Bill Giles
Encyclopedia
William George Giles OBE (born 18 November 1939 in Dittisham
, near Dartmouth, Devon
, England
) is a former British
weather forecaster and television presenter.
whilst at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
in Crediton
and joined the Met Office
in January 1957 on leaving Bristol College of Science and Technology (became the University of Bath
in 1965).
as an observer with the RAF
and from 1968 to 1970 worked as a lecturer at the Met Office's training college.
His broadcasting career began in 1972 when he transferred to the London Weather Centre. In 1980 promotion took him back to Bracknell
where he worked in public relations. On the retirement of Jack Scott
, he returned to lead BBC Television
's Met Office forecasting team.
In 1999 he was accused of bullying weathermen/women at the Weather Centre. Although at first found guilty by the Met Office, on appeal he was cleared of all wrongdoing.
He 'retired' from the Met Office in January 2000 after having led the team of Broadcast Meteorologists since 1983.
He is also a member of the International Association of Broadcast Meteorology (IABM).
, Oxfordshire. He lives in Oxfordshire.
He was awarded the OBE in 1995.
Bill is also a keen exponent of lawn bowls. In May 2011 he was involved in a BBC Breakfast news clip which focused on recruiting younger people to the sport.
Dittisham
Dittisham is a village and civil parish in the South Hams district of the English county of Devon. It is situated on the banks of the tidal River Dart, some upstream of Dartmouth....
, near Dartmouth, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is a former British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
weather forecaster and television presenter.
Early life
He first became interested in meteorologyMeteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
whilst at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Crediton
The former Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Crediton, Devon, England was founded in 1547 by Edward VI and re-endowed and renamed in 1559 by Elizabeth I.-Foundation:...
in Crediton
Crediton
Crediton is a town and civil parish in the Mid Devon district of Devon in England. It stands on the A377 Exeter to Barnstaple road at the junction with the A3072 road to Tiverton, about north west of Exeter. It has a population of 6,837...
and joined the Met Office
Met Office
The Met Office , is the United Kingdom's national weather service, and a trading fund of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
in January 1957 on leaving Bristol College of Science and Technology (became the University of Bath
University of Bath
The University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
in 1965).
Career
From 1961 to 1963 he was based in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
as an observer with the RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and from 1968 to 1970 worked as a lecturer at the Met Office's training college.
His broadcasting career began in 1972 when he transferred to the London Weather Centre. In 1980 promotion took him back to Bracknell
Bracknell
Bracknell is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Bracknell Forest in Berkshire, England. It lies to the south-east of Reading, southwest of Windsor and west of central London...
where he worked in public relations. On the retirement of Jack Scott
Jack Scott (meteorologist)
John 'Jack' Scott was a British television weatherman who appeared for the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 during a 20 year broadcasting career.-Early life:...
, he returned to lead BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
's Met Office forecasting team.
In 1999 he was accused of bullying weathermen/women at the Weather Centre. Although at first found guilty by the Met Office, on appeal he was cleared of all wrongdoing.
He 'retired' from the Met Office in January 2000 after having led the team of Broadcast Meteorologists since 1983.
He is also a member of the International Association of Broadcast Meteorology (IABM).
Personal life
He married Eileen Lake in 1961 in Devon, but divorced in 1991. They have a son (born 1969) and daughter (born 1971). In May 1993 he married Patricia Stafford in BullingdonBullingdon Rural District
Bullingdon was a rural district in Oxfordshire, England from 1932 to 1974.It was created under a County Review Order, as a merger of Culham Rural District, Thame Rural District, part of Crowmarsh Rural District, part of Headington Rural District, and part of Henley Rural District.In 1974 it was...
, Oxfordshire. He lives in Oxfordshire.
He was awarded the OBE in 1995.
Bill is also a keen exponent of lawn bowls. In May 2011 he was involved in a BBC Breakfast news clip which focused on recruiting younger people to the sport.