Leading meteorologist Professor Brian Golding, a Sidmouth resident, was the speaker at the January meeting of the East Devon Luncheon Club.

It was held at the Victoria Hotel in Sidmouth and was attended by more than 70 members and guests.

Brian is co-chair of the World Meteorological Organisation’s 10-year high impact weather research project. This inititative aims to enable increased global resilience to severe weather and its impacts by improving forecasts and improving communication of information to users and particularly emergency managers. He joined the Met Office in 1972, and was involved in early work on the wave power climatology of the UK. From 2006 to 2012 he directed Met Office research in weather science, including all aspects of the forecasting process.

His talk, 'The History of Meterology', began with the Biblical story of Noah, whose skills in predicting the weather were largely limited to observation, helped by some divine guidance. Aristotle wrote a treatise ‘Meteorolology’, which took account of features such as wind direction, water evaporation, earthquakes and weather phenomenon – all based on observation.

From the Renaissance onward, classification and measurement took account of cloud types and height. Barometric pressure readings became important, especially to mariners. With the development of the telegraph, countries were able to collect and share information.

However, Brian said, the important factor is that forecasts should be used, as in the case of Noah. In Anglesey, in 1859, information that could have saved the vessel Royal Charter from breaking up on the rocks 50 yards from shore was ignored, with the loss of 450 lives.

The data is of course heeded more and more. For example, the date of the D-Day landings was determined by the weather forecast. Continuing technological developments, such as satellite images, now allow increasing accuracy in forecasting, with day-to-day forecasts now the expected norm.

Chairman Mr Simon Card thanked Professor Golding for his attendance and for sharing his expert knowledge of a topic, which is of increasing interest to all.

The next meeting of the club will take place at the Victoria Hotel on February 20 with Anthony Venning speaking on ‘The Life and Loves of Samuel Pepys.’