Born in '63. Always remember reading text books about the lowland UK climate, long before the internet. One description stated that winters were mild with very occasional snowfall which rarely hung around for more than a few days. Love the snow and the majority of my winters were disappointing as snow sometimes briefly fell and rarely lasted more than a few days.
Exceptions I remember, 77/79, 81/82, 87, 91, then a very poor period, a certain Ian Brown on here proclaiming winter snow was over etc. Then came 09/10, 13, 18 etc.
We've had 3 ice days so far this winter, a couple of small snowfalls and a lowest temp of -7. Plenty winters past had no ice days.
People have a tendency to look back with rose tinted glasses and describe past typical winter weather as something at odds with our actual climate.