Wanstead and the UK’s top 10 hottest days

Britain’s capital is often the location of the UK’s hottest weather but a look back to 1911 shows it is often elsewhere the mercury is highest. The highest temperature record has been broken three times in my lifetime. Before the first occasion in August 1990 you’d often see press articles speculating: “Will the UK ever break 100 Fahrenheit? Polo advert for the heatwave that coincided with the Queen Mother’s 90th birthday in 1990 Though 100F was recorded at Greenwich in August 1911 the station’s use of a Glaisher stand (an instrument that depends on the observer turning it away from direct sunlight throughout the day) the record was deemed unsafe and a temperature of 36.7C at Raunds, Northants, was established as the new record. The record stood for nearly 80 years before it was eclipsed, 37.1C being measured at Chelteham. Thirteen years later the record was broken again, this time Brogdale, near Faversham, registering 38.5C. Sixteen years on Cambridge became the UK’s hottest place,…