Uncle Vernon's rations turned out to be a packet of crisps each and four bananas. He tried to start a fire but the empty crisp packets just smoked and shriveled up.
There were no reports of serious injuries or damage, but imagine waking up at 1 o'clock in the morning and thinking it's raining outside when what you hear is actually ash falling on your roof.
In the four years since as giant oaks have been felled, and the ashes cleared away, shock and dismay has turned to confidence that the spire and the cathedral will rise again.
It has caused residents to have to swoop up the ash on the streets, so officials are warning people to make sure that the ash does not get into their water supply.