BILL Foggitt was a North Yorkshire folk hero. While Michael Fish relies on a gamut of satellite and computer technology to predict the weather, Bill would make his own forecasts based on seaweed and hedgerows.

His knowledge of old country ways made him a national figure. Long range forecasts, beyond the Met Office, were his speciality.

Now Bill has gone, we will not know the likelihood of a white Christmas until late December.

We hope he is resting on a comfortable cummulo nimbus.

Updated: 10:39 Tuesday, September 14, 2004