Look back: How the Beast from the East 2018 hit Basingstoke

Residents will remember when the first Beast from the East hit the town in March 2018 as it caused havoc across the UK and travel disruption in Basingstoke. 

Schools, colleges and businesses across Basingstoke and Deane were forced to close for two days as blizzards hit the borough.

As the Met Office issued an amber weather warning across parts of Hampshire, temperatures dropped to -5C as many people enjoyed a snow day across Thursday and Friday, with the snow causing major disruptions to the town’s public transport routes.

Many of weekend events taking place during that year were cancelled, libraries were closed, offices and restaurants were empty, diggers stood unused and waste collections round-the-clock operations on the roads have supported stranded motorists and kept as many roads clear as possible.

Speaking at the time, Hampshire County Council said they will analyse their response to the crisis and learn lessons for the future.

At the height of the disruption caused, county council leader Councillor Roy Perry said: “During the coldest weather Hampshire has endured for many years, our staff are working tirelessly to ensure essential services are delivered."

Click on our picture gallery above to relieve some of the moments from 2018. 

But it wasn't all doom and gloom as the snow struck, three years ago.

The wintry weather actually turned one Basingstoke couple's wedding into a fairy tale.

As the Beast from the East hit Basingstoke, Bethany and Jon Clark were given a wedding day that many would pay thousands of pounds for.

The happy couple tied the knot at the Audley’s Wood Hotel, in Alton Road on Friday, 2 March 2018, but after heavy snow fall there was a worry their plans would not go ahead.

“There was a complete feeling of dread when I woke up and saw all the snow,” said 24-year-old Bethany told The Gazette at the time.

A clipping from the newspaper at the time

“We had family coming from quite far away, from Somerset, Dorset etc that we really wanted to be there and knew they wouldn’t be able to attend, and I was really quite upset.

“But when we went around and saw how beautiful everything looked I couldn’t believe how lucky we were and despite it being quite stressful it was such an amazing day.”

For Bethany and 27-year-old Jon they had hoped for a warm spring day for their special day but instead were greeted with a winter wonderland.

One of Bethany’s bridesmaids, Lottie Fennell, told The Gazette: “The snow just made the day feel even more special.

“It really was like something out of a fairy tale, and I could not be happier for Beth and Jon.”