On 1st May 1976 two memorable things happened.
1) Saints won the FA Cup for the first (and so far only) time.
2) The sun came out
Actually the sun coming out wasn't memorable at the time, it was only 4 and a half months later when it went away again that it had become memorable.
That was a GREAT summer. Hardly a cloud in the sky. Temperatures reached more than boiling. Every day! Rivers steamed. Car became the new barbeques with eggs being fried on the bonnets and sunday roasts being cooked in the boot (thats hoods and trunks for any American readers) . Roads melted. Lawns looked like earthquake zones. Cricket (American readers imagine a game of baseball, organised around meal breaks, for almost a week) test matches (which according to the rules HAVE to be delayed at some point during the 5 days) were delayed when umpires melted. Even night times were too warm because even the moon was hotter than usual. *
Throughout the previous winter and spring we had helped my Dad build a swimming pool in the back garden, 4ft deep 20ft diameter. Perfect timing or what ? In the build up to that years summer holidays I was rapidly becoming Mr Popular at school. One weekend we counted 41 family friends and relatives who all "just happened" to "pop round" and, by amazing coincidence, all "just happened" to have towels and swimmys with them.
The summer dragged on and on, until we were back at school. Mid -September came and I went on a weekend field trip to Fairthorne Manor, which included a number of outdoor activities including, on the evening we arrived , orienteering . None of us had thought to pack waterproofs, no-one had even seen a cloud since April. Half way through our map-following mission the heavens opened with a vengeance. 6 inches of rain in 30 minutes. Soaked to the skin, and only summer clothes to last the weekend. Still, we were kids, we enjoyed it.
Today is the 3rd of May. It's already been sunny for at least 10 days now and no sign of letting up. Could 76 be repeated again? If it lasts until September again have some waterproofs ready - you've been warned.
Climate change ? - my arse !
1) Saints won the FA Cup for the first (and so far only) time.
2) The sun came out
Actually the sun coming out wasn't memorable at the time, it was only 4 and a half months later when it went away again that it had become memorable.
That was a GREAT summer. Hardly a cloud in the sky. Temperatures reached more than boiling. Every day! Rivers steamed. Car became the new barbeques with eggs being fried on the bonnets and sunday roasts being cooked in the boot (thats hoods and trunks for any American readers) . Roads melted. Lawns looked like earthquake zones. Cricket (American readers imagine a game of baseball, organised around meal breaks, for almost a week) test matches (which according to the rules HAVE to be delayed at some point during the 5 days) were delayed when umpires melted. Even night times were too warm because even the moon was hotter than usual. *
Throughout the previous winter and spring we had helped my Dad build a swimming pool in the back garden, 4ft deep 20ft diameter. Perfect timing or what ? In the build up to that years summer holidays I was rapidly becoming Mr Popular at school. One weekend we counted 41 family friends and relatives who all "just happened" to "pop round" and, by amazing coincidence, all "just happened" to have towels and swimmys with them.
The summer dragged on and on, until we were back at school. Mid -September came and I went on a weekend field trip to Fairthorne Manor, which included a number of outdoor activities including, on the evening we arrived , orienteering . None of us had thought to pack waterproofs, no-one had even seen a cloud since April. Half way through our map-following mission the heavens opened with a vengeance. 6 inches of rain in 30 minutes. Soaked to the skin, and only summer clothes to last the weekend. Still, we were kids, we enjoyed it.
Today is the 3rd of May. It's already been sunny for at least 10 days now and no sign of letting up. Could 76 be repeated again? If it lasts until September again have some waterproofs ready - you've been warned.
Climate change ? - my arse !
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*Disclaimer: This article has been written with the aid of selective memory. The author accepts no responsibility for any errors in statistics quoted, nor errors in accuracy of descriptions of events.
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