BILL GILES OBE

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Bill Giles OBE is one of Britain's best-known weather forecasters & presented for the BBC for over 25 years.

Bill was born in Devon & first became interested in meteorology whilst at school in Crediton. After leaving Bristol College of Science & Technology Bill joined the Meteorological Office at Exeter in January 1957. Later that year he was sent to Christmas Island to observe the immediate meteorological effects of the H-bomb tests.

From 1961 to 1963 Bill was based in Germany as an observer with the RAF & between 1968 & 1970 worked as a lecturer at the Met Office's training college.

Bill Giles' broadcasting career began in 1972 when he transferred to the London Weather Centre to become part of the forecasting team for BBC Radio, he moved to television forecasting in 1975.

In 1980, promotion took him back to Bracknell where he worked in public relations & then in May 1983 he returned to take charge of BBC television's forecasting team on the retirement of Jack Scott.

October 1990 saw the publication of Bill's book The Weather Story & he also started to present the BBC programme The Weather Show, in which Bill provided an insight into the mysteries of forecasting & offered a glimpse behind the scenes at the kind of things that can go wrong.

Bill Giles completed a series, of twelve half-hour programmes on the specific implications of climate change in Southwest England. Bill has also lectured on this subject to several conferences including Cambridge County Council, Bracknell Forest Council, The Earth Centre, Doncaster & the East of England Tourist Board.

After leading the team of Broadcast Meteorologists since 1983 Bill retired from the Met Office in January 2000 as Senior Broadcaster, however he continues to advise on broadcast meteorology.

Bill's speech contains humorous anecdotes about the BBC Weather Centre, its presenters & if required, climate change. His main contribution to this subject is that he translates the language of pure science into one, which everyone can understand!

Bill was awarded the OBE in the 1995 New Year's Honours list for services to broadcast meteorology.

 

For more information on Bill Giles, Contact Arena. Tel: 0113-239-2222