Will there ever be another summer like that of 1976?

The weather of course was unforgettable as one of the most remarkable and enduring in UK memory with temperatures regularly exceeding 30°C widely across England from 23^rd June. It was 35.6C in Southampton on June 23^rd - and the highest overall temperature in summer 1976 was 35.9C in Cheltenham, on July 3rd.

The summer brought its challenges too – notably the drought, with suited water board executives walking their parched reservoirs explaining just how bad things were. As standpipes were dragged from Morris Marina vans – women in headscarves queued with buckets to take away a drop of the precious stuff – and we were urged to bath with a friend. We didn’t shower much back then. Mind you, we didn’t take too many baths either.

Then there were the huge numbers of seven spotted-ladybirds – biting us and attacking our ice creams.  A warm spring had brought more of them, who were then left foodless as plants dried up, diminishing the aphids they relied on. So off the hungry mites swarmed in their millions, besieging towns and villages, not least by the sea where they had nowhere else to go!

But that relentless season has gone down in history as a societal landmark – of ‘how we used to do summer’.  The reddening bodies of our generation – and the one before ours – languishing in traditional deck chairs, sheltering under a broadsheet newspaper and even, yes, a genuine knotted hankie.

For children, it was just freedom. Long days, no rain to keep us in. Just out, speeding along the molten pavements on our Chopper bike in plimsolls. What’s not to like.  Splashing in a back garden makeshift pool whilst you waited for the ice cream man – for these were days when your freezer was barely big enough for a few ice cubes and two Tip Top lollies. And then – if you could afford it – a bottle of fizz from the Alpine man – or your supplier of choice.

And – as we always tell anyone who will listen – it all seemed to end just as the Government appointed a Minister for Drought. 

On Friday July 3^rd  on Boom we’re marking 50 years since the summer of ’76 – and we hope you can join us. 

We’ll be scattering in songs from that great summer - from Elton and Kiki to Candi Staton, the Real Thing, Wings and Tavares accompanied by your memories; and the great John Kettley popping up to.

Drop us a line now to 1976@boomradio.co.uk and share all you remember from those stifling months – where were you and what were you up to? 

You can record a voice message instead if you wish – and we may broadcast it.  Just send it to the same email address. We’d love to hear from you.