A WARM WELCOME TO MY WEBSITE & A VERY
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!
2011 turned out to be an interesting year here in Portpatrick, at
least Meteorologically!
Despite Global Warming, temperatures at this site were less than spectacular.
The highest shade temperature recorded here was 20.3°C on June 3rd, and the lowest was -1.9°C on
January 15th!
However it was pretty wet! Almost 28” of rain here in 2011, but nearly double that fell apparently in
the Cairnryan, Kirkcolm and Leswalt areas!
Wind strength was pretty much average, with the Maximum wind speed
for the year here being 63.5kts {73.1 mph} from the WNW on December 11th.
Nevertheless, the wind was 'Centre
Stage' here meteorologically!
Throughout 2011, there was not a single month when the wind
did not reach at least 40kts {46mph}. August managed this in the height of Summer on the 8th!
Even more disturbing
I think, is that there were 7 out of the 12 months of 2011, when the recorded wind speed here exceeded 50kts {57.5mph} AND
would you believe that the maximum wind speed on May 23rd, [56.5kts {65.02mph} from the WNW,] exceeded the maximum wind
speed recorded in January, which was 50.4kts {58mph!}
All this 2011 'wind stuff' has already
been exceeded on day 3 of 2012 when, at 0606 UTC the wind was blowing at 70 kts {80.55mph!}
All the above data of course, is available on Page 4 and clicking on the 'Data
for 2011: Monthly Summary link!
Site last updated January 3rd, 2012 @ 2315 UTC.
Page 14... [Site
Statistics] for December 2011 added.
Page 9 [Track Local Shipping] updated [and will be further updated
very soon!] The enhancements now give better coverage, but defaults to a 'World' map, so you will initially have
to ZOOM into the area of choice. Your browser should then keep your its settings, at least until you make
any alterations, or clear your history.
I have also noticed that this page is best viewed in Google Chrome or Firefox,
rather than Internet Explorer, as these browsers allow more of the screen to be dedicated to the map, rather than all the
advertising material below the map!
The site has been up and running since June 2005, and the prime purpose
is to provide comprehensive 'Near Real Time' weather data for the village of Portpatrick in SW Scotland, with
easy access to my 'historical data' for the entire period since it was set up.
I have added some
useful links to sites of local interest, and links that provide Tidal information for Portpatrick, the 'live' monitoring
of shipping in the North Channel and beyond!
There is a MOUNTAIN of archived local weather information available
to those who may be interested on pages 1 to 5.
Travel information is available on pages 10 & 11.
Local Information links are provided on
page 12
Some snaps of our Grandchildren and pets can be viewed on page 13
Site statistics [updated each
month] can be viewed on page 14.
The annual running costs for the site [assuming no equipment failures] is approximately £250, which is
made up from Internet costs of £144 p.a & £72 p.a for Domain Name & Webspace on the Internet,
and of course electricity costs.
A recent transmitter failure cost me just under £200, and sensor
failures have cost another £200 since the site was established in June 2005.
On February 21st. 2011,
I had to replace the troublesome Anemometer transmitter on the roof. The replacement transmitter cost me just over £202
& local firm charged £35 to swap units over on my roof, and in March, the dedicated Dell Laptop computer went 'belly-up'
and had to be replaced immediately to enable continuity of weather records etc. {another £350 down the plug hole!}
There are two LARGE Ferry Companies operating locally, and BOTH access this site many times daily
for up to the minuteinformation on weather conditions in the North Channel, or the latest position
of their vessels enroute to Larne/Cairnryan or Stranraer/Belfast, and vice versa!
To date, NEITHER Company
has responded to my request for some sponsorship of this site, even though I work for one of them! {Shame
on you P&O!}
So, if any of you feel that you have benefited from using the site, and would like to contribute to its upkeep,
then PLEASE CONTACT ME! [Just
like TESCO ... Every little helps!]
I particularly wish to thank Lesley Collins & Robert McQueen,Tommy McCutcheon {GM0HPL}, Ian & Carol Maxwell, Joe & Margo Farrell, Graeme Young [Electrical Services], Portpatrick [Dunskey] Golf Club & The late Gavin Morrison {GM3MOU} and Angie Morrison{2M0TZA} for their very generous donations to help with the running
costs of this site.
The system is a Davis Instruments Wireless 'Vantage Pro2' weather station, with all sensors wirelessly
connected to the main console. This in turn transfers data to a dedicated Dell laptop 'Inspiron' PC, which archives
all data at 1 minute intervals, then uploads the data to several sites via the Internet. These include:-NOAA [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] in the USA, Weather Underground, also based in the USA, but is where the data from
this station {and countless others!} can be accessed & downloaded.Detailed Historical data for this station is available on this site from
June 2005, when this station started uploading via a 'dial up' connection! Things improved somewhat in October 2005,
when a reliable 'broadband' connection was established here! MADIS [Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System] ... also based in the USA!CWOP [The Citizen's Weather Observers Programme]
and.... APRS [Automatic Packet Reporting
System], used by the World's Radio Amateurs]
Other interests are:-
THE RNLI, and in particular the Portpatrick Branch, where for
the last 12 years I served as Honorary Secretary and Lifeboat Operations Manager.
I'm proud to have been associated
with such a wonderful group of people, both Crew and Committee, their families and friends who contribute so much
to make our Branch as successful as it is!
