Winds Of Change

The Great Storm of 1987 brought havoc to the south of England and was a career-defining moment for TV weatherman Michael Fish. Peter Naldrett looks back at the events of 30 years ago and how they still impact today

- Peter Naldrett

MOST WEATHER forecasts are forgotten soon after they’re broadcast. But not this one.

The short BBC weather bulletin given by Michael Fish three decades ago has gone down in TV history. As he stood in front of his 1980s graphics, facing the live cameras, he told us the story of a woman who telephoned the BBC, worried that there was a hurricane on its way.

He announced with confidence: ‘Well, if you are watching, don’t worry, there isn’t.’

Just a few hours later, the emergency services in Essex were dealing with the biggest storm in 300 years.

The impact on the south of England was ferocious and Essex was one of the counties in the firing line of the extreme weather. People across the county were affected as structural damage, power outages and tree damage reports came flooding in.

At Copperas Wood, near Wrabness, 25 acres of the tree-lined landscape were flattened with an estimated 4,000 trees lost, some blocking the railway line. Across the county, 19 of the Essex Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves suffered significant damage.

The Tendring coast was one of the worst affected areas and bore the brunt of winds coming in off the sea and hitting the land at up to 100mph. Boats, caravans and beach huts on this stretch of coastline were hammered by the storm and severely damaged.

Out to sea off the Essex coast, Sealink’s St Nicholas ferry had to wait five hours before its 650 passengers could disembark. Although the ferry was moored at the entrance to the harbour, the people on board were in for a rough ride until the terrifying storm petered out.

When power supplies across the county were damaged, thousands of homes were left without electricity. Many families in Braintree, Harwich, Clacton and Colchester were also without fresh water when pumping stations saw their power supply cut.