Drenched druids! Summer solstice at Stonehenge is the soggiest in years... and Ascot is set to be a royal washout too
Drenched druids! Summer solstice at Stonehenge is the soggiest in years... and Ascot is set to be a royal washout too
Drenched druids! Summer solstice at Stonehenge is the soggiest in years... and Ascot is set to be a royal washout too
* Around 14,500 people braved the miserable weather to welcome the sun at prehistoric monument in Wiltshire
* Fashionistas hoping today's Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot isn't a washout, with downpours forecast. Organisers say: 'The Going has changed to Good to Soft after 8mm rain overnight'
* Village of Evershot in Dorset had almost half a month's rainfall in just six hours overnight, says Met Office
* Flood warning issued in north-west England, which is expected to bear brunt of the heaviest rain over next 24 hours
By Jamie Mcginnes
PUBLISHED: 07:42 GMT, 21 June 2012 | UPDATED: 10:14 GMT, 21 June 2012
* Comments (1)
* Share
*
o
o
o
Thousands of people have marked the summer solstice despite the celebration being one of the wettest in years.
Poor weather could not dampen the spirits of 14,500 people who welcomed the sun at Stonehenge at dawn this morning.
The annual pagan celebration of the sun, on the longest day of the year, centred on the famous prehistoric monument where the event was marked with religious ceremonies.
Summer's here! Visitors to Stonehenge wrapped up in waterproof ponchos to celebrate the summer solstice
Summer's here! Visitors to Stonehenge wrapped up in waterproof ponchos to celebrate the summer solstice
Tight squeeze: The summer solstice annually attracts an eclectic mix of druids, revellers and sun worshippers to Stonehenge
Tight squeeze: The summer solstice annually attracts an eclectic mix of druids, revellers and sun worshippers to Stonehenge
Damp: People gather to mark this year's summer solstice at Stonehenge in Wiltshire
Damp: People gather to mark this year's summer solstice at Stonehenge in Wiltshire
The solstice annually attracts an eclectic mix and among the druids, revellers and sun worshippers were those just curious to experience the spiritual event at the site on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire.
English Heritage opened up the stone circle at Stonehenge yesterday evening ready to welcome those making the annual pilgrimage.
More...
* BBC forecasters accused of driving tourists away from British resorts with 'deliberately pessimistic' reports
* Weeks of rain have led to a buttercup invasion in our topsy-turvy summer
* Royal Ascot 2012: Robin Goodfellow's best bets for Thursday, June 21
Heavy rain overnight reduced the number of people who camped out or arrived early to witness the dawn compared with previous years, which have seen numbers of around 20,000.
The sunrise at 4.52am was welcomed by rain-sodden crowds with a loud cheer and applause despite the sun being blanketed by dark clouds.
Wet, Wet, Wet: Many parts of Britain will see heavy rain in the coming days
Wet, Wet, Wet: Many parts of Britain will see heavy rain in the coming days
Annual pilgrimage: The event draws together druids, revellers, hippies, 'new age' travellers and others simply wishing to experience the mystical annual gathering
Annual pilgrimage: The event draws together druids, revellers, hippies, 'new age' travellers and others simply wishing to experience the mystical annual gathering
Until next time: A man playing an accordion beneath a costume of torn fabrics leaves Stonehenge
Until next time: A man playing an accordion beneath a costume of torn fabrics leaves Stonehenge
Through the poor weather, drummers inside the ancient stone circle kept the mood cheerful while new age pagans danced to their rhythm.
Joining revellers this year was a 22ft (6.70m) figure called Ancestor which was moved to the stones ahead of the solstice celebrations.
The steel statue depicts a man with his 'head thrown back and arms open wide'.
Spectacular: The Shard in London was surrounded by this rainbow halo on the morning of the longest day
Spectacular: The Shard in London was surrounded by this rainbow halo on the morning of the longest day
One of the places to have the heaviest rainfall in England Wales overnight was Evershot in Dorset, Met Office forecaster Helen Roberts said.
She said the village had 21.4mm in just six hours - almost half the normal June rainfall of 45mm for London.
Mrs Roberts said the North West was likely to see the heaviest rain in the coming days, with central, south-west and north-east England, as well as north Wales and northern Scotland also getting downpours.
There is also a chance of flooding in the North West tomorrow, she said.
'The forecast is definitely unsettled for the next few days. The main focus over the next 24 hours is going to be north-west England - that's where we're expecting the heaviest rain to be.
