The Big Freeze of 1963

Yes I was 7.. it was really end of '62 to '63...my youngest sister was literally just born.. and we had no heating in the house except for one bar electric fire in the livingroom. We lived ina prefab so there was no insulation to speak of, and all the window frames were metal, all the 3 external doors were made of metal....

I remember having to walk to school in the deep snow, holes in my shoes, and having chillblains and to have foul smelling Zam - Buk ointment put on my toes
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This was our house.... at the time...
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the window on the left was the kitchen... the livingroom was at the back.... the window on the right was a bedroom

I walked to school by myself or with my younger brother..alone through the deep snow...

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Rae said:
@hollydolly that sounds really cold and like a hard time for you as a child.

@Furryanimal it must have been a hardship for you, too.

I have lived in places with lots of snow and I do not miss it, living here in Florida. The worst part for me was driving in it and yes, as a child walking to school.
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yes we have a problem here driving in snow and ice because unlike other countries we don't have snow tyres.. at least , they're not usual... so people drive in snow and ice on ordinary tyres, which is a bit of a nightmare
 
hollydolly said:
yes we have a problem here driving in snow and ice because unlike other countries we don't have snow tyres.. at least , they're not usual... so people drive in snow and ice on ordinary tyres, which is a bit of a nightmare
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That surprises me HD. Are snow tires banned? I suppose then tire chains would be banned as well.
 
ChiroDoc said:
That surprises me HD. Are snow tires banned? I suppose then tire chains would be banned as well.
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no they're not banned ...but this from AI explains it


People in the UK generally don't use snow tyres because winters are typically mild, with inconsistent snow and ice, making the significant cost, hassle of swapping, and storage issues for a second set of tyres hard to justify for infrequent use. While winter tyres offer superior grip below 7°C, UK weather is too variable, with mild, rainy spells alongside occasional cold snaps, meaning standard or all-season tyres often suffice for the majority of drivers.

Key Reasons for Low Adoption:

  • Mild, Erratic Climate: Unlike continental Europe, the UK experiences less consistent, deep cold and snow, with temperatures often fluctuating above freezing, making dedicated winter tyres less essential for most areas.
  • Cost & Storage: Buying, fitting, and storing a second set of tyres (or even just the tyres themselves) is a considerable expense and logistical challenge for most UK households.
  • Lack of Legal Requirement: Unlike some European countries, winter tyres are not mandatory in the UK, so there's no legal push to adopt them.
 
hollydolly said:
no they're not banned ...but this from AI explains it

People in the UK generally don't use snow tyres because winters are typically mild, with inconsistent snow and ice, making the significant cost, hassle of swapping, and storage issues for a second set of tyres hard to justify for infrequent use. While winter tyres offer superior grip below 7°C, UK weather is too variable, with mild, rainy spells alongside occasional cold snaps, meaning standard or all-season tyres often suffice for the majority of drivers.
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Well that explains it nicely, HD. If it were me, I'd likely keep a pair of tire chains for emergencies. They don't take up any room.
 

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