"Shaun Pudwell" wrote in message ...
I only heard recently, that in 1987 the Eastern side of the
Isle-of-Sheppey
was completely cut off for six weeks. Everything was being air lifted in.
At both Warden Bay and Leysdown-on-Sea, the sea froze solid. I've even
seen a few old photo's, truly incredible...
Six weeks? I think someone's been pulling your leg!

Having said that, it *was* a notable event. I was eight at the time and
throroughly enjoyed the 2 weeks I had off from school, especially as it came
not long after Christmas. I remember we also lost power for a week or so,
and ended up bringing in the paraffin heater from the greenhouse to try and
keep things warm. No power meant no central heating, but thankfully gas
supplies were maintained which meant we could still have hot food. Indeed,
we ended up making huge casseroles and doling them out to neighbours who had
electric ovens...

Towards the end of the cold spell there were indeed airlifted deliveries of
bread and milk via the prison at Eastchurch. I'll not forget the sight of
Chinook helicopters flying low over the fields at Bay View, nor the noise
they made!

Another notable thing were icicles, which grew to three or four feet before
eventually being taken down - much to my disgust at the time! One of the
bungalows around the corner from me achieved the Holy Grail, icicles
reaching from the eaves to the snow below, the only time I've ever seen that
in this country.

Eventually the snowploughs cleared Jenkins Hill, a narrow stretch of road a
couple of miles away. I remember on the first day back at school, gawping at
the 6 or 7 feet high walls of snow either side of the road - it felt like
driving through a great canyon made of snow.

The snows left a lasting legacy, though, as even now come November we
usually get in some extra cans and dried milk, just in case it should happen
again. It doesn't help that the farmers no longer put up snow fences,
either - one day they'll get bitten! (Although from what I hear it's because
the council no longer pays them to do it....)

Finally, a picture taken after the first snows had fallen in January 1987 -
it shows the B2231 looking rather more serene than usual! Very little has
changed since then and one of these days it'll again be shrouded in
white....

http://www.medvale.fsnet.co.uk/Snow.jpg