Why do the clocks go back?

Albus_Scope

So the clocks go back an hour at 2am on October 29th 2023.  But why do we do this?

Talk of this goes back to the Romans, who used to take advantage of more daylight and was even joked about by Benjamin Franklin, who wrote about a similar idea in a satirical letter sent to the editor of the Journal of Paris. In the letter, Franklin suggested if people got up earlier when it was lighter, it would make economic sense as it would save on candles.  

  Following summer solstice in June the days gradually become shorter.  Therefore, by turning the clocks back an hour during autumn, this provides people with more sunlight in the morning. Turning the clocks forward in the spring brings lighter evenings.  

Each year, the clocks go back an hour at 2am on the last Sunday of October. When this occurs, the UK will switch from British Summer Time (BST) to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).  But when did we start doing this? 

William Willett, an Edwardian builder (and the great-great-grandfather of Coldplay’s lead singer, Chris Martin) had devised a campaign in which he proposed that the clocks go forward in spring and back in winter so that people could spend more time outdoors during the day and save energy, hence the term Daylight Saving Time.

Willett wrote about his proposal in a pamphlet called 'The Waste of Daylight' which was published in 1907.  The government later adopted his ideas in 1916 during World War I - a year after Willett died - as politicians believed it would help reduce the demand for coal. 

So there you go, isn't learning fun?

Please remember, if you own a mobile phone or a computer, your time should automatically update without you having to do anything! 

C_J

Thanks for that @Albus_Scope.

Wasn't there talk of putting a stop to changing the clocks at some point?

rebel11

The reason I believe (it was on TV) is to do with Scottish Farmers and milking cows.

Albus_Scope

@C_J The EU were debating removing the clocks changing a few years back, but that fell flat on its face fairly quickly. 

C_J

Thanks @Albus_Scope I knew I heard it at some point but couldn't remember.