Cedric Roberts

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Articles 1947, 1979 to 2003, and Climate Change

Winter 1947 1979

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

2000 2001 2002 2003

more to follow soon...

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Cedric Roberts MBE 1931 - 2004

ABOUT CEDRIC ROBERTS (MBE)

I have been fortunate to be given some of the weather records kept by the late Cedric Roberts MBE, who ran Halesowen Climatological Station as a Volunteer Observer Station for the Met Office from 1956 until he died in November 2004 .

Cedric was born in 1931 in Halesowen where he lived all his life. While in National Service at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, he worked as a radio and radar technician on Lancasters. It seems that Cedric wanted to be the Met man, and their Met man wanted to be a radio man, but the RAF would not agree to a swap!

He became a teacher of maths and physics in a local school, progressing to become Deputy Head teacher at Windsor High School until 1986 when he retired aged 55.

Cedric became interested in meteorology from an early age, making his first regular observations from 1st January 1946. He made continuous observations from 1956, and when computers appeared on the scene he spent 12 months transferring his first 40 years records onto spreadsheets. He became especially interested in weather satellite systems, downloading images from both orbiting and geostationary satellites, and used automated recording systems as they became available alongside his ongoing manual observations. For some time Alan Davies, a close friend, assisted Cedric in building, maintaining and mending his equipment, and I am most grateful to Alan for seeing that I had a copy of the records I now possess, both electronic data and some handwritten records which are of historic interest.

Cedric certainly was an experienced and dedicated observer, which is evident from the clarity and detail he included in his daily records. He regularly provided reports to television and the press as well as giving talks to local groups.

I have a copy of an article he wrote "Watching the Weather - My Years with Satellite Acquisition" for the launch issue of GEO (Group for Earth Observation) quarterly magazine in the Spring of 2002, and it is with sadness that Issue 5 of the same magazine published in March 2005 carried his obituary and some letters from those who had known him.

I cannot bring myself to remove the black Rotring pen he left in the current page of his blue recording book, with the last entry filled in on 5th November 2004, the last observation he was able to write in it.

His observations were his life, and took precedence over everything else.

Cedric Roberts MBE 1931 - 2004

ARTICLES 1947 and 1979 to 2003

Here is a selection of Cedric's articles, documenting weather in Halesowen between 1979 and 2003, also the very cold winter of 1947 which he wrote about before setting up his official weather station.

All these pdf files can be opened directly, but I recommend that for those marked "large file", you right click and "save as" to download the file to your own computer first (otherwise you'll be wondering why it's taking a long time to download):

Winter of 1947
19470300 The Winter of 1947 in Halesowen.pdf
19470300 The Winter of 1947 in detail.pdf (large file)
19470300 The Winter of 1947 in Halesowen (with pics).pdf (large file)

1979
19790400 Temps rise to herald spring.pdf
19790406 Cold weather blues this spring.pdf
19790500 May makes mockery of spring.pdf
19790600 Glimpse of sizzling summer.pdf
19790700 Unusually dry July.pdf
19790800 Heavy rainfall.pdf
19791000 October weather report.pdf
19791012 Only 17 hrs of rain in Sept.pdf
19791100 Anomalies in weather.pdf

1980
19800100 A winter to remember.pdf
19800100 January was chilly.pdf
19800111 Weather moods were variable.pdf
19800200 Feb turned out nice and warm.pdf
19800300 Miserable wet March.pdf
19800400 Do you remember the drought.pdf
19800400 Records tumble.pdf
19800600 It was such a wet June.pdf
19800700 July was cold and damp.pdf
19800800 Fifth worst summer since 1956.pdf
19800900 Touch of Battle days in Sept.pdf
19801000 Dripping depressing Oct weather.pdf
19801100 Our November weather.pdf
19801200 Doom and gloom 1980.pdf
19801200 Wet year finishes with drier Dec.pdf

1981
19810200 February snow was a chilly reminder.pdf
19810213 Icy winter forecast seems off beam.pdf
19810300 This so wet March is best forgotten.pdf
19810400 Aprils freak snowstorm worst.pdf
19810600 Dull but driest June since 1976.pdf
19810700 July was so dry.pdf
19810800 Driest season for 36 years.pdf
19810900 September wet warm stormy.pdf
19811000 October a cold and wet month.pdf
19811100 Mild November.pdf
19811200 Records broken in big freeze.pdf

