This weekend, there’s a lot being said on social media about the end of British Summer Time (BST) and the subsequent hour gained. Don’t get me wrong I’m not adverse to this, but I find the extra time I get is spent changing the chuffing clocks and watches back an hour!
When BST was first implemented in 1916, during WWI, clocks and watches were very different from those we use today. Many clocks could not have their hands turned backwards without breaking the mechanism. Instead, owners had to put the clock forward by 11 hours when Summer Time came to an end.
In the 1980’s, American singer Cher was always ruing not having the ability to turn back time! The fact she couldn’t meant she had to adopt the clock forward by 11 hours approach also.
The idea of the clock change was the brain child of a William Willetts, who thought daylight could be utilized more effectively over the summer months. He lobbied to get this implemented in 1907, however, the Government of the time wasn’t accommodating towards his suggestion.
They wanted to keep the status quo as they claimed the extra hour of light overnight gave less time for a nocturnal vampire attack! Willetts wasn’t pleased but he placated himself by drinking the blood of two virgins the following night!
This guys pleased the nights are getting longer!……….. I think!!
The Government were very cautious about introducing unnecessary law changes during the early 20th century. The worsening political stability in Europe meant they would only introduce essential changes that added real value to people’s lives
This was so rigidly enforced that when proposed new acts were announced during the Opening of Parliament in 1913 the only laws to be introduced was the use of hanging baskets on horse drawn carriages, allowance of left handed socks and the criminalization of the word crotchless!
It wasn’t until 1916, when the Germans implemented daylight saving changes, that the UK Government succumbed and followed suit. With the two countries being at war, the Germans were not enamoured by the UK copying their idea to get extra daylight during the day.
To spite the British, the Germans immediately introduced hanging baskets to carriages, left handed socks and the banning of the word schnoothousen!
The Germans reaction only worsened relations between the nations, with Britain threatening to “throw the kitchen sink” at the Hun in their pursuit of an Allied victory. Unfortunately, this approach didn’t work as the Allies didn’t have a launching mechanism for a kitchen sink.
The Defence Secretary pondered using hanging baskets as an alternative. However, that idea was abandoned due to a chronic shortage of baskets, as they now adorned horse drawn carriages! Subsequently, the dreadful WWI lasted a further two years, with a terrible loss of life!
Equines never fail to impress me. Not only are the beautiful, graceful animals that add so much economically, culturally and recreationally to human lives but they can also draw carriages! ……………… I best move on quickly after that gag I think!!
Anyway, I want to bid farewell to British Summer Time 2015. You were a strange but likeable bedfellow, apart from the flatulence!
Your weather was rubbish and I didn’t partake in a holiday on your watch. However, it wasn’t all negative memories. I’ll remember you as a time of creativity, meeting new people and the attendance of memorable events.
With BST’s departure, it’s hello to Greenwich Mean Time! …….. Right I’m off to change the clocks on the oven, microwave and central heating system!
