As doughty dog walkers exercised their pets in the winter’s first downfall of snow, Ken Haywood, cosy in the warmth of his study, snapped this photograph.  Having experienced a mild season so far this year, and watching daffodils bloom too early, the snowfall reminded us, briefly, what winters were once like.

Typically – for English weather – the snow didn’t last too long.  As excited Bishopthorpe children sat in school dreaming of snowmen and sledges, glorious sunshine appeared after a couple of hours and melted the lot.