Helen Willetts

Helen Willetts (born 28 November 1972 in Chester, Cheshire, England) is a meteorologist on the BBC. She appears regularly on BBC News, BBC World News, BBC Red Button, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 2. Willetts is an occasional weather forecaster on the BBC News at Ten on BBC One.

Early life

Willetts was born in Chester, England. She first lived in Buckley, Flintshire. Her father was a gas engineer. She grew up on Bryn Celyn in Upper Colwyn Bay in Wales.[1]

She was educated at Ysgol Eirias (Eirias High School) in Colwyn Bay. She first wanted to be an air hostess.[2] She obtained a first class honours degree in Physics at the University of Nottingham in 1993.[3][4]

She joined the Met Office in July 1993,[5] to begin a five-month weather forecaster training course at the Met Office College based at the former RAF Shinfield Park.[3] She later worked at Cardiff, appearing on the BBC Wales news.[6]

Broadcasting career

In July 1994, Willetts moved to the Weather Centre in Cardiff. From 1995, she was a forecaster on both BBC Television and BBC Radio in Wales.

In 1997, she joined BBC Weather in London to work for BBC News.[3]

Awards

In March 2006, she was awarded the Television and Radio Industry Club (TRIC) award for best TV weather presenter.[7]

Personal life

Helen played badminton internationally for Wales. She enjoys walking, cycling and travelling.[3]

Sport

In 1983 Willets played badminton for Llandudno Junction Badminton Club, with Victoria Luff.[8] By 1984 she played for the Vardre and Stella Maris clubs in Deganwy. Her sister Emma also played.[9] By 1985 she played for the Wales Under-14 team. [10] By 1987 she played for the Wales Under-16 team, and the county team. With her sister, she played for West Clyde and East Gwynedd. Her parents played competitive badminton as well.[11] By 1991 she played for the University of Nottingham, with Jo Shorrell.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Wales on Sunday Sunday 5 January 1997
  2. ↑ North Wales Weekly News Thursday 31 March 1988, page 8
  3. 1 2 3 4 "BBC Weather: Helen Willetts". Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  4. ↑ "Graduation 2007". University of Nottingham. 12 July 2007. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
  5. ↑ North Wales Weekly News Thursday 8 July 1993, page 23
  6. ↑ North Wales Weekly News Thursday 18 May 1995, page 5
  7. ↑ "Weather Presenter Award". BBC News. 9 March 2006. Archived from the original on 23 January 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2008.
  8. ↑ North Wales Weekly News Thursday, 12 May 1983, page 41
  9. ↑ North Wales Weekly News Thursday 1 November 1984, page 38
  10. ↑ North Wales Weekly News Thursday 28 November 1985
  11. ↑ North Wales Weekly News Thursday 18 October 1984, page 40
  12. ↑ Nottingham Evening Post Thursday 21 November 1991, page 38
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