"I HAVE only to pick up a newspaper," says a character in one of Ibsen's plays, "and I seem to see ghosts gliding between the lines." Thus it was the other day when I saw an obituary in an English broad sheet that began: "Sidney Peters, who has died age 97, was a noted weather forecaster for over 30 years.
The article went on to describe the career of S. P. Peters - how he graduated in physics from London University and how, during his early years with the British Meteorological Office, he provided forecasts for the airship R100 on its maiden voyage across the North Atlantic.
It was after this that Peters came to play, as it were, a Rosencrantz or Guilderstern in the development of Irish meteorology - an almost walk on part, not crucial to the central plot, but memorable nonetheless to everyone involved.
Peters is remembered here as the most senior member of a group of British forecasters sent to the Co Limerick town of Foynes in 1937 to help the recently established Irish Meteorological Service to cope with the new demands of transatlantic aviation. In this capacity, he trained the first of our newly recruited Irish meteorologists and was for a time in charge of weather operations for the flying boats.
The team arrived in Foynes in February that year, set up a forecasting office bin a back room of what had been the Monteagle Arms Hotel, established an observing station in a nearby field, and made arrangements for receiving world wide weather reports by radio.
In a short time, as part of the intensive preparations for the first official transatlantic trials of the flying boats scheduled for the following July, the forecasters were producing daily charts which showed the weather patterns right across the North Atlantic.
By the time the war broke out in 1939, the Irish forecasters were able to manage on their own, and Sidney Peters retraced his steps to England, he resumed what turned out to be a very successful career in the British Meteorological Office, and retired as Deputy Director in the 1950s.
As we have seen, he survived for another four decades, watching from the wings until his death a few days ago, just a little over two years short of his full century. As Gertrude says in Hamlet to the worthies mentioned earlier.
As it has pleased you
To show us so much gentry and good will
As to expand your time with us a while
For the supply and profit of our hope,
Your visitation shall receive much thanks.