Barbara Edwards (meteorologist)

{{Short description|English meteorologist (born 1939)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}

Barbara Edwards (born 1939){{Cite web|date=2018-10-04|title=Edwards, Barbara|url=https://showreel.thetvroom.com/talent-profiles/3185/edwards-barbara/|access-date=2021-03-22|website=Showreel|language=en-GB}} is an English meteorologist who became the BBC's first female television weather presenter in January 1974.{{cite web|title='I was the BBC's first female weather presenter'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/9922423/I-was-the-BBCs-first-female-weather-presenter.html|last=Webber|first=Richard|date=11 March 2013|website=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=22 March 2021|url-access=subscription}}

She joined the Met Office in 1957{{cite web|last=Shaw|first=Alan|date=6 January 2018|title=The UK weather broadcasters who always present a cheery outlook|url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/the-uk-weather-presenters-who-always-present-a-cheery-outlook/|access-date=22 March 2021|website=The Sunday Post|language=en-US}} where she edited and published meteorological publications, until 1962. She worked as a weather forecaster at Gatwick Airport and Heathrow Airport from 1963 to 1970, when she moved to the London Weather Centre working on forecasting for commerce and industry.

She also presented weather reports on BBC Radio from 1970 to 1974, as well as doing continuity announcements on BBC Radio 4 from 1972.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01phhvd|title=Barbara Edwards - The BBC's first women weather forecaster|date=8 January 2014|website=BBC|access-date=22 March 2021}} She most famously appeared from January 1974 until June 1978 on BBC Television, joining around the same time as the far longer-serving Michael Fish. During this period she is said to have disliked the criticism of her dress sense, which the male members of the team did not have to contend with, but was no doubt accentuated by being the first woman in the role. In this, her career route to television presentation through being a professional meteorologist clearly contrasts with subsequent stereotypes of a 'weather girl'.{{Cite web|title=BYGONES: School stages teacher 'kidnapping' for 'Rag Week'|url=https://www.bracknellnews.co.uk/news/19156360.berkshire-bygones-school-stages-teacher-kidnap-rag-week/|date=14 March 2021|access-date=22 March 2021|website=Bracknell News|language=en}}

Edwards initially enjoyed being recognised in public, but the shine soon wore off. "Some people love publicity and like to be recognised and would hate it if they weren't," she said in a BBC interview. "But until it happens to you I don't think you know, and I found out that I didn't enjoy it and I wanted my privacy and there's no way you can have it if you're on television, privacy just goes out the window. I just couldn't accept that." She also found the job a rather lonely one. "You were just this one Met Office person at Television Centre in a little office all on your own, and the few people you get to know in the studio, you found when you were free they were busy, and you'd go down to the canteen and have your lunch, usually alone."{{cite news|date=10 January 2014|title=Presenting a warm front: 60 years of the British TV weather forecast|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|last=Higham|first=Nick|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25665340|access-date=22 March 2021}}

Due to frustration at the public criticism of her dress sense, which the male forecasters escaped, Edwards retreated to presenting on the radio.{{cite web|date=22 October 2011|title=Come rain or shine, they keep on forecasting|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/come-rain-or-shine-they-keep-on-forecasting-2302860.html|last1=Bignell|first1=Paul|last2=Thomas|first2=Matt|access-date=22 March 2021|website=The Independent|language=en}}

Edwards married Kenneth Watson in 1976.{{Cite web|url=https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/image-editorial/television-weather-girl-barbara-edwards-now-mrs-kenneth-watson--1528027a|title=TELEVISION WEATHER GIRL BARBARA EDWARDS NOW Editorial Stock Photo - Stock Image|website=Shutterstock}} She is the aunt of expatriate Claire Martin, who presented weather forecasts nationally in Canada on CBC Television.{{Cite web|last=Boardman|first=Mark|date=2020-01-15|title=Featured Meteorologist Claire Martin|url=https://stormhour.com/featured-meteorologist-claire-martin/|access-date=2021-03-22|website=Stormhour|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|date=11 March 2014|title=Former Meteorologist Claire Martin Joins Anaïd Productions As Managing Director|url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/former-meteorologist-claire-martin-joins-anaid-productions-as-managing-director-513902031.html|access-date=22 March 2021|website=www.newswire.ca|language=en}} In 2014, she told the BBC that since leaving the Met Office, she had been working part-time in a university library.

In 2024, The Royal Mail released stamp honoring Edwards.{{cite web|title=Digest: New Stamps of the UK, 2024, pt. 1 |url=https://findyourstampsvalue.com/news/digest-new-stamps-of-the-uk-2024-pt-1 |website=findyourstampsvalue.com |date=May 17, 2024 |access-date=November 27, 2024}}