Three reports from Friday, July 3 issue of the Wiltshire Times dealt with various concepts of weather and variations from slightly different viewpoints.

Alison Phillips noted (Heatwave is no reason for the public panic, p33) the sun had various effects on a calm approach to changes in the seasons and day-to-day variations of the sun and our opinions on heat (and cold) being unduly emphasised by news commentary and headlines.

Overcooked advice on being sensible in dealing with highs and lows in the vagaries of the weather are common enough reading. No reason for public panic. Good one, Alison – sensible and yet still a reminder to those unaware of some of the longer- term exposure problems.

Mr GF White (Dangers of UV, p35) introduced a severe problem from a few years ago that actually still exists, but has been largely forgotten to the extent that the public can be lulled into a feeling of benign security, covering what is still a longer term safety risk. That risk is the exposure to sunlight without using proper skin protection. The sun feels hot when in a clear blue sky, but comfortably cool when a cloud passes over. Thus we feel safe and are probably unprotected when the next glorious display appears.

A third item, from Climate Friendly Bradford on Avon, reported (p38) on a meeting with a background from the responsible lifestyle of Quaker communities. Interesting, especially so when looking at history from the later 1600s and migration to America during a “Little Ice Age” from persecution in England.

Suffering due to weather, crop failures and setting up new communities in what was a fearsome and strange environment over those following years has followed a pattern that built close-knit communities and yet repeats itself.

In 1793 the weather had warmed over the years to produce other crop failures, but due to heat and drought. Populations moved from servicing the land and into the cities. That was until 1812, during which time the weather worldwide had changed from hot into severe cold. Mother Nature at her very worst! Napoleon lost 400,000 men on a retreat from Moscow during a bitter winter In 1816, northern and middle America was reeling in cold, frost and snow from May to August before more bitter winters set in.

This was just about the middle of that steep drop in temperatures and luckily warmth took over such that our icy Thames that we hear about, was freed up in about 1850 in time for the Great Exhibition and the Crystal Palace of Victorian times.

Various jumps and falls in temperature have occurred since then, until our recent experience of global warming or climate change, as various so-called “experts” would have us believe.

Perhaps this is more scaremongering such that more money can be extracted as taxes or investment by the “big guns” of government and specialist climate industries. Again, a meeting in Paris is due in December.

Whatever – prices of utilities continue to rise despite “other experts” telling us a different story about “renewable energy”.

However – the weather pattern is now becoming very similar to that of the changes from 1793 to 1850 and through 1816. It may well be not quite as severe or perhaps as long but it will get colder. Alison will get out the duvet and the sun lotion will again be forgotten.

George Fortune, Trowbridge.