1982
19820100 Worst freeze since 1963 - record low.pdf
19820200 February drier and milder.pdf
19820300 March was wet but sunnier.pdf
19820400 April showers, No a drought.pdf
19820500 Mays wide range of temperatures.pdf
19820600 Junes flame was doused.pdf
19820700 Why July seemed hot and sticky.pdf
19820800 Summer 1982 dampest on record.pdf
19820900 Dramatic turn in September weather.pdf
19821000 October weather report.pdf
19821100 Autumn under the weather again.pdf
19821200 December blew hot and cold.pdf

1983
19830100 January weather mildest on record.pdf
19830200 Weather notes - cold and dry.pdf
19830400 April - a month best forgotten.pdf
19830412 In like a lamb - out like a lion.pdf
19830500 A gloomy record.pdf
19830600 June driest for 34 years.pdf
19830600 June weather turns turtle.pdf
19830700 July 1983.pdf
19830700 Wet but wonderful.pdf
19830800 Pleasant old-style summer weather.pdf
19830900 September 1983.pdf
19830900 Wetter cooler duller.pdf
19831000 Weather watchers autumn chill.pdf
19831100 Dry story.pdf
19831200 Stormy and mild.pdf

1984
19840100 Bright but breezy.pdf
19840200 Blustery and dull.pdf
19840200 Extreme weather.pdf
19840200 The Winter of 1983-1984.pdf
19840300 March - A Dull,Damp and Cool month.pdf
19840400 April was a record.pdf
19840400 Hot sunny days, clear cold nights.pdf
19840500 Bank holiday blues.pdf
19840600 A warm and dry month.pdf
19840700 Months of rain needed.pdf
19840800 Hot often sultry days, plentiful sunshine.pdf
19840900 Sept- Changeable and rather unsettled.pdf
19841000 October 1984.pdf
19841100 Twice normal rainfall.pdf
19841200 Average December.pdf

1985
19850100 January bared its icy teeth.pdf
19850200 Siberian weather - lowest for 40 years.pdf
19850300 A month for ducks.pdf
19850400 April 1985.pdf
19850800 Splish splosh.pdf
19850900 September 1985.pdf
19850900 Summer ends in flood.pdf
19851000 October- Bonus month starts autumn.pdf
19851100 November was so cold.pdf
19851200 December 1985.pdf

1986
19860100 January 1986.pdf
19860100 Wet and windy.pdf
19860200 A very cold but dry and sunny month.pdf
19860200 The freezing truth about February.pdf
19860200 Third coldest Feb this century.pdf
19860300 March 1986.pdf

1987
19870600 June 1987.pdf
19870900 Sept 1987.pdf
19871000 Oct 1987.pdf
19871100 Nov 1987.pdf

1988
19880100 Jan 1988.pdf
19880200 Feb 1988.pdf
19880300 Mar 1988.pdf
19880400 Apr 1988.pdf
19880500 May 1988.pdf
19880600 Jun 1988.pdf
19880700 July deluge.pdf
19880800 Aug 1988.pdf
19880900 Sep 1988.pdf
19881000 Oct 1988.pdf
19881100 Nov 1988.pdf
19881200 Dec 1988.pdf

1989
19890100 Jan 1989.pdf
19890300 Mar 1989.pdf
19890400 Apr 1989.pdf
19890500 May 1989.pdf
19890500 May weather in Halesowen.pdf
19890600 Jun 1989.pdf
19890600 June weather in Halesowen.pdf
19890800 Aug 1989.pdf
19890900 Sep 1989.pdf
19890900 Sep weather in Halesowen.pdf
19891000 Oct 1989.pdf
19891000 Oct weather in Halesowen.pdf
19891200 Dec 1989 - lightning.pdf
19891200 Dec weather in Halesowen.pdf

