It's probably of little interest to anyone but me but I can't let this
anniversary pass without mention.

50 years ago today I started work in the Met Office at Prestwick Airport. I've
been working full-time in meteorology ever since and I've got no thoughts of
retiring yet. For the first 35 years I was an employee:

1961-1967 Met Office
1967-1970 Australian Bureau of Meteorology
1970-1980 Imcos Marine
1980-1996 Noble Denton

Since 1996 I have been self-employed.

I consider that I have been extremely fortunate to have been able to spend a
lifetime being paid to indulge in a hobby! My wife says I've never done a real
days work in my life. My career has spanned what I think has been a most
interesting phase in the development of the science of meteorology. I have
worked in all continents other than South America. Operationally we have gone
from 5 characters per second teletype to the computerised world we are all
familiar with today. Perhaps a lot of the fun has gone out of the job in recent
years and certainly a great deal of the local knowledge and experience has
gone. And, despite all of the advances, consistent accurate forecasting of
local detail for the next 12-24 hours has not yet been achieved.

I've enjoyed all parts of my career but I have particularly fond memories of
the 3 years I spent on the Ocean Weather Ships in the mid-1960s. By chance, I
have discovered that another ex-Weather Ship metman from the mid-60s, Bill
Howard, lives only 200 yards from me. It's a small world.

Today, I have an incredible array of "tools" available to look at both the
real-time weather and the historical weather. The subject has just as much
fascination for me today as it had 50 years ago. I look forward to many more
years of work and hobby!

--
Norman Lynagh
Tideswell, Derbyshire
303m a.s.l.

Congratulations and Happy Anniversary! A splendid achievement and
thanks for sharing.

It is a pity that the RoyMetSoc do not have some life time
achievement award/recognition. Phillip if you are reading perhaps
something could be put forward?

As you say you span a very interesting period in the collection,
processing and modelling of data at the expense of local knowledge,
practical experience etc.


Your post actually made me feel young which does not happen often
these days. My PhD research started in 1985 which I class as the start
of my professional career so I am not quite up to 26 years. I doubt,
I will be professionally active in 24 years time! If active in any
way!

So your generation will the last to clock up 50 years in the business
I believe.


All the best,

Andy


On 3 Aug 2011 07:59:01 GMT, "Norman" wrote:

It's probably of little interest to anyone but me but I can't let this
anniversary pass without mention.

50 years ago today I started work in the Met Office at Prestwick Airport. I've
been working full-time in meteorology ever since and I've got no thoughts of
retiring yet. For the first 35 years I was an employee:

1961-1967 Met Office
1967-1970 Australian Bureau of Meteorology
1970-1980 Imcos Marine
1980-1996 Noble Denton

Since 1996 I have been self-employed.

I consider that I have been extremely fortunate to have been able to spend a
lifetime being paid to indulge in a hobby! My wife says I've never done a real
days work in my life. My career has spanned what I think has been a most
interesting phase in the development of the science of meteorology. I have
worked in all continents other than South America. Operationally we have gone
from 5 characters per second teletype to the computerised world we are all
familiar with today. Perhaps a lot of the fun has gone out of the job in recent
years and certainly a great deal of the local knowledge and experience has
gone. And, despite all of the advances, consistent accurate forecasting of
local detail for the next 12-24 hours has not yet been achieved.

I've enjoyed all parts of my career but I have particularly fond memories of
the 3 years I spent on the Ocean Weather Ships in the mid-1960s. By chance, I
have discovered that another ex-Weather Ship metman from the mid-60s, Bill
Howard, lives only 200 yards from me. It's a small world.

Today, I have an incredible array of "tools" available to look at both the
real-time weather and the historical weather. The subject has just as much
fascination for me today as it had 50 years ago. I look forward to many more
years of work and hobby!

"Norman" wrote in message ...

It's probably of little interest to anyone but me but I can't let this
anniversary pass without mention.

50 years ago today I started work in the Met Office at Prestwick Airport.
I've
been working full-time in meteorology ever since and I've got no thoughts of
retiring yet. For the first 35 years I was an employee:

Today, I have an incredible array of "tools" available to look at both the
real-time weather and the historical weather. The subject has just as much
fascination for me today as it had 50 years ago. I look forward to many more
years of work and hobby!

Hi, Norman,
Congratulations and good luck. I can't believe it's almost 20 years since
you spoke to us in Durham! (April 1993)
Best wishes,
Ken

In article ,
Norman writes:
It's probably of little interest to anyone but me but I can't let this
anniversary pass without mention.
snip

Happy Anniversary!
--
John Hall
"Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick
themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened."
Winston S Churchill (1874-1965)

On Wed, 3 Aug 2011 10:38:16 +0100, "Ken Cook"
wrote:

"Norman" wrote in message ...

It's probably of little interest to anyone but me but I can't let this
anniversary pass without mention.

