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Forget the pipe-smoking weather forecasters of old, we're different!

Here's a little about us....

simon-keeling-813029616Dr. Simon Keeling PhD, MSc, FRMetS
Okay, so the letters after the name may look impressive, but don't let that fool you; I'm actually a self-confessed weather anorak!

As founder of Weather Consultancy Services, Weather School and Weatherweb.net it's my job to oversee operations here at the Weather Centre, advise and guide our meteorologists, and to make sure that you get the very best experience from your Premium membership.

My passion is in communicating the weather, and having worked in broadcasting here in the UK and Europe, I want to bring great weather to a wider audience. After all, weather is what we all experience every day; its a fascinating subject but, until now, there have been very few outlets to explain how the weather works, why the forecast is as it is and also to explain uncertainties in the forecast.

I have an MSc and PhD in Meteorology from the University of Birmingham, but with every day I learn more about the weather.

 

Garry Nicholson BA(Hons), MSc
Whether it was looking out for snow during the winter as a child, or being entertained by crazy American news reporters standing in the path of a hurricane, Garry has a long-standing fascination and interest in the weather.

Garry completed an MSc in Meteorology and Climatology at the University of Birmingham in September 2013. This included researching the influence of lunar cycles as a potential external forcing mechanism on weather patterns, something which he continues to study and factor into his long-range forecasts. He also has a BA in Geography and Broadcast Media from the University of Derby. He has forecasted for Weatherweb Premium clients since 2014, covering the weather story for everyone from farmers to growers, pilots, sailors and large companies. He also operates and forecasts for the Mountain Weather Information Service.

His approach to forecasting is no-nonsense and straight-talking, focusing on pattern recognition and long-term cycles. He loves observing our variable British climate and will always remind you that there's rarely such a thing as average weather!

Garry has a passion for the great outdoors, and likes nothing more than hiking his home patch in the Peak District, or bagging another Lakeland fell. He is also a self confessed 'fair-weather golfer', so an accurate weather forecast is a must!

 

Filotas Paschos BSc (Hons), MSc
Well, as strange as it sounds for a Greek, I love cold weather! From when I was really young I remember getting excited when the TV presenters were talking about snow the next day! It was my dream to become a weather forecaster!

So my academic path was paved right to the one and only target of being a forecaster. I completed my B.Sc in Physics an the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki with a thesis on fog climatology. Fate then brought me in the UK and acquired my MSc degree on Applied Meteorology of University of Reading.

Right after that, I joined the operational forecasting team of the UK Met Office, with a training in Exeter and then for the next 5 years I moved north and was based based in Aberdeen. There I completed many forecasting roles; Aviation, Commercial, Winter Forecasting, but my main specialisation was in the Public Weather Service (PWS) in which I worked as a Senior Operational Meteorologist.

Further to that, I wanted to continue looking further into the impacts of weather, so I joined the Disaster, Crisis and Environmental Strategic Management master degree at the University of Athens, from which I graduated with a merit. My work career continued to a big global private weather provider, and now I am engaged also with the shipping industry and forecasting.

 

'Captain Bob'
The identity of Captain Bob must remain a mystery, but all you need to know is that he (yes, we can confirm it is 'he') is considered one of the best long range forecasters around.

Captain Bob's weather interest began back in the 1960's when he spent time in Australia. He returned to the UK in the mid-60's and has been observing and commenting on weather patterns ever since.

Captain Bob takes a slightly unorthodox view of weather prediction. He uses computer model output, but also includes much analogues information, sea surface temperature and index techniques to improve his longer range guidance.

He is always learning and is keen to expore the unfolding cyclical relation ships within the atmosphere and ocean and to investigate the effect they have on Europe's weather.

What we can say is that his fingers are 'green' and he likes nothing more than 'letting off steam'. But will we ever know who Captain Bob really is?

 

 

 

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