Copied from the Northern Echo web site as the link will change...

Amateur weather forecaster Foggitt dies
World-renowned amateur weather forecaster Bill Foggitt has died in hospital at
the age of 91.

Mr Foggitt's unconventional methods - using signs in nature rather than
science for his predictions - made him the scourge of professionals but a
legend among the masses.

One of the high points of his career came when the Association of Science
Education used Mr Foggitt's "sensing" methods in a textbook for the national
curriculum.

He had long argued that plants, animals and insects were provided a much
better guide to short-term local climate changes than technology.

In 1985, Mr Foggitt achieved a higher percentage (88) of accurate daily
summertime forecasts than two professional weathermen, including Michael Fish,
who trailed with 74 per cent.

And during the winter of 1968-69, he managed the astonishing feat of issuing a
broadly accurate week-by-week forecast.

Mr Foggitt, from Thirsk, North Yorkshire, had been a local legend for some
time, but achieved international fame in the year he out-forecast Mr Fish.

During a cold snap in the winter of 1985, the Met Office warned of a prolonged
cold spell, but Mr Foggitt had witnessed a mole poking its head through the
snow and dismissed the prediction. He was right.

Television crews from around the world headed for Thirsk market place to hear
how trees, pine cones, moles, and climate records kept by his family for more
than 200 years were used by the forecaster.

His biographer Mike Cresswell said: "He was one of the county's great
characters.

"He had the perfect name for the interest he pursued, but it was more than
just that."

Mr Foggitt, a widower, had originally wanted to be a priest but became a
teacher after an unfulfilling stint behind a chemist's counter.

He ran through a range of jobs including a storeman at an ICI ammunition depot
and saw war service with the Ordnance Corps.

Mr Foggitt became a Methodist lay preacher after failing his studies at a
Church of England college, but returned to Thirsk after being knocked down by
a car and badly injured.

During his convalescence, he began studying the family's weather records -
started by his great-grandfather to help understand the flooding problems in
Yarm, Teesside - and became fascinated. Mr Cresswell added: "He taught us that
for all the scientific advances, the everyday behaviour of nature remains one
of the best guides to predicting the weather."

--
Nick in Northallerton
www.whelan.me.uk
Also nickw7coc on
Yahoo Messenger
& on MSN Messenger
& www.skype.com !

"Nick" wrote in message
...
Copied from the Northern Echo web site as the link will change...

Amateur weather forecaster Foggitt dies
World-renowned amateur weather forecaster Bill Foggitt has died in
hospital at
the age of 91.


snip

.... many thanks for posting that. Mr Foggitt has provided work for
myself and many of my colleagues over the years (!) mainly in responding
to his predictions, which were sometimes right, sometimes wrong. I'm
sorry to hear of his death (though happily he had a good innings).

Martin.

--
FAQ & Glossary for uk.sci.weather at:-
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/booty.weather/uswfaqfr.htm

Sorry to hear this, another weather legend bites the dust :-(

Keith (Southend)

On Tue, 14 Sep 2004 19:03:27 +0100, "Martin Rowley"
wrote:


"Nick" wrote in message
.. .
Copied from the Northern Echo web site as the link will change...

Amateur weather forecaster Foggitt dies
World-renowned amateur weather forecaster Bill Foggitt has died in
hospital at
the age of 91.


snip

... many thanks for posting that. Mr Foggitt has provided work for
myself and many of my colleagues over the years (!) mainly in responding
to his predictions, which were sometimes right, sometimes wrong. I'm
sorry to hear of his death (though happily he had a good innings).

Martin.

... many thanks for posting that. Mr Foggitt has provided work for
myself and many of my colleagues over the years (!) mainly in responding
to his predictions, which were sometimes right, sometimes wrong. I'm
sorry to hear of his death (though happily he had a good innings).

Martin.

--
FAQ & Glossary for uk.sci.weather at:-
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/booty.weather/uswfaqfr.htm



Whos Froggit?

He did get fame on Yorkshire TV for sometime in the 1970's - his forecasts
appeared alongside the Met Office forecasts. Bob Rust also had keen
competition well into the 1980's. He will go down as a legend!
Thanks to Nick for letting me know
Regards#
Rob
PS I will let Bob Rust know
"Nick" wrote in message
...
Copied from the Northern Echo web site as the link will change...

Amateur weather forecaster Foggitt dies
World-renowned amateur weather forecaster Bill Foggitt has died in
hospital at
the age of 91.

Mr Foggitt's unconventional methods - using signs in nature rather than
science for his predictions - made him the scourge of professionals but a
legend among the masses.