I think that I am correct in saying that Portpatrick is in the
'Top 4' in Scotland as far as our Fund Raising efforts are concerned, just behind Edinburgh and Glasgow and one other... which
is not bad, considering Portpatrick's static population is just a little over 1000 souls!
I estimate that our
annual contribution to the RNLI's coffers in the last 5 years has averaged around £35-40,000. That equates
to a 'per capita' average of £35-40 for this wee village!
Apply this ratio to the likes of Greater
Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen & Dundee ... and just 4 Scottish cities could fund the RNLI around £80m each year!
[Food for thought!]
According to the RNLI website, their Annual running costs are currently £123.5m,
so what are London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol and all the rest doing? Not to mention Belfast & Dublin,
as the RNLI have the coast of Ireland covered too! ... so you can see that Portpatrick is doing 'its bit for the cause!'
I stepped down from this position in February 2011, handing over to Allan Burgess, who was a long standing member
of our crew, and will be ABSOLUTELY IDEAL for the post.
My other main interest outside our family is AMATEUR RADIO,
with a preference for CW [Morse Code operation].
Unfortunately, I have not had time to persue this interest recently,
and although I have a fully equipped radio station, I have not been 'on the air' since May 2003, when I VERY
nearly expired, following an attack of Necrotising Fasciitis!
My personal history is somewhat varied! When I left school, I got involved in hotel
work during the summer holidays before I started at Radio College.
After qualifying as a Ships' Radio Officer, I continued with
my work in Hotel Management, becoming Assistant Manager initially of the Beach Hotel in Trearddur Bay, Anglesey, then after
a break involving Yacht Deliveries in Europe & the Caribbean, I became Assistant Manager of the Northern
Hotel in Aberdeen, and later, 'Relief Manager' for Usher/Vaux hotels in the NE of Scotland, including the
Palace Hotel in Peterhead, the Station Hotel in Fraserburgh, The Staging Post in Bucksburn, and others in the City centre
of Aberdeen that I'd rather forget!
In 1967, shortly after meeting Patricia, [now my wife for the last 43+ years!] I moved from Aberdeen
to London [and Bournemouth], to train in Air Traffic Control.
After several courses in the ATC College at Hurn Airport, I worked at both London's Heathrow
Airport and the London Air Traffic Control Centre [which in those days was located at West Drayton in Middlesex]
I married PAT in October
1968 up in Aberdeen, and later in 1969 moved from ATC to a career in the British Coast Radio Station Service., when after induction
training at Portishead Radio/GKA, I was posted to Portpatrick/GPK, where I served initially as a Radio Officer.
I am privileged to
have visited [and worked] at several of the other UK Coast Radio Stations during my time with BT’s ‘Aeronautical
& Maritime Services', including GNF/North Foreland in Kent, GNI/Niton on the Isle of Wight, GLV/ Anglesey, N. Wales, GND / Stonehaven and GCC/ Cullercoats, near Newcastle on Tyne, Humber
Radio/GKZ, and the Long Range Station GKA/Portishead
Radio in Highbridge, Somerset.
In 1972 I attended College in Southampton, for a 'Crash Course' to
upgrade my Maritime Radio Qualifications.
Then from 1980 I was the Acting Station Manager, at Portpatrick/GPK, until
the closure of this station on 31st March 1999, and for the last 18 months until closure, I was the only person left.
After a brief spell between April 1999 and
September '99 when I worked voluntarily at the Citizen's Advice Bureau in Stranraer, I managed to secure paid
employment in P&O's busy Freight Department in Cairnryan. Initially, this was just part time, but in early 2002
I secured a full time position... and despite all odds [Senility, deafness, near-death
etc.] .... I'm still there!
In 1970, my wife Pat
gave birth to our first born ~ 'DEBBIE' in a Snow Storm! Debbie, who is now 41, subsequently married a GREAT guy [DUNCAN]
and have since produced two WONDERFUL grand children for Pat and myself ERIN & EUAN! [See the link to the left!]
In October 1972, 'BEVERLEY' arrived!
Beverley doesn't have
any children, but she has a POSSÉ of Irish Setters instead! Maddie produced
a litter of puppies in 2005, 2 remained with Beverley {Morgan & Bailey} another {Harvey} moved to Debbie & Duncan's
house, and yet another {Fergie} moved to live with my Niece in Aberdeen! Beverley added yet another to her brood of setters in October 2006, when
she collected {Redley} from the North of Scotland. These have recently
been joined by River, Ellie & Lexie! [Irish Setters] and Amber, a Golden Retriever... Add to this, two super-cool felines who [sometimes] answer
to ‘Murphy & MacKenzie', and who quite naturally think that they are dogs! [I have even been known to bark whilst visiting this establishment!]
CHECK OUT THE OTHER
PAGES OF THE SITE, WHICH I HOPE YOU WILL FIND INFORMATIVE!
CLICK on the links on the left hand side of
the page.If you live locally, or have
an interest in our weather, then there's a MOUNTAINof 'downloadable' information on our Portpatrick
Weather at frequent intervals [often less than 5 minutes] stretching back to June 2005.
The 'Current Weather' page is updated
each minute 24/7/365 [BT & Electricity supply permitting!] although I have a UPSwhich
will keep the laptop and BT Internet system going for around 90 minutes in the event of a power failure.
SO THERE IT IS! ......AND
AS THEY SAY HERE IN PORTPATRICK...... (Well, they used to!)
HASTE YE BACK!
