Delabole Slate September 2022

THE GOOD OLD DAYS
1976 – Major Drought …
… 2022 – Another ‘Major’ Drought?
As I write this on 9 th August 2022 we have already had a
couple of dry months and a good bit of sunshine with a
prediction of further dry, hot weather to come for the
immediate future.
Delabole Carnival week was dry and sunny for the most
part – and – what a wonderful chain of events had been
arranged for us to watch and participate in, yet again, by
the organisers. ‘Well done’ and ‘Thank You’ one and all.
This is just a note to reflect on one or two memories from
the Summer of 1976. I believe them to be memories but
parts might be “dreams” so I stand to be corrected on
detail.
A fair bit of Tintagel Cliff was ‘on fire’ as were big swathes
of cliff and downs throughout Cornwall, and a fair
scattering of roadside verges too. We were being urged
not to throw lighted cigarettes from vehicles. I was never
sure why people needed to be told this, bearing in mind
that every car, coach and bus had ashtrays as did
theatres, cinemas etc. at that time.
I believe we had hosepipe bans but, as far as I recall,
“Standpipes” were for use in extremes of cold – e.g. the
Winter of 1962-1963 - rather than as an aid to solving
drought conditions.
I recall, also, seeing the Delabole firemen filling their water
tanks with water from a ‘makeshift’ pit that had been dug
into the riverbed that was catching just enough water to
be sucked up before it discharged to the sea at Boscastle
Harbour.
No doubt we will know how this drought resolved by the
time you read this. I have realized that if the next drought
of mention is spaced equally to the last intervening period
I will be about 125 years old when we get the next and am
wondering if I should be looking forward to it with ‘eager
anticipation’ or ‘dread’ !!!!
I.M.B. August
2022.