Looking Back and a Question

If you live in the UK you won’t need me to tell you that we have snow. Nor will you need me to mention that 1963 was the year of the Big Freeze when snow and ice covered the land for 3 months. Without this fact, and the fact that this event was half a century ago, the mainstream TV channels would be finding it difficult to fill their air-time.

I can remember the event. (Regular readers will remember that I about 175 years old). It wasn’t as difficult for us as in other parts of the country. Wales and the West was very badly affected. This has been portrayed well by film and commentary from the period, but there is one thing that I remember that has not been mentioned.

My memory is that the snow was so deep that roads became obliterated. It was so difficult to find a way on foot that people walked on hedges. I’m sure this was reported in newspapers of the day. So, my question is….. am I right? Does anyone else remember that? Why hasn’t it been mentioned on TV because that would be a very graphic illustration of the event?

Answers on a postcard…….. or in the comments box below. Sorry, no prizes, and yes, there were three questions in the end……

Have a safe day wherever you are.

19 thoughts on “Looking Back and a Question”

  1. I have no answer to your question because I don’t recall the event (nor reading about it, woops! *hangs head down in shame*) but the event certain puts things into perspective, now that we have a country semi-paralysed by just a few inches of snow?! Ever since I moved to the UK 4 years ago, there has been snow in the winter, some winters more than others. Maybe we should get used it. After all, I’m sure the Big Freeze must have been much worse 😉

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    1. Some parts of the UK have always had snow. However, where we live it’s safe to say that years went by with none at all, not even a thought about it. This is why we are so unprepared – the weather has always varied so much in so many parts there has been difficulty in forward planning. It will have to become a real annual event before anything permanent is done, our memories are too long…… Hopefully it will soon go. I just want to stay under the duvet 🙂 Thanks for commenting. I know that Sweden handles it differently….

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      1. Very true! I’m Italian and people are surprised when I say we do get snow in the winter, obviously not everywhere, but some regions do. And just like in the UK, there’s the same problem in some areas where now snow in winter starts being the norm but while people seem to cope reasonably well, councils are slow to understand the need for a little investment 😉
        But hmmm, the convo is going into policits. That’s a bad topic for my blood pressure, so… Have a nice Tuesday! 😀
        *whooshing away wrapped in a duvet saying “Wondewooooman!” like the tv series jingle*

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    1. 1994! Yes, you see that year we had none. Not even a flake. Not even a white sky that might have thought about a flake. It makes me feel cold just to think of it. Brrrr, snow over the top of wellies. Not good….. results in wet feet. Thanks for commenting, Alastair. We aren’t that far from you in miles, but the ‘geography’ makes all the difference.

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      1. It was winter of late 95, but yeah, the geography makes all the difference. And I had to wait for my sister to finish, so I had to strip off and put my clothes in front of the coal fire, Was nice and warm to go home though 😉

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    1. I think that if you expect snow you just get on with it. We don’t in most parts of the country. I never expect snow – I just want to ignore it ‘)

      Did you have a good day for your birthday?

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      1. Yes, it was a really good day. The weather was perfect and I did fun things all day…one half day with a friend with the same birthday and then on my own to ramble about as I pleased.
        Thank you for asking 🙂

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  4. I remember being told that but don’t remember it myself. I was quite young in 63 and while I remember lots os snow I certainly don’t remember 3 months, but its rarely as bad in the south west.

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  5. The snow in Wales arrived on Boxing Day 1962 and lasted until March 1963. There were even patches of ice on the sea which created huge ice boulders on the beaches and blizzards caused snowdrifts up to 20 feet deep.

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    1. My grandmother came to stay on Boxing Day and stayed until March. It was a very fortuitous visit in view of the weather as her village was cut off for weeks. They’ve reported the frozen sea etc,but still no walking on hedges in the west country….. Maybe I just dreamt it.

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