Look East weather presenter Julie Reinger leaves BBC
Come rain or shine, a familiar, friendly face has told us about the weather for more than a quarter of a century. In her own words, presenter Julie Reinger reflects on treasured memories as she prepares for her final day at Look East.
This is surreal.Look East has been a huge part of my life. I joined at the start of 1999 and my goodness, how things have changed since then.Those first broadcasts, I was so nervous because I was taking over from the lovely Ivor Moores, who the audience loved and he was such a good meteorologist.More than anything, I wanted to do a good job for him. They were big weather shoes to fill. It's such a contrast, those early days when you look back - how dated the weather maps look compared to all our computer-animated graphics now.I had a weather clicker but when I pressed it it didn't do anything, it didn't change the charts. There was somebody in the gallery next door pressing a button and when it got very noisy during a busy programme that person couldn't hear what I was saying and sometimes I'd get stuck on something like the pressure chart for what felt like an eternity.
People still say to me 'what's it like reading the weather?' but of course we don't, we have to memorise it because we're used as the buffer at the end of the programme to fill whatever duration is left. You can guarantee when you have lots of weather to talk about you don't have much time. Once, I went into the forecast thinking I was doing two minutes and then something went wrong and I could hear the PA saying 'you're going to have to fill', and I think I ended up doing about five minutes in total. I was pregnant at the time - I thought I was actually going to give birth on set!
I may not be a meteorologist but I care deeply about the weather. Everybody talks about it and now more than ever, when it comes to reporting on climate change. But that said, I do think the forecast, at the end of the programme, is an opportunity for some fun and laughter too.
I've always loved taking the forecast out and about, just because it's a great opportunity to visit some amazing places in our region but most importantly to meet our viewers, which is very special. I did a lot of forecasts on ice, when we had the rink right outside The Forum, that's always a challenge - you've not only got to remember what you're saying, and talk to time, you've got to stay on two feet.There were forecasts where I was getting on and off boats, with a lot to remember whilst trying not to fall in. I've done forecasts coming down the river, I've had forecasts on trains, on big wheels, just so many lovely memories.
Once, for Children in Need, I got to dress up as Eliza Doolittle and perform at the Felixstowe Spa Pavilion, and sing my favourite song from My Fair Lady. My goodness, it was like a dream come true. On a trip to St Osyth [near Clacton-on-Sea, Essex] I ended up filming on a nudist beach. These very brave Look East viewers agreed to take part with the help of a strategically-placed umbrella. I thankfully kept my clothes on.One of my favourite parts of the job is to come in and look through all the incredible photographs sent in by our Weather Watchers. I love the fact that people feel they can come up to me in the street and talk to me like as if they've known me for years. That always made me feel I was doing my job well.
It's a big decision to leave, and not one I've made easily, but it felt the time was right to say goodbye.It's been 26 years of my life - that's quite a chapter. What I will miss most is the people, both on and off screen. There's a wonderful quote by AA Milne - 'How lucky I am to have something, that makes saying goodbye so hard'.Look East has been a very special something that I've been very lucky to be part of.I will miss my Look East family and the people watching and listening, very, very much.
As told to Susie Fowler-Watt
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