Paul Hyett wrote in message ...
I don't recall any significant ones going back several years - when was
the last one before this (say using 3 weeks duration as a criteria).

Late June/early July 2002 was pretty cool and wet here. Also first
half of July 2000 (very cool and cloudy, though dry), August 1999
(v.v.wet) and June/July 1998.

All post-1990 summers here have had at least an indifferent spell
lasting 15-20 days or more;

1991- June (cold,dull)
1992- August (coolish, wet)
1993- July and Aug (cold, dull, damp- last truly bad summer)
1994- August (dry, but no real hot sunny spells)
1995- first half of June (cold and cloudy, though dry)
1996- May (not 'summer', but it was way colder than normal)
1997- June (v.wet, maxes 10-14C in final week)
1998- June-July
1999- June (cool) August (wet)
2000- July
2001- early June and most of Aug
2002- June-July mostly cool/wet, Aug warmish but cloudy
2003- late July
2004- since 18th June
All of these except 98 and 02 had at least one spell of equal length
with warm, settled, sunny weather (even 1993 with a fine June-early
Jul; Wimbledon was rainless that year!)