Weathering the weather

One of the remnants of stiff upper lip English traditions may soon be a matter of the past. Obsession with the weather is a marked personality characteristic of the English and not without reason. Their greetings grow cheerier with the brightening of weather and from the pub through the train stations and even in the friendly chat with the newspaper delivery boy the weather is more often than not likely to hold centre stage of discussions.
The island state life is consistently interrupted or granted reprieve by nature's whims and fancies from the 'spells' that usually change rapidly. It is all part of the preparation for the working day, holiday or just timing of the afternoon walk with the dog. And so every broadcaster ensures as accurate a forecast as possible. The friendly but clearly understated presenters are contracted from the Met Office, somewhat like BTV does. They are specialised and articulate and their familiarity develops a kindred feeling. In terms of accuracy, with more technology available they are good but as the adage goes the Met office has been found wanting in 'making better best'.
The BBC's decision not to award the Met office the weather contract going ahead thus means that somewhat like Fish and Chips, something essentially British will disappear. The new contractor will be either Dutch or New Zealand-based companies and the change of presentation and accent may well bring a new element to discussion of the weather. The Met office's reaction has been typically British. 'Disappointing'. The following statement does, however, sum it up better. 'No one knows British weather better than we do'. That in itself echoes a strain of branding that is quintessentially British.
The BBC has been clear. There have been some gaffe's in weather forecasts and viewer discomfiture has been given top priority. Prospects of weather forecasts going awry in this day and age, especially with more frequent monitoring, does sound strange but the BBC is no man's fool.
The romantics who love to dwell in the past may not like it but maybe the Met office too needs to reinvent itself to cater to a more inquisitive and variety  -- hungry viewership. The human element of the weather beyond the prospects of cricket, Wimbledon and the Cup final has to resonate. Whether the Dutch or New Zealand companies are serving that or whether it is more about costs and efficiencies will be clear at some stage.
Not too many countries have festivity surrounding sport. And the boisterous and at times tuneless rhapsody of cricket aficionados somewhat under influence; the delightful summer hats, beneath the brim of which strawberries and cream are consumed and the archaic but colourful attire of the races  are inextricably connected with the news of the weather.
Worried mothers plan the summer picnics with a degree of studiousness unseen elsewhere and the famous tourist trade along Oxford Street and the hop-on, hop-off buses look to the skies for a decent spell of blue skies.
Ninety eight years' collaboration is not one that is easily done away with or replaced. Change is good but only if it is for the better. Otherwise, it becomes old hat.
mahmudrahman@gmail.com