'Further south it could push into north Wales and further north it could push into northern Scotland.'
She added: 'There is a potential for some large accumulations of very heavy rain and fairly persistent through much of the day tomorrow.'
A spokesman for English Heritage said 14,500 people gathered at Stonehenge to celebrate the summer solstice this year.
He added: 'Heavy rain during the night meant this was one of the lowest attendances in recent years.
'However, the rain did stop in time for the sunrise ceremonies and although clouds obscured the sun, loud cheers and applause rang out amongst the ancient stones.
'There was torrential rain at some points during the evening, but it stopped and although it was cloudy, it didn’t rain for sunrise.
'It has been the wettest and dare I say the muddiest in recent years.'
Wiltshire Police said the event passed peacefully apart from 20 arrests.
Hello pilgrim: Gleu Sunpooja, from Brazil, was among thousands celebrating the summer solstice at Stonehenge - in spite of the wet weather
Hello pilgrim: Gleu Sunpooja, from Brazil, was among thousands celebrating the summer solstice at Stonehenge - in spite of the wet weather
Superintendent Matt Pullen said: 'Solstice 2012 has been a positive experience for the majority of visitors.
Weather alert: The yellow areas on this Met Office map have the highest rain warnings
Weather alert: The yellow areas on this Met Office map have the highest rain warnings
'As with every year, sadly there was a small minority who were determined to disregard the law. These people were dealt with robustly and there were 20 arrests throughout the night.'
The arrests were for theft, drugs or alcohol-related offences. There were also 101 street cautions for cannabis.
Stonehenge, which is thought to be between 4,000 and 5,000-years-old, has been the site of confrontations between worshippers, other revellers and police officers in the past.
Meanwhile, fashionistas displaying fabulous frocks and heavenly hats are hoping today's Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot isn't a washout, with downpours forecast for the social season highlight.
This year’s dress code has been tightened up, with a team of assistants handing out pashmina-style shawls and fascinators to those breaching the regulations - which now stipulate that bare shoulders and thin straps are a no-no, with hats or headpieces mandatory for all racegoers.
But it may well be that umbrellas and ponchos are this year’s must-have accessories, as showers are due at the Berkshire racetrack throughout the day.
The Queen may even need to shelter from the weather, as a thunder storm is forecast for 2pm - the precise moment she is due to make her way down the racecourse in the traditional horse-drawn carriage procession.
Matt Dobson, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said:
'There will be pretty heavy rain first thing, turning murky and muggy by the late morning. In the afternoon, there is the risk of heavy downpours.
'If they get unlucky, there could be an absolute cloudburst. By 2pm there could well be thundery conditions.'
But organisers were putting on a brave face this morning, with the official Royal Ascot Twitter page saying: 'The Going has changed to Good to Soft after 8mm rain overnight'.
Ladies’ Day is known for the extravagant creations on display - with women trying to outdo each other in the fashion stakes.
Racegoers were sent copies of a style guide ahead of the five-day meet, after the new dress code was announced in January.
In the royal enclosure, fascinators are no longer deemed acceptable, with hats compulsory. A hat, fascinator or headpiece must be worn in the less formal grandstand area.
All women are expected to wear skirts or dresses of 'modest length', according to the new guidelines, with their midriff covered.
Men now have to wear a suit and tie in the grandstand and black or grey morning dress in the royal enclosure.
To add to the misery of a peculiarly wet summer, the passing of the longest day means that from today nights will start drawing in again.
Not that it will dampen Royal Ascot visitors' appetite for fun - the 300,000 people expected to attend the event - now in its 301st year - are expected to consume some 170,000 bottles of champagne, 10,000 lobsters, 5,000 oysters and 18,000 punnets of strawberries.
Celebrations: Music is played and torches held aloft as revelers mark the summer solstice at the Avebury stone circle in Wiltshire
Celebrations: Music is played and torches held aloft as revelers mark the summer solstice at the Avebury stone circle in Wiltshire
Atmospheric: Around 14,500 people gathered at Stonehenge for this year's summer solstice
Atmospheric: Around 14,500 people gathered at Stonehenge for this year's summer solstice
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2162495/Drenched-druids-Summer-solstice-Stonehenge-soggiest-years--Ascot-set-royal-washout-too.html#ixzz1yQDKCBbT
Drenched druids! Summer solstice at Stonehenge is the soggiest in years... and Ascot is set to be a royal washout too
Drenched druids! Summer solstice at Stonehenge is the soggiest in years... and Ascot is set to be a royal washout too
