Cedric must have been one of the longest serving voluntary observers for the
Met Office of the recent past. Maybe those who knew him can confirm - I
recollect that he started around 1946. His article on the winter of 1947 (in
the March 2003 issue of Weather) certainly bears witness to the detail of his
observations by then.

It is heartening to note the value still placed by many in the Met Office on
the observations by dedicated individuals - people observe in the hope that
their efforts are valued, as Cedric's certainly were. I can confirm that his
article in Weather brought forth a very positive response from many readers.

Cedric also produced remarkably comprehensive annual weather reports - they can
be found in the Met office library and make fascinating reading.

Julian
Julian Mayes, Molesey, Surrey.

On Sat, 27 Nov 2004 14:56:05 +0000, John Hall wrote in


Thank you to Will and David for passing on this sad news. Cedric was a
valued contributor to this group. His series of articles about the
winter of 1946-7 was especially fascinating, and I still have them saved
on my own PC.

I am adding to this post as it was Cedric's articles on that winter of 1947
which I found so enthralling (saved to my PC as well). I have only just
returned to my house, but did hear the sad news when someone kindly texted
it to me earlier this afternoon. Whilst Cedric may have been officially
classed as an amateur observer, his contribution to observations and his
narrative were of the highest order. He is the sort of person our subject
will dearly miss.

My thoughts are with his family.

--
Mike 55.13°N 6.69°W Coleraine posted to uk.sci.weather 27/11/2004 21:20:55 UTC

JJCMayes1 wrote in message ...
:Cedric must have been one of the longest serving voluntary observers for
the
:Met Office of the recent past. Maybe those who knew him can confirm - I
:recollect that he started around 1946.

I have found this post from Cedric dated 8th February 2000
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Z2E2212E9

He wrote: "I have just started my 45th year as a cooperating climate station
and my 55th as a cooperating rainfall station...all on the same piece of
ground! I began rainfall and elementary climate readings (on my own
account) on January 1st 1944, and still have the record book for that year."

It seems that he started reporting rainfall for the MO in 1946 and as
reporting as a climate station in 1956.

Colin Youngs
Brussels

"Will Hand" wrote in news:coa1to$67g$1$8300dec7
@news.demon.co.uk:

Posted on behalf of David Reid at Met Office Birmingham.

Another short email to the growing list to pass on my condolences. Sterling
work.

Richard

I am very sad to hear of Cedric's death - he and I worked very closely
on his system for collecting and disseminating the weather data at
Halesoven, and I when visited him there I found a generous and
thoughtful person, who cared greatly for his 'hobby' - a hobby that in
latter years consumed all his waking hours. As has been previously
mentioned, his data record was the longest for any individual in the
UK: he fully deserved the MBE for his persistence and dedication. I
shall greatly miss our very regular chats and discussions of weather
events.

Martin Hill

This is indeed sad news. In recent years Cedric had contributed
data and summaries each month to COL. He was never late in doing so,
and was a mine of information on his local weather. He was always
glad to provide information and I sense that he found his
illness annoying in that it did prevent him from always producing a
'complete' set of obs - but they were still more complete
and comprehensive than many of us make.

Rest in peace Cedric, and thank you.

I feel privaleged to have known Cedric. Whenever there was a weather
story I needed to report on, Cedric was the man I turned to. The BBC
in Birmingham were particularly fond of him. If facts and figures were
needed for the West Midlands area, Cedric would always have them to
hand.

During my time at The Weather Betwork, I remember the encouragement
and wnthusiasm he showed for a TV series I wrote and presented for
TWN. He allowed us to film at his house and use hime as a "stunt"
observer.

Such a careful observer with standards that many of us can only dream
of living up to.

Rest in peace Cedric, and see if you can arrange a few cold years to
get this "global warming" rubbish sorted out!

Simon

Simon Keeling
Weather Consultancy Services

In reply to Gavin's question on Sunday, I am hopeful that an obituary of Cedric
will appear in a future issue of Weather.

Julian Mayes, Molesey, Surrey.

here is a wise post that Cedric made in 1997, regarding people looking
forward to severe weather

http://makeashorterlink.com/?A25C216E9

Amen to that.

Roger: being at Reading you know the 'ins and outs' of the Met.
Office. I feel it would behoove then erect some long-term memorial
(physical or electronic) to Cedric's contribution to the state of our
knowledge of the weather. Have you any contacts at MetO that I could
approach?

Thanks

Martin