When do clocks go back UK?

The tell-tale sign that autumn is in full swing? The clocks go back, heralding the end of British Summer Time (BST).

For many, this means an extra hour of sleep on the last Sunday of October which this year falls on Sunday, October 29.

But there’s a rich tapestry of history and debate behind this age-old tradition.

Why Do Clocks Change? Initiated as daylight saving time, the goal was to capitalise on extended daylight during summer in the northern hemisphere.

As the UK’s summer sun sets, clocks revert to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

This concept, birthed at the dawn of the 20th century, was aimed at reducing morning light wastage.

Contemporary arguments favouring the clock switch point to energy conservation, tourism promotion, outdoor activity encouragement, and road accident reduction.

Yet, opposition exists. Concerns range from the biannual inconvenience, morning safety, livestock routine disruptions, to the diminishing relevance in our predominantly indoor lifestyles.

Warmer regions also argue that extended evenings could boost energy consumption due to prolonged air-conditioning use.

Historical Highlights Benjamin Franklin amusingly suggested daylight saving in 1784. Come 1907, William Willett championed a plan for advancing clocks by 80 minutes in staged increments, although the House of Commons dismissed a related bill the next year. Only in 1916 did the Summer Time Act bring the idea to fruition, even instituting a two-hour advancement during WWII.

When and Why at Weekends? The decision to change clocks over the weekend, specifically on a Saturday night/Sunday morning, minimises disruptions to schools and businesses. However, this isn’t without its complications. Those on the night shift during this transition essentially work an extra hour, reiterating the need for workers to consult contracts and employers. Legally, night workers shouldn’t exceed an 8-hour average in a day.

Global Practices Around 70 countries practise some form of daylight saving, with Europe, North America, parts of South America, and Australasia predominantly participating. In contrast, equatorial nations in Africa and Asia typically abstain. America, while largely adopting DST, has outliers like Arizona (barring the Navajo Nation) and Hawaii. Interestingly, Indiana only embraced DST in 2006, and the entire US is slated to roll clocks back on 5th November 2023.

The European Parliament, in March 2019, supported ending DST across EU states. Initially targeted for 2021, this change is still awaiting legal sanction, leaving EU nations continuing their clock-changing rituals.

A View from Greenwich Louise Devoy, curator at the Royal Observatory, offers a unique perspective. At the Observatory, most historic clocks perpetually display GMT, a nod to pre-1916 times before daylight saving’s inception. The Observatory’s Dolphin sundial, however, requires quarterly adjustments, ensuring accuracy throughout the year.

In summary, as we gear up for this biannual routine, it’s worth pondering the myriad reasons and histories behind our time-tweaking tradition. Whether you see it as a welcome extension to your weekend sleep or a marker of the seasons, there’s no denying its impact on our daily lives.

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