1995
19950100 Jan 1995.pdf
19950100 Winter of 1994-5.pdf
19950200 Feb 1995.pdf
19950300 Mar 1995.pdf
19950400 Apr 1995.pdf
19950500 May 1995.pdf
19950500 Spring 1995.pdf
19950600 Jun 1995.pdf
19950600 Jun weather in Halesowen.pdf
19950700 Jul 1995.pdf
19950800 Aug 1995.pdf
19950800 Summer 1995.pdf
19950900 Sep 1995.pdf
19951000 Oct 1995.pdf
19951100 Autumn 1995.pdf
19951100 Nov 1995.pdf
19951200 Dec 1995.pdf
19951200 Dec weather in Halesowen.pdf

1997
19970101 Jan 1997.pdf
19970200 Feb 1997 Stormy and mild.pdf
19970200 Feb 1997.pdf
19970300 Mar 1997.pdf
19970400 Apr 1997.pdf
19970500 May 1997.pdf
19970500 Spring 1997.pdf
19970600 Jun 1997.pdf
19970700 Jul 1997.pdf
19970800 Aug and Summer 1997 p1.pdf
19970800 Aug and Summer 1997 p2.pdf
19970900 Sep 1997.pdf
19971000 Oct 1997 p1.pdf
19971000 Oct 1997 p2.pdf
19971100 Nov 1997.pdf

1998
19980100 Jan 1998 p1.pdf
19980100 Jan 1998 p2.pdf
19980200 Feb 1998.pdf
19980200 Feb 1998 Records tumble in warm spell.pdf
19980300 Mar 1998 p1.pdf
19980300 Mar 1998 p2.pdf
19980300 Mar 1998 p3.pdf
19980400 Apr 1998 p1.pdf
19980400 Apr 1998 p2.pdf
19980400 Apr 1998 p3.pdf
19980500 May 1998 p1.pdf
19980500 May 1998 p2.pdf
19980600 Jun 1998 p1.pdf
19980600 Jun 1998 p2.pdf
19980600 Jun 1998 p3.pdf
19980700 Jul 1998 p1.pdf
19980700 Jul 1998 p2.pdf
19980800 Aug 1998 p1.pdf
19980800 Aug 1998 p2.pdf
19980800 Aug 1998 p3.pdf
19980800 Aug 1998 p4.pdf
19980900 Sep 1998 p1.pdf
19980900 Sep 1998 p2.pdf
19981000 Oct 1998 p1.pdf
19981000 Oct 1998 p2.pdf
19981100 Autumn 1998.pdf

1999
19990100 Jan 1999.pdf
19990200 Feb 1999.pdf
19990200 Winter 1998-99.pdf
19990300 Mar 1999.pdf
19990400 Apr 1999.pdf
19990500 May 1999 barograph.pdf
19990500 May 1999 lightning strikes.pdf
19990500 May 1999 rainfall graph.pdf
19990600 Jun 1999.pdf
19990700 Jul 1999.pdf
19990800 Aug 1999 heavy rainfall.pdf
19990900 Sep 1999.pdf
19991200 Dec 1999.pdf
19991200 Summary for year 1999.pdf

2000
20000100 Jan 2000.pdf
20000200 Feb 2000.pdf
20000200 Winter 1999-2000.pdf
20000300 Mar 2000.pdf
20000400 Apr 2000.pdf
20000500 May 2000.pdf
20000500 Spring 2000.pdf
20000600 Jun 2000.pdf
20000700 July 2000.pdf
20000800 Aug 2000.pdf
20000800 Sep 2000.pdf
20000800 Summer 2000.pdf
20000900 Sep 2000 Summary.pdf
20001000 Oct 2000.pdf
20001100 Autumn 2000.pdf
20001100 Nov 2000.pdf
20001200 Dec 2000 p1.pdf
20001200 Dec 2000 p2.pdf
20001200 Summary for the year 2000.pdf

