That is such a shame, He was a amazing reporter who had such a way that was not patronising, but informative.
The Harrier speach from the Falklands echos in my ears to this day. I was a little boy when he did that but remember it well. Seems even more of a shame he was too ill to be at the retirement of the type he helped make legendary.

His type of reporting is rarer and rarer these days.

RIP

Spot on duxfordhawk and I agree with almost all of your comments. The problem is that it is human nature to find a scapegoat for things we have limited control over and you are one who’s job puts you in the front line.

Where we do part company is on the question of the future. The dilemma is that we simply do not know. The jury is extending its stay “out” of the global warming theory but there is considerable evidence that we are entering one of the cyclical cooling periods called Little Ice Ages. Evidentially we are now more than 10,000 years into the warm inter-glacial period which precedes a 100,000 year ice age. So climatically you may well be right, but try telling that to the current received political “wisdom”!!

I honestly do not know if I would want to make the call on whether to spend or not to spend in this area, I am not even sure from records when we last had three bad winters in a row. We not even getting gritted on main roads in Croydon lately, I do not expect miracles to happen but there should be a plan to get things going so at least the roads are clear so people can get to work etc.

To be honest I am unsure on global warming etc, I do feel we have badly poluted the world but nature also has periods of hot and cold and its interesting how many different views there are on global warming.With everyone being able to explain this weather event in one way or another.

I totally agree Skyhigh I think reporting has been very fair and covered all the country. Just like the snow has covered all the country.
The BBc ITN and Sky all have had reporters in both North and South of the Uk including Scotland whichhas been covered regularlly on the news.

My concern with coverage is that as a railway worker myself we have been getting a bad press again, Which upsets me greatly when staff have been putting so much efforts into make stations safe and trying to keep customers upto date with information etc. Sadly if Network rail deem the conditions unsafe due the rail operators can not run.

It also winds me up when its said everywhere else copes with snow, We have friends in Sweden a country that is used to snow, and even there it causes chaos. With buses etc taken off the roads, Also do people think its safe to fly in these conditions at times.
The whole of Europe suffered/is suffering in this cold spellincluding countries used to these conditions.

I do however think after 3 nasty winters we need to look at investing in this area to try and minimise the problems, As it seems possible such winters will become the norm.

Stay safe people, And I think its time to stop dreaming of a white Christmas as its here.

RIP Blake Edwards.
I would rate him as one of the best directors in modern times, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is still even now a sublime film.

I also think he managed to get the absolute best out of Peter Sellers not only in the Pink Panther series but with films like the I guess now the politically incorrect “The Party”.

I really can’t believe this sad day has come and still feel its a huge mistake. I can not help be see the irony that Italy, USA and Spain will operate them long after the country that first designed and built them has retired them.

Still feels a mistake to me.

Nothing suprises me any more. People like this to be honest its all really sad.
I would love to see proper fines for such time wasting and also re-educating in why we have the Police,Fire brigade and Ambulance services and whats an emergency.

Go compare drives me insane, Like Spitfireman I find all these injury claims ones even worse.
If your daft enough to use the wrong tools for the job you don’t need compensation, You need your head testing. Our claim culture takes the p$$s.

Also have a problem perfume adverts at Christmas not sure why but they annoy the hell out of me.

RIP Leslie Nielsen.
Was so sad to hear he passed, he was a fine actor in general and found his art in comedy acting.
I grew up watching Airplane and Naked Gun movies and they still crease me up now.
I am sure he will have them laughing in heaven now.