I can't (fortunately?) remember the early 70's, but I shall give my
thoughts on how this winter compares with those I do recall:

We had more snow in Shrewsbury in 3 hours late on Christmas day than in
any of the winters 91-2, 92-3, 98-9, 99-00. Plus 97-8 unless you count
April. So it's passed that test:-)
However this January is one of the least wintery I can remember. Only 2
airfrosts, and nothing beneath -2C. Daffodils out (earlier post). We
have managed 2 'snow days'- one a sleet shower last Sat, and one a
short flurry on Tues 18th.
This is a truly pathetic attempt at a January northerly, similar to the
December not-so-cold easterly of 2002. So far I'd rate this winter as
on a par with 87-8 and 94-5, both of which had (by this stage) had some
brief snowy spells but long, long periods of mildness. And better than
those I mentioned above. The last ice day here BTW was in early Jan
2002, normally we expect at least one or two every winter.
Edmund