It seems a while since we had a good blizzard, December 1981 was the last time the roads were properly blocked and life came to a standstill for a couple of days before the combined forces of farm snow ploughs and council gritters opened up the roads and life returned to normal. It will be interesting to see how we cope today. Many of the council services have been paired back and there is a decending order of priority for snow ploughing and gritting.
Read the link to remind yourselves of how cold and wintry December 19881 http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/philip-eden/Snowiest-of-20th-century.htm
A selection of copied slides from December 1981 during and after the blizzard.
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- Mr Henry Hill showing his scrambling skills in the snow
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- Manor Site Farm before the trees and fence were placed on the boundary
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- Cold wintry scene
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- Main Street
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- Fiat tractor by Townsend pond
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- The B660 heading towards Glatton
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- B660 towards Great Gidding
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- Tractor giving scale to snow depth. Not deep but enough to thwart many soft roader 4×4’s today
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- Snow flail at work on the B660
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- Clearing the B660
I remember this winter well. Especially the chance to canter along the B660 to Glatton & back in order to exercise stabled horses. Something you’d never normally do! It was lovely.