Daylight saving and British Summer Time (BST)
Every year since 1916, Britain (along with many other countries) has observed Daylight Saving Time (DST) over the summer months. In the UK, daylight saving is known as British Summer Time (BST).
BST begins on the last Sunday in March. At 1:00am, the clocks move forward one hour and it becomes 2:00am — meaning we lose an hour as the clocks spring forward. If you’re wondering when does British Summer Time start, this is the point in the year to note.
Most devices are digital and will update automatically. However, analogue clocks and watches — plus anything not connected to the internet (including your car clock and your microwave) — will need adjusting manually. The change happens overnight on a Sunday, so most people can take it easy the next morning.
That ‘missing hour’ returns on the last Sunday in October. At 2:00am, the clocks go back to 1:00am as we fall back, returning to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
A hot debate: why do the clocks change?
BST was originally adopted following a petition by a Surrey builder called William Willett — who, incidentally, was the great, great grandfather of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.
The main arguments at the time were that farmers could make better use of daylight and that the country would consume less fuel. With 1916 falling in the middle of World War One and resources in short supply, that context helped push the bill through Parliament.
However, there were dark mutterings among those who knew Willett personally that his motivation was simpler: he was fed up with having to cut his golf games short on summer evenings. Sadly for Willett, he died before BST was implemented.
Opponents of BST, and daylight saving more broadly, liken the idea to ‘cutting off the bottom of a blanket, sewing it to the top and convincing yourself you have a bigger blanket’. There are also well-established arguments that productivity and health can be affected for several days after each time change.
Time for a change?
Wherever you stand on the BST debate, we can all agree that time is precious. If you feel your timeshare ownership is not currently meeting your holiday needs, why spend another year paying expensive fees?
Getting out of the contract is generally possible with expert help. And if certain criteria are met, some timeshare owners can qualify for significant financial compensation.
To find out more, get in touch with our team at Timeshare Advice Centre.
