British Summer Time
In 1908, the United Kingdom became the first country to
adopt Daylight Saving Time
by Liz Olson
In 1908, the United Kingdom became the first country to adopt
Daylight Saving Time, giving it the nickname "British Summer Time." British
Summer Time was controversial at the time of its introduction. Despite the
resistance, BST was ultimately adopted, and has since benefited outdoor
sports recreation and retailers by moving the clock forward one hour,
extending the afternoon hours of daylight and shortening the morning
hours.
BST is in force from the last Sunday in March until the last
Sunday in October, which follows the European Daylight Saving Time schedule.
The summer period begins and ends at 1:00 A.M. Greenwich Mean Time.
The Summer Time Act of 1972, originally defined the start of British
Summer Time as 2:00 A.M. GMT on the third Sunday of March—unless it
fell on Easter, in which case Summer Time would begin on the second Sunday
that year.
In 2002, the Order of Council changed British Summer Time
to fall in line with European Daylight Savings Time. Clocks now change in
the United Kingdom on the last Sunday of March at 1:00 A.M., even if it
falls on Easter weekend.
| Spring Dates to remember: | Fall Dates to remember: |
| 30 March 2008 | 26 October 2008 |
| 29 March 2009 | 25 October 2009 |
| 28 March 2010 | 31 October 2010 |
| 27 March 2011 | 30 October 2011 |
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