101 years of the summertime act
28 Oct 2017
At about this time each year we start to ask when the clocks change, often because we are not sure which way the hour will affect us. Well tonight is the night but do you know anything about why the governments of so many countries play about with time in this way?
It is something that we have come to accept but, did you know that we have only been playing with time for 101 years in the UK? Benjamin Franklin wrote about the possibility in 1784, but William Willett, an Englishman, resurrected the idea at the beginning of the 20th Century. The Summertime Act of 1916 was passed just in time for the clocks to be brought forward for the first time on May 21st that year, in the middle of the First World War so that workers had an extra hour of daylight. Germany were first to make the change but England followed suit very soon after, although MR Willett died just one year too soon to see his idea become a reality. Many countries have toyed with the seasonal time-shift idea over the years, and some countries still do, while others have given up on the time-shuffling habit; perhaps because it makes a bigger difference for those further away from the equator.
There is no doubt that nearly every one of us can remember the Sunday morning that we forgot and turned up an hour early for some appointment or church as a result.
Remember that you will need to change the time on many of your domestic appliances. Many televisions, electric cookers, central heating systems microwaves and the car clock are likely to need your attention, but your computers, tablets, smart phones and IPhones are likely to take care of themselves as long as they are attached to the internet.
It is also to be noted that the evenings are going to be darker earlier so please be extra vigilant when it comes to being secure and safe both in and out of your house.
Just in case you are still mixed up about the backwards and forward aspect of the thing can we remind you that the clock will go backward leaving you an extra hour’s sleep which is a positive?
Here is a little more information …
