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Summer of 1976

(228 Posts)
mrsmopp Thu 28-May-20 11:07:27

This is the hottest summer since 1976. The heatwave went on and on. Some areas had stand pipes because of water shortages. We were not allowed to water the garden and everywhere was parched. Do you remember the summer of 1976?

Moggycuddler Fri 29-May-20 08:57:35

Yes. I was 19.. young and carefree! A beautiful summer with many memories.

minxie Fri 29-May-20 09:00:15

I was 13 and my aunt and uncle were visiting, there was a small shower of rain and I remember her dancing in the garden. She was so joyful, I shall never forget

gillybob Fri 29-May-20 09:02:29

g.co/kgs/JU5xbi

I loved this song from the summer of 1976 . It was one of my favourites but at 14 I had no idea what “afternoon delight” was.

A summer pudding perhaps ?

Sooze58 Fri 29-May-20 09:04:45

I remember it well, took my ‘A’levels then went to Ingleton falls camping. The weather broke during the night and we ended up floating in our tents on our beds!!

SueEH Fri 29-May-20 09:07:31

Hi MiniMoon, I'm near Carlisle too! In 1976 I was 15 and living in Blackpool across the road from the beach. We had study leave before end of year exams and every day we told our parents that we were going to revise on the beach! As a parent of three now adult children I look back and wonder how on earth my parents thought that was a good idea smile

4allweknow Fri 29-May-20 09:13:02

Remember very well. Water shortage, only 3" water in the bath, no watering of gardens unless recycled from washing up or bath. So warm I can remember cooking some foods during the night. Couldn't bare the thought of standing at a cooker or having an oven on during the day. Not quite as hot as 76 yet.

PatriciaH Fri 29-May-20 09:14:10

How funny I had only mentioned that to my husband this morning. I had a £50 inter rail ticket and was travelling around Europe with a friend before starting training. Most of the youth hostels had no shower facilities due to the water shortages. By the time I got back home I was rather grubby to say the least. It was the best time

Happysexagenarian Fri 29-May-20 09:15:19

I particularly remember driving through Epping Forest and passing a roaring grass fire, firefighters and local residents were battling to put it out before it reached the trees. All grassed areas were tinder dry and yellowed. Rivers, streams and brooks were totally dry and cracked, but by the following summer they had all recovered. The miracle of nature.

annifrance Fri 29-May-20 09:15:47

My DS was 18 months and my aunt had just bought a holiday house in Sidmouth. We went on holiday there in early June and the heatwave started on the first day. It was a fabulous holiday and we spent every day on the beach.

By August my friend I were pregnant with our E
DDs and I remember sitting in our terrace feeling dreadful while our little boys wrecked havoc.

We had recently moved on to a small road of new houses, everyone has just lain lawns. It transpired that the houses were built on an underground stream and we had lush lawns all summer! Got a few frowns as people thought we were watering them.

00mam00 Fri 29-May-20 09:17:32

I was pregnant with our first child and boss allowed me to work 8-3 as it got so hot in the office.

When the rains finally came I burnt out the windscreen wipers motor trying to get them going not realising the rubber had melted and stuck them to the windscreen.

Mollygo Fri 29-May-20 09:18:41

Oh yes. 2 small children and tanned legs with no effort!
Used one of those things you attached to the taps to shower all over rather than sit in a stingy bath.
We stayed with in-laws for most of the summer because they were on the coast.

seacliff Fri 29-May-20 09:19:06

Oh yes, amazing weather. We were in our new bungalow in a North Essex village.

The autumn before, we had planted a hawthorn hedge right round the side of our bungalow to give privacy from the path alongside. It was a very long hedge, planted with just 6 inch long bare rooted twigs. I had been tending it lovingly, then we had the hosepipe ban.

We saved every drop of water from the household use, and lugging it out to water the hedge. Went on for weeks and weeks. We did well, only lost about 3 plants. If I ever drive past now, I admire "my hedge", still there and a real wildlife reserve.

Jess20 Fri 29-May-20 09:22:15

Yes, I lived by Haven Green in Ealing and used to go to Bentalls department store every day to walk round the food section as they had big freezers and it was really cool. I spent hours in there, window shopping for frozen vegetables.

Jess20 Fri 29-May-20 09:22:15

Yes, I lived by Haven Green in Ealing and used to go to Bentalls department store every day to walk round the food section as they had big freezers and it was really cool. I spent hours in there, window shopping for frozen vegetables.

Ellianne Fri 29-May-20 09:22:20

Like mumofmadboys and Sooze58 I was doing my A levels in the stifling London heat. I remember our German teacher went out and bought us ice creams during our afternoon exam and they melted on the paper. Luckily I still got the grade I needed!

B9exchange Fri 29-May-20 09:28:15

I was heavily pregnant with DS2, and it was a nightmare trying to keep cool. I had a bath kept full of cold water and just kept climbing in and out of it.

Then when he arrived, in the August, I took him out in his pram with the canopy up, wearing only a nappy, and was stopped by so many people telling me to cover him up or he would catch his death of cold!!

Ladyleftfieldlover Fri 29-May-20 09:28:42

Of course I remember! Today is my 44th wedding anniversary. We were married in Henley on Thames and had the reception in my parent's garden. A few weeks later we flew off to Seychelles where OH worked for 2 years. It was even hotter there!

harrigran Fri 29-May-20 09:36:20

I was thirty and had two children at school, spent most of the summer in a bikini in the garden while the children played in the paddling pool.
We had one week in Torquay, travelling by train.

Caro57 Fri 29-May-20 09:37:34

I was a second year student nurse on gynae - all those poor ladies with threatened miscarriages on complete bed rest, beds with sweaty rubbery mattress covers. We were in linen dresses, starched apron and black stockings - not conducive to keeping cool either!

Hymnbook Fri 29-May-20 09:38:02

Yes we had a lovely family holiday staying in a bungalow in Lee Devon overlooking the beach. We put a paddling pool in the garden for my son and his cousin. A helicopter flue over we wondered if they would report us for using water in the little pool.

Seefah Fri 29-May-20 09:38:42

My parents and I moved house from London to the New Forest on the hottest day of 1976 ! It was like leaving hell and arriving in heaven ! One of the happiest years of my life.
Loved the song gillybob
Life was so full of joy back then it makes me a bit tearful.

Brigidsdaughter Fri 29-May-20 09:39:31

Shysal I loved that book

Cambia Fri 29-May-20 09:41:57

My eldest son was born then and I worked up until a couple of weeks before he was due. He didn’t turn up on time, so I went back to work! Boy was it hot. The only time I can remember watching Wimbledon and the song of summer was I’m Not In Love 10cc! A lovely summer for a baby though, he lay out in his pram in the shade!

Crispy64 Fri 29-May-20 09:44:24

We had wallpapered our front room before going to Southport for the week, can remember chris evert winning Wimbledon, on returning home we found all the paper hanging off the walls, not a good look.

Elijah Fri 29-May-20 09:44:25

I remember it well. I was 18years of age and spent the summer down by the river sunbathing in my bikini! It was a fantastic summer for me.