Warm weather in UK

[William_H]

I feel a bit stupid trying to give my UK friends advice on coping with warm weather. However every time I see news footage of UK warm weather I see lots of people out in the sun and almost none wearing a hat.
Now here in Perth (32s) we get something like 100 days each year when official max temp exceeds 30 degrees and a hand full over 40. Biggest problem becomes bush fires.
Now all primary school kids live with the rule "you can't go outside for play without wearing a hat". I never go out without a hat even in winter. My old sailing hat is like a base ball hat but with side and back cloth that covers ears and neck even bottom of face. (plus sun glasses) I wear long trousers and long sleeve shirt all white.
When I was young I worked at a local airport on the aircraft. My clothing consisted of lightweight white overalls (cover all) long sleeves and legs. Shoes and sox of course and just under pants under neath. Kept reasonably cool on the sun.
I also have a nifty hat to wear in the water which works OK with swim mask and snorkel. Yes in this climate boat needs a lot of in water scrubbing. ol'will

 

[Stemar]

A good warning - thanks. Yesterday, it took me until mid-afternoon to realise I was thirsty. By dinner, I'd put away a litre of water, and didn't pee more than usual, and that was mostly indoors.

We Brits just aren't used to extreme weather, especially in the effete south - an inch of snow, and we're sliding all over the place and traffic grinds to a halt; a bit of sun, and we're keeling over with heat exhaustion or sunstroke, not to mention glowing bright pink with sunburn.

Mad dogs and Englishmen...

 

[lustyd]

If you think hats are a problem it gets worse. I was reading a thread yesterday where a 6 year olds school has banned suncream. The child gets to school early and stays for after hours sports so applying beforehand is useless.
Modern Britain to a T though, convenience over science every time.

 

[Poignard]

If only I had known the risks.

I fear my life has been foreshortened by exposure to the sunshine, and I was so looking forward to receiving my congratulatory telegram from King Charles (King Billy?) in 2040.

Seriously, what William_H says makes perfect sense, but those of my generation didnae ken. But we ken noo!

 

[ingenious]

Having once got bad sunburn on my thinning pate, I always wear a hat in sun but important to get one that covers your neck as well.
My current chapeau is one of these but I also have what my wife called my "Beau Geste" hat - a peaked cap with a neck flap.
It only gets brought out for long walks.

 

[Boathook]

Just as we start to acclimatise to the heat it gets "cold" again. As Stemar says we just aren't used to extremes in the UK, especially the south.

 

[capnsensible]

I spent a lot of years teaching sailing in Gibraltar. I had to be very careful with hydration and use of sunscreen. My safety brief to students included advice about this, but I constantly had to nag a lot of Brits about simple precautions. Ashore on Costa Del Sol summer evenings, you would see scores of pink tourists who had overdone their sunbathing.

 

[ingenious]

,@Stemar wrote:
Mad dogs and Englishmen...

Scots are even worse. The number of pale skinned, ginger headed I've seen with serious sunburn

 

[wonkywinch]

Brits are very good at fashioning hats out of handkerchiefs, napkins etc.

 

[ProDave]

I bought my hat in Australia in 1997 and it's been twice round the world with me since. Don't wear it for sailing though, too much windage and likely to get lost.

Schools not allowing sun cream is just madness.

 

[Stemar]

Brits are very good at fashioning hats out of handkerchiefs, napkins etc.


View attachment 195531

I so want to make a comment, but I fear it would be interpreted as political and get me shore leave

 

[Boathook]

I so want to make a comment, but I fear it would be interpreted as political and get me shore leave

"Grab" the picture and post in the other place.

 

[johnalison]

My cheapo mock-Tilley has a neck strap and is fine for sailing up to 15 knots of wind, when the brim blows down and I go blind. Above that wind a cap with a connection to my collar is used.
I went for an hour's walk yesterday in the heat, because I enjoy it better than the cold. I didn't carry water but had a good drink before and after and felt fine. About half the walk was in shade, but more like 3/4 of my time.

 

[Stemar]

"Grab" the picture and post in the other place.

No need. Those who think like I do probably thought the same thing and, chances are, so have those of the opposite persuasion, and are already enraged

 

[finestgreen]

I've recently got a couple of this kind of hoodie made of "rash vest" type material, even better than a hat for keeping the sun off;

APTRO Men's UPF 50+ Hoodies Rash Guard Long Sleeve Fishing Top UV Sun Protection Rash Vest Quick Dry Lightweight Shirt Gradient Blue MFS16 M : Amazon.co.uk: Fashion

 

[lustyd]

I've recently got a couple of this kind of hoodie made of "rash vest" type material, even better than a hat for keeping the sun off;

APTRO Men's UPF 50+ Hoodies Rash Guard Long Sleeve Fishing Top UV Sun Protection Rash Vest Quick Dry Lightweight Shirt Gradient Blue MFS16 M : Amazon.co.uk: Fashion

Delos have always done this and it seems a much better idea. Finding them in the UK and having confidence in fit and quality is hard but it definitely seems the way to go

 

[Hoolie]

We use our wide brim Bunnings straw hats brought back from Aus. They're considered plebian in Australia as they are widely used by road repair crews and other outdoor workers but they're good quality and practical so who cares? Not us!

 

[Dockhead]

My cheapo mock-Tilley has a neck strap and is fine for sailing up to 15 knots of wind, when the brim blows down and I go blind. Above that wind a cap with a connection to my collar is used.
I went for an hour's walk yesterday in the heat, because I enjoy it better than the cold. I didn't carry water but had a good drink before and after and felt fine. About half the walk was in shade, but more like 3/4 of my time.

I have a real Tilley and a fake Tilley sold by West Marine and the fake one is actually better.

In any case, a full brim is highly desirable in this weather. Baseball caps are not adequate.

 

[seeSimon]

Not to worry...it's raining again by the weekend gere in "sunny Cornwall"...
our weather may make you uncomfortable (and almost certainly at least damp) but despite what the BBC tells me I'm unlikely to die from it...brief sunburns aside.

Ps. I'm 80ft above sea level...

 

[seeSimon]

Duplicate. Sorry.