One of the high points of his career came when the Association of Science
Education used Mr Foggitt's "sensing" methods in a textbook for the
national
curriculum.

He had long argued that plants, animals and insects were provided a much
better guide to short-term local climate changes than technology.

In 1985, Mr Foggitt achieved a higher percentage (88) of accurate daily
summertime forecasts than two professional weathermen, including Michael
Fish,
who trailed with 74 per cent.

And during the winter of 1968-69, he managed the astonishing feat of
issuing a
broadly accurate week-by-week forecast.

Mr Foggitt, from Thirsk, North Yorkshire, had been a local legend for some
time, but achieved international fame in the year he out-forecast Mr Fish.

During a cold snap in the winter of 1985, the Met Office warned of a
prolonged
cold spell, but Mr Foggitt had witnessed a mole poking its head through
the
snow and dismissed the prediction. He was right.

Television crews from around the world headed for Thirsk market place to
hear
how trees, pine cones, moles, and climate records kept by his family for
more
than 200 years were used by the forecaster.

His biographer Mike Cresswell said: "He was one of the county's great
characters.

"He had the perfect name for the interest he pursued, but it was more than
just that."

Mr Foggitt, a widower, had originally wanted to be a priest but became a
teacher after an unfulfilling stint behind a chemist's counter.

He ran through a range of jobs including a storeman at an ICI ammunition
depot
and saw war service with the Ordnance Corps.

Mr Foggitt became a Methodist lay preacher after failing his studies at a
Church of England college, but returned to Thirsk after being knocked down
by
a car and badly injured.

During his convalescence, he began studying the family's weather records -
started by his great-grandfather to help understand the flooding problems
in
Yarm, Teesside - and became fascinated. Mr Cresswell added: "He taught us
that
for all the scientific advances, the everyday behaviour of nature remains
one
of the best guides to predicting the weather."

--
Nick in Northallerton
www.whelan.me.uk
Also nickw7coc on
Yahoo Messenger
& on MSN Messenger
& www.skype.com !

Nick wrote:
Copied from the Northern Echo web site as the link will change...

Amateur weather forecaster Foggitt dies
World-renowned amateur weather forecaster Bill Foggitt has died in hospital at
the age of 91.

snip

RIP

Joe

- And on Tue, 14 Sep 2004 19:59:42 +0000 (UTC), it was spake thus in said in message "nguk..." :

Whos Froggit?

Take a look here...
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en...ggitt%22&meta=
You may find some time to browse and find out...

Nick
--
Nick in Northallerton
www.whelan.me.uk
Also nickw7coc on
Yahoo Messenger
& on MSN Messenger
& www.skype.com !

"Nick" wrote in message
...
Copied from the Northern Echo web site as the link will change...

Amateur weather forecaster Foggitt dies

Hi, Nick,

I read it on Teletext and Ceefax, so he really had hit the heights!

Bill gave us a talk at the RMS NE centre many years ago, a fascinating
man! He was also a friend of my grandfather who lived in Felixkirk
(close to you, near Sutton Bank). My grandfather did the weather obs for
a local landowner at Mount St John, Felixkirk and I imagine that was how
they met.

ATB,

--
Ken Cook, Copley (5miles north of Barnard Castle), County Durham.
830ft
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/copley
(MO climat. site updated before 10Z and 19Z daily)
kencookATcopleydurham.freeserve.co.uk
(All times GMT)





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In message , nguk...
writes

... many thanks for posting that. Mr Foggitt has provided work for
myself and many of my colleagues over the years (!) mainly in responding
to his predictions, which were sometimes right, sometimes wrong. I'm
sorry to hear of his death (though happily he had a good innings).

Martin.

--
FAQ & Glossary for uk.sci.weather at:-
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/booty.weather/uswfaqfr.htm



Whos Froggit?


You woudn't know my little cherub. He was a legend in the north of
England for many years. He was especialled loved for his winter
forecasts and original approach. Sadly he leaves no heirs I believe, to
carry on the family tradition.
Looking back to 1960. when I used to await his forecasts with baited
breath, I cannot imagine a more stalwart climatologist.

Cheers
Paul
--
Paul Bartlett

In article ,
Paul Bartlett writes:
You woudn't know my little cherub. He was a legend in the north of
England for many years. He was especialled loved for his winter
forecasts and original approach. Sadly he leaves no heirs I believe,
to carry on the family tradition.
Looking back to 1960. when I used to await his forecasts with baited
breath, I cannot imagine a more stalwart climatologist.

There's an obituary of him in today's Daily Telegraph.
--
John Hall

"Whenever people agree with me I always feel I must be wrong."
Oscar Wilde