2001
20010200 Feb 2001.pdf
20010200 Winter of 2000-1.pdf
20010300 Mar 2001.pdf
20010300 Mar 2001 (2).pdf
20010400 Apr 2001.pdf
20010400 Apr 2001 (2).pdf
20010500 May 2001.pdf
20010500 Spring 2001.pdf
20010600 Jun 2001.pdf
20010600 Jun 2001 (2).pdf
20010700 Jul 2001.pdf
20010700 Summer 2001.pdf
20010800 Aug 2001.pdf
20010800 Aug 2001 (2).pdf
20010900 Sep 2001.pdf
20010900 Sep 2001 (2).pdf
20011000 Oct 2001.pdf
20011000 Oct 2001 (2).pdf
20011100 Autumn 2001.pdf
20011100 Nov 2001.pdf
20011100 Nov 2001 (2).pdf
20011200 Dec 2001.pdf
20011200 Dec 2001 (2).pdf
20011200 Summary of the year 2001.pdf

2002
20020100 Jan 2002.pdf
20020100 Jan 2002 (2).pdf
20020200 Feb 2002.pdf
20020200 Feb 2002 (2).pdf
20020200 The Winter of 2001-2.pdf
20020300 Mar 2002.pdf
20020300 Mar 2002 (2).pdf
20020400 Apr 2002.pdf
20020400 Apr 2002 (2).pdf
20020500 May 2002.pdf
20020500 May 2002 (2).pdf
20020600 Jun 2002.pdf
20020600 Jun 2002 (2).pdf
20020700 Jul 2002.pdf
20020700 Jul 2002 (2).pdf
20020800 Aug 2002.pdf
20020800 Aug 2002 (2).pdf
20020800 Spring Summer 2002.pdf
20020900 Sep 2002.pdf
20020900 Sep 2002 (2).pdf
20021000 Oct 2002.pdf
20021000 Oct 2002 2.pdf
20021000 Oct 2002 Summary.pdf
20021000 Nov 2002.pdf
20021100 Nov 2002.pdf
20021100 Nov 2002 (2).pdf
20021100 The Autumn of 2002.pdf
20021200 Dec 2002.pdf
20021200 Summary for the year 2002.pdf

2003
20030100 Jan 2003.pdf
20030100 Jan 2003 2.pdf
20030100 Jan 2003 3.pdf
20030200 Feb 2003.pdf
20030200 Feb 2003 2.pdf
20030200 Winter of 2002-3.pdf
20030300 Mar 2003.pdf
20030400 Apr 2003.pdf
20030500 May 2003.pdf
20030500 May 2003 Summary.pdf
20030600 June 2003.pdf
20030600 June 2003 Summary.pdf
20030600 June 2003.pdf
20030600 June 2003 Summary.pdf
20030600 Spring 2003.pdf
20030700 July 2003.pdf
20030700 July 2003 2.pdf
20030800 Aug 2003.pdf
20030800 Aug 2003 2.pdf
20030900 Sept 2003.pdf
20030900 Sept 2003 Summary.pdf
20030900 Summer 2003.pdf
20031000 Oct 2003.pdf
20031000 Oct 2003 2.pdf
20031100 Nov 2003.pdf
20031100 Nov 2003 Summary.pdf
20031200 Autumn 2003.pdf
20031200 Dec 2003.pdf
20031200 Dec 2003 2.pdf
20031200 Dec 2003 Summary.pdf
20031200 Annual Summary 2003.pdf

Climate Change since 1956
1997 Climate Change 1956 to 1997.pdf
2000 Climate Change 1956 to 2000.pdf

KEEPING UP THE GOOD WORK

My own records from 2005 onwards can be found in the Recent Years section of my website.

Cedric's Station was located about 1km from my own home from which I now make daily observations to add to his valuable work over the years.

I hope my contribution, albeit as an enthusiastic amateur without his lifetime of experience, but coincidentally coming from a physics and maths background, with an interest in weather from my own schooldays, will be useful in carrying on the record-keeping in this area.

I value the opportunity to add to Cedric's work, and maintain a long-term set of records of Halesowen Weather. I hope somebody else will be able to carry on when I am no longer able to - if you are interested, please contact me.

I enjoy playing with databases, so getting all the data available to me into a form where I can "ask it questions" has been a challenge, but it is satisfying to be able to answer questions when I am asked, as well as being able to research trends over the last continuous 57+ years , and other projects where knowledge of local temperatures or rainfall are essential.

I have been happy to be able to provide information to many people over recent years using this resource, and try to respond to any reasonable and genuine requests.

Colin Prior

Halesowen