50 years ago today I started work in the Met Office at Prestwick Airport.
I've
been working full-time in meteorology ever since and I've got no thoughts of
retiring yet. For the first 35 years I was an employee:

Today, I have an incredible array of "tools" available to look at both the
real-time weather and the historical weather. The subject has just as much
fascination for me today as it had 50 years ago. I look forward to many more
years of work and hobby!

Hi, Norman,
Congratulations and good luck. I can't believe it's almost 20 years since
you spoke to us in Durham! (April 1993)
Best wishes,
Ken


Hi Ken,

Not to detract from Norman's longevity and achievement.

I think it is 8 years since I spoke in Durham going by the age of my
daughter, wife was expecting at the time!

I probably should have not reminded you! It is OK done a number of
RoyMetSoc talks in the interim.

Cheers, Andy

"Andy" wrote in message ...

On Wed, 3 Aug 2011 10:38:16 +0100, "Ken Cook"
wrote:

Hi Ken,

Not to detract from Norman's longevity and achievement.

I think it is 8 years since I spoke in Durham going by the age of my
daughter, wife was expecting at the time!

I probably should have not reminded you! It is OK done a number of
RoyMetSoc talks in the interim.

Andy,
11th April 2003. Time, eh!!
I'll mention yourself and Norman to Dennis!
Best wishes,
Ken

On 03/08/2011 08:59, Norman wrote:
It's probably of little interest to anyone but me but I can't let this
anniversary pass without mention.

50 years ago today I started work in the Met Office at Prestwick Airport. I've
been working full-time in meteorology ever since and I've got no thoughts of
retiring yet. For the first 35 years I was an employee:

Well done Norman - and for sharing it with us, and sticking with
uk-sci-weather with its ups and downs.

Regards

Phil

Norman wrote:
It's probably of little interest to anyone but me but I can't let this
anniversary pass without mention.

50 years ago today I started work in the Met Office at Prestwick Airport. I've
been working full-time in meteorology ever since and I've got no thoughts of
retiring yet. For the first 35 years I was an employee:

1961-1967 Met Office
1967-1970 Australian Bureau of Meteorology
1970-1980 Imcos Marine
1980-1996 Noble Denton

Since 1996 I have been self-employed.

I consider that I have been extremely fortunate to have been able to spend a
lifetime being paid to indulge in a hobby! My wife says I've never done a real
days work in my life. My career has spanned what I think has been a most
interesting phase in the development of the science of meteorology. I have
worked in all continents other than South America. Operationally we have gone
from 5 characters per second teletype to the computerised world we are all
familiar with today. Perhaps a lot of the fun has gone out of the job in recent
years and certainly a great deal of the local knowledge and experience has
gone. And, despite all of the advances, consistent accurate forecasting of
local detail for the next 12-24 hours has not yet been achieved.

I've enjoyed all parts of my career but I have particularly fond memories of
the 3 years I spent on the Ocean Weather Ships in the mid-1960s. By chance, I
have discovered that another ex-Weather Ship metman from the mid-60s, Bill
Howard, lives only 200 yards from me. It's a small world.

Today, I have an incredible array of "tools" available to look at both the
real-time weather and the historical weather. The subject has just as much
fascination for me today as it had 50 years ago. I look forward to many more
years of work and hobby!

----------
It's of great interest. There is nothing better than having one's hobby
as a job. It is easy to always be up to date! I envy you.
Congrats and Happy Anniversary,
Dave

fantastic career.
well done.

On 03/08/2011 8:59 AM, Norman wrote:
It's probably of little interest to anyone but me but I can't let this
anniversary pass without mention.

50 years ago today I started work in the Met Office at Prestwick Airport. I've
been working full-time in meteorology ever since and I've got no thoughts of
retiring yet. For the first 35 years I was an employee:

1961-1967 Met Office
1967-1970 Australian Bureau of Meteorology
1970-1980 Imcos Marine
1980-1996 Noble Denton

Since 1996 I have been self-employed.

I consider that I have been extremely fortunate to have been able to spend a
lifetime being paid to indulge in a hobby! My wife says I've never done a real
days work in my life. My career has spanned what I think has been a most
interesting phase in the development of the science of meteorology. I have
worked in all continents other than South America. Operationally we have gone
from 5 characters per second teletype to the computerised world we are all
familiar with today. Perhaps a lot of the fun has gone out of the job in recent
years and certainly a great deal of the local knowledge and experience has
gone. And, despite all of the advances, consistent accurate forecasting of
local detail for the next 12-24 hours has not yet been achieved.

I've enjoyed all parts of my career but I have particularly fond memories of
the 3 years I spent on the Ocean Weather Ships in the mid-1960s. By chance, I
have discovered that another ex-Weather Ship metman from the mid-60s, Bill
Howard, lives only 200 yards from me. It's a small world.

Today, I have an incredible array of "tools" available to look at both the
real-time weather and the historical weather. The subject has just as much
fascination for me today as it had 50 years ago. I look forward to many more
years of work and hobby!

In message , Norman
writes
It's probably of little interest to anyone but me but I can't let this
anniversary pass without mention.

Norman that sounded fantastic to enjoy a career. Well done and happy
anniversary.
--
Tim