General
The United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) is made up of a group of islands lying off the northwest coast of mainland Europe. The largest islands in the group are Great Britain (which consists of England, Scotland and Wales) and Ireland (which consists of Northern Ireland, or Ulster and the Republic of Ireland or Eire). The Republic of Ireland, although geographically part of the British Isles, is not part of Great Britain or the United Kingdom, but has, since 1922, been an independent nation.
England is about the size of Utah, with a population of about 60 million. It is the largest of the countries forming the United Kingdom. London, the capital, is one of the largest cities in the world. The widely differing scenery of England includes lakelands, woodlands, moors, agricultural lands and large industrial towns, mainly in the North and Midlands. RAF Alconbury lies in the northwest corner of the county of Cambridge.
Climate
British weather is temperate. The average daytime temperatures are 35 degrees during the winter and 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. Sweaters and jackets are generally the dress of the day.
Alconbury records an average of 18 thunderstorms each year. The majority of these occur in the spring and summer months, but may occur at anytime of the year. We get some snow, averaging seven inches annually. In the winter months, it gets quite windy with speeds up to 65 knots. Black ice is also a winter hazard.
In the last 50 years, Alconbury has not recorded a temperature lower than 5 degrees Fahrenheit. We do, however, experience an average of 48 days a year when the temperature dips below freezing. The average high temperature in the summer months is 70 degrees Fahrenheit with occasional high temperatures in the 80's. (For the past few years, in the summer, we have had a heat wave with temperatures reaching and staying in the 90s, compounded by a drought (no rain) and the lack of air conditioning in most facilities. There is a chance of similar weather in the future). The UK experienced its hottest weather since 1911 in July 2006.
In winter months sunrise may not be until 0830 and sunset can be as early as 1530. On the other hand, the spring and summer daylight hours can be as early as 0400, with sunset near 2200.
Living in a British Community
If you decide to live on the economy you will quickly come across our famous, or perhaps notorious, British reserve. In practice, this is a reluctance to invade another's privacy, or to have our own privacy invaded. It has come about as a result of living in more crowded conditions than you have been used to in the States. You may find that you just have to reach out a bit further here in order to get to know the British people, but most will warm to you, and you may even get a friend for life!
Community Relations Advisor
Your Community Relations Advisor, can help you with any queries you have concerning life in Britain, and can be contacted at DSN 268-3123, commercial 01480 823123 or through the Airman & Family Readiness Center at DSN 268-3557 or 01480 823557.
Other Useful Web Sites
Part of the official web site of the British Government in the U.S includs information on things to do; history and geography, food, and glossary of British terms: http://www.britainusa.com/4kids/
Additional relocating information from the US Embassy: http://www.usembassy.org.uk/uk4us.html