Meet the MET Office team

PETER CROOKES, SMETO

Ex full time forces (way back in the day) joined Wattisham as an Observer then meteorologist and now team leader. Friendly and likes to talk (does he like to talk!) but believes in teamwork and change. Peter is a corner stone of the Mobile Met Unit contingent and often goes away in the service of King and country, his camping skills have really come on with the Army.

(https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ services/government/defenceand-security/mobile-met-unit)

DAVID JAMESON

Dave is an incredibly knowledgeable Meteorologist

(ed – how does he remember all this stuff?) and a popular member of the Defence Guidance Unit team on occasions, which is a Senior Meteorologist role. He is a keen cyclist, completing charity cycle rides from Land’s End to John O’Groats in 2014 and from north to south France in 2017, he also loves music and recently DJ’d at Andy’s wedding!

Andrew Matthews

Andy has been in the Wattisham team for many years now. He is happy as long as his coffee drip feed is always in place. Happily married to Quel, with their daughter Sarah keeping them busy at weekends with trips to the beach in Felixstowe.

MARK BAKER

Mark has worked in a number of different areas in the Met Office, and recently moved away from Operational Meteorology and is now a Senior Engineer in Observations and Development. He does occasionally still come in to the Wattisham Met Office though, he has two weather garden’s not too far from the official Wattisham weather garden, where he conducts testing. Mark is a cyclist who may often be seen out cycling with Dave and Harry, and especially cycling in Italy. He also enjoys triathlons and open water swimming. Mark has experience in search and rescue, he used to work on the lifeboats and even for a time on horseback.

MATT JOLLEY

Usually known as Mount Pleasant Matt – on first name terms with the Penguins. Guinness world record holder for number of Falklands tours (pending verification). Matt commutes in from Southend, which has recently become a city. Matt is very knowledgeable about sharks, and he is currently learning to fly. Once Matt J has completed his PPL, he will fly to work and possibly across the channel for lunch too.

LUCY WILLIAMS

Lucy arrived at Wattisham just over a year ago, but was detached to Gibraltar for the Winter period. Lucy will probably say yes to any activity that is suggested, but frequent activities involve running, cycling and anything on the sea - she has recently learned to kitesurf and can, at times, be seen off the Suffolk / Essex coast. Also new to gardening, she may bring in gluts of veggies from the allotment, following a good growing season.

Jonathan Aldous

Jonathan is the newest meteorologist to the office but perhaps the busiest. He has set up many new and efficient tools to help the team with their work and is a very active Prospect Union youth representative. A frequent visitor to Norwich, Jonathan also produces some of his own homemade beers and wines, which are a delight to sample.

Nathan Bowerman

Nathan is an Operational Meteorological Technician (OMT), which is the observer role in the office but also a training and development role. Nathan who has recently returned from an exciting detachment to Akrotiri, Cyprus. Nathan is also a musician, playing guitar but also mixing and DJing. Nathan has also recently bought a van, which he intends to use for his many adventures, such as bouldering or festivals.

Matthew Ambrose

Matt is an Operational Meteorological Technician (OMT) here at Wattisham, having previously spent 11 months at RAF Akrotiri. He is a cooking and travel enthusiast, having undertaken cookery courses in three continents. He also enjoys kayaking, bouldering and mountain climbing.

Austin Whitaker

Austin is an OMT in training at Wattisham, soon to complete his Observing qualification. Resigning in Leighon-Sea, his has a long commute at the moment, but enjoys the listening time he has for music and podcasts on the journey.

Eve Myers

Eve has completed her Forecasting Training at the Met Office and is now completing her on the job training to become a fullyfledged meteorologist in the coming months. Prior to this Eve started at RSA Larkhill and then spent the Summer in the Falklands (their winter, so lots and lots of snow observing!).

Eve is coxswain in her spare time, so spends most weekends on a river acting as an alarm clock for those who have decided to live along the Thames.

KARA

Fleming

Kara is also finalising her meteorological training in the Met Office and will too be an Operational Meteorologist in the coming months. Before moving to Wattisham Kara worked within the civil side of the Met Office as an OMT.

Kara is a part time ski instructor and spent her weekends teaching skiing at a local dry ski slope before moving down to Wattisham.

Harry Mooney

Harry was a long-standing member of team Wattisham, if you were here just a few years ago. He has now moved to be the manager of the Defence Guidance Unit, and he is also the Prospect Met Office Branch Chair. Also a keen cyclist, he may be seen cycling with Dave and Mark/stopped at a pub.

SARAH URRY

Sarah spent many months at Wattisham from 2019, as an Operational Meteorological Technician, before completing her On the Job Training here too. She has now moved to work at the Northolt office, but can be seen working at Odiham or Benson at times too. Sarah is a strong gamer, and will occasionally travel back to Scotland to visit her family.

FIONA EMSLEY

Fiona has completed her Forecasting Training like Eve and Kara after spending 6 months in Wattisham. She is about to move to Middle Wallop to complete the rest of her training.

On weekends, Fiona can usually be found either rowing or bouldering, or exploring East Anglia with her film camera. On the rarer occasion, she may be found in her silversmith workshop making rings and other jewellery.

NAVIGATING SUCCESS