Wednesday, January 10, 2018

Philip Eden

Sad to report the death of Philip Eden, Radio 5 Live's chief weather forecaster from the start in 1994, through to 2005. He knew his stuff, and communicated a genuine interest and enthusiasm for forecasting.

At the age of seven, he was cutting out the daily weather panel from the family newspaper, at home in Luton. He studied Geography at Birmingham University,  moving on to an MSc in Applied Meteorology and Climatology. He joined the technical staff at  Edgbaston Observatory in 1973, and sharpened his forecasting in the Middle East and North Sea at Imcos Marine between 1976 and 1981, and then at Noble Denton until 1986.

By the mid-80s, Philip was steering towards a more media-orientated career, helping Noble Denton win newspaper and radio contracts at a time when competing with the Met Office in the private sector was far from easy. Philip soon left his mark as a forecast presenter on London’s LBC radio, as well as column editor in the now defunct Today newspaper. Indeed, such was his popularity that both clients wanted him exclusively so he left Noble Denton to start his own private weather business in 1986.

Radio 5 Live signed him up for their launch team. The PR photograph was the smartest many of us had seen him. Working long shifts, he favoured trainers and jeans, both worn close to extinction.

Philip was Vice President of the Royal Meteorological Society from 2007 to 2009. He was awarded the Society's Outstanding Service Medal in May 2015, the Gordon Manley Weather Prize in December 2000 and the Michael Hunt Award in December 1992. Loads of books, columns and several extensive websites of weather records are his legacy. Hacks will remember him for his largely unending patience with our arrogance.

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