The big Freeze December 1962

A very cold easterly set in on 22 December and parts of the south of England in particular had heavy snow late on 26 December continuing into 27 December.

"I remember seeing the first flakes as we we had lunch on Boxing day."

"It snowed all afternoon and by the 27th was very deep. Victor road was impassable and Auntie Peg, Uncle Ernie & Cousins Bobby and Jacqueline who visited us Boxing day for lunch were completely snowed in. They had to stay for a couple of days until the roads cleared enough for them to get home. “

On 29–30 December 1962, a blizzard swept across the southwest of England and Wales. Snow drifted to over 6 metres (20 feet) deep in places, blocking roads and railways. The snow stranded villagers and brought down power lines. The near freezing temperatures meant that the snow cover lasted for over two months in some areas.

"Even for us in Penge London.
We had ice on the inside of our bedroom windows.
I was 9 Tony 2 and Geoff 14.
The only heating was a coal fire in the living room and a low power electric heater in the hall to make the trips to the loo bearable.
Two years earlier we were in Blandford road, Beckenham, with a gazunder and an out house."

January 1963

"We built a snow man in the garden with a cavity to keep ice cream in.
Before this if we wanted ice cream either Geoff or I would have to go to
"Fred's" the corner shop between main and pudding.
I don't think we had a fridge at that time. I remember milk in a bowl under a tea towel"

In January 1963 the country started to freeze solid with temperatures as low as −16C (3.2F) in places. Frozen fog was a hazard for most of the country.

In January 1963 the sea froze for 1 mile (1.6km) out from shore at Herne Bay. The upper reaches of the River Thames also froze over, though it did not freeze in central London, partly due to the hot effluent from two thermal power stations (Battersea and Bankside). (The removal of the old many-arched mediaeval London Bridge, which obstructed the river's free flow, and the river having embankment, make the river less likely to freeze in London than in earlier times. See River Thames frost fairs.) The ice was thick enough in some places that people were skating on it. Icicles hung from many roof gutterings; some of these were as long as a metre (3 feet, 3 inches).

In February 1963 more snow came. It was also windy and winds reached Force

(I think gale force starts at 83 ) on the Beaufort scale (gale force winds).

A 36-hour blizzard caused heavy drifting snow in most parts of the country. Drifts reached six metres in some areas. Gale force winds howled with wind speeds reaching up to 81 mph (130 km/h). On the Isle of Man, wind speeds were recorded at 119 mph (191 km/h).

March 1963

"All this time I walked to School through the snow and ice.
And I do not remember being cold"

The thaw set in in early March. 6 March was the first morning of the year without any frost anywhere in Britain. The temperatures soon soared to 17 degrees C (62.6 degrees F) and the remaining snow rapidly disappeared.

Seezya

Les