English Read online

  Wade, John 166–7

  Wainwright, Alfred 24

  Walton, Professor John: Fish and Chips and the British Working Class 220

  wax jackets 10, 12, 99–108, 282

  weather viii, 7, 12–14, 17–38; amateur meteorology 32–4; climate, British 22–3, 28–9, 30; complaining about 29–30; Fell Top Assessor and 24–7; forecasting 17–23; importance to English of 12–14, 17–38, 276, 280, 281, 282, 283; inspiration, invention and 36–8; lack of preparation for change in conditions 34–5; phrases, weather-based 35–6; proverbs, weather-based 253; Queen and 27–8; Shipping Forecast and see Shipping Forecast; Summer Season and 78–9, 80; unpredictability of 12, 22–3, 30–1, 37, 225, 280, 283; weather obsessive 32–3

  Welbeck Abbey 95–6

  Wellington boot 35, 108–10, 282

  Wellington, Duke of 108–9, 114–15, 184

  West of Spithead, Lord 17–18

  whales, Queen and 181, 184–5

  Whipsnade Park Zoo 168–9

  Whitby, North Yorkshire 217–19

  Wilde, Oscar 142

  William the Conqueror, King 183

  Wilson, Francis 20–1

  Wilson, Harold 83–4, 148

  Wimbledon (tennis championships) 7, 12, 35, 73–5, 79–80, 115, 189–93, 196; apologizing and 200; clothing rules 73–5; Code of Conduct 190–3; queuing 80, 115, 189–93, 196; weather and 7, 35, 79–80

  Windsor Castle 28, 72

  Winter Olympics 56, 57, 58, 59, 70, 136

  Witt, Louis Steven 115

  Woburn Abbey 260

  Women’s Institute (WI) vii–ix, 227

  Woodward, Antony 32–3

  Wordsworth, William: ‘To – on Her First Ascent to the Summit of Helvellyn’ 24

  World Crabbing Championships, Walberswick 128–30

  World Cup 117, 209, 277; (1966) 130; (1982) 279

  World Meteorological Organisation 33–4, 46

  World Stinging-Nettle Eating Championships 10

  World Worm Charming Championships 121–8

  Worrall, Terry 34

  Wykeham, William of 189

  Young Ones, The (TV programme) 151

  Zoological Society of London 168, 169

  zoos 165, 168–9

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Special thanks to everyone who helped me along the way.

  Chris Aldridge

  Julian Alexander

  Polly Arber

  Myles Archibald

  David Barber

  Betty’s Tea Room

  Philippa Broderick

  Lord Buckethead

  Eddie Edwards

  Sarah Edworthy

  Julian Humphries

  Julia Koppitz

  Cedric Robinson

  Heike Schuessler

  St John Skelton

  Martin Toseland

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Ben Fogle is the quintessential Englishman. An explorer, he loves Marmite and dogs. He owns far too many wax jackets and Wellington boots and he loves to grumble about the weather. He often apologises and can be found at the back of most queues. He had wonky teeth until the dentist sorted them out. He drives an old Land Rover and eats fish and chips. He never travels without some English tea. He lives in London with his wife Marina, his two children Ludo and Iona and his beloved black Labrador, Storm (of course).

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