In the dim distant days when Watton was one of ours, they phoned "Watton here". "Its ****ty here too!" said he.
In the dim distant days when Watton was one of ours, they phoned "Watton here". "Its ****ty here too!" said he.
Last edited by langleybaston; 21st Nov 2012 at 11:06.
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Met Persons
We had three very good guys at Aberporth late eighties...we called them 'The Three Tempos'. Same place saw a lady met person arrive...so we called he 'Claudia' (Think about that one!)...the powers that be decreed it was time for the Met Office to be decorated, they let 'Claudia; pick the colours...she did and left shortly afterwards. The guys then had the pleasure of working for the next 10 years in what could only be described as 'menstrual' pink walls
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Infamous met-men
I Remember some of those characters well Dave!
Tweedy dressed as a fairy to do the COs brief one Christmas at Scampton was outstanding and very funny!
Effing George was a joy to work with and real value in the bar (as was Tweedy)
Do any old Meteor boys remember the 'ice queen?'
'Hopeless' the weather girl at Lossie?
Les at, I believe, Laarbruch standing at the brief and saying, "fog" before sitting down again. Station Commander says, "come on Les, you've got to say more than that" Les gets up, "Thick fog" Sits down again!
Another who will remain un-named taking a water pistol into the brief in his inside pocket at Cottesmore. One of the A Sqn pilots had a dog which went to the front and smelled your willie whilst you were briefing. Met man at this point drew his water pistol and shot the dog between the eyes! The room erupted with laughter and the dog never did it again. Happy days!
Tweedy dressed as a fairy to do the COs brief one Christmas at Scampton was outstanding and very funny!
Effing George was a joy to work with and real value in the bar (as was Tweedy)
Do any old Meteor boys remember the 'ice queen?'
'Hopeless' the weather girl at Lossie?
Les at, I believe, Laarbruch standing at the brief and saying, "fog" before sitting down again. Station Commander says, "come on Les, you've got to say more than that" Les gets up, "Thick fog" Sits down again!
Another who will remain un-named taking a water pistol into the brief in his inside pocket at Cottesmore. One of the A Sqn pilots had a dog which went to the front and smelled your willie whilst you were briefing. Met man at this point drew his water pistol and shot the dog between the eyes! The room erupted with laughter and the dog never did it again. Happy days!
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Never knew the name but the local at Aldergrove in the 1970s who answered a question on what the night weather was likely to be with
"Like today, only darker".
"Like today, only darker".
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Langley
Dave Duck is still going strong. Still farming. I see him every so often. Not sure if he still glows in the dark. His Blessed Good Lady does.
(And I mean that in the nicest possible way)
Dave Duck is still going strong. Still farming. I see him every so often. Not sure if he still glows in the dark. His Blessed Good Lady does.
(And I mean that in the nicest possible way)
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I had the extreme good fortune to work with F-ing George in the Vale of York years ago. George Stevenson was an absolute LEGEND. He started his career as a Sgt pilot flying Met Recce Halifax's out of Ballykelly. On demob he moved to work for, I think, Post Office Telephones before being seconded to the FCO in East Africa. He was one of the few forecasters who could brief in Swahili or Urdu or probably both, knowing George. No mean shot with a 12 bore, he and Mark Gilson(?) ran the Linton rough shooting club. George was a skilled bee-keeper and a keen golfer. He packed more into a life than you could reasonably expect 3 men to do. At his funeral there were as many outside the church as in. And yes, he had a wide lexicon of industrial strength Anglo-Saxon and could use it to great effect! An utterly utterly brilliant man and we will not see his likes again.Thanks George. 
Last edited by Green Flash; 21st Nov 2012 at 19:09.