Time Gentlemen Please - a history of the measurement of time.

Barry Hamblin


Region:
South West
Notice Period:
Emergency (maybe less than one week's notice)
Type:
Antiquarian
Fee:
Paid: £60 plus travel expenses (30p/mile)
Category:
History
Updated:
22nd February 2024

Our measurement of time is based on two astronomical events:

  1. the orbit of the Earth around the Sun defines the year, and
  2. the spin of the Earth about its North/South axis defines the day.

Our calender was initially developed by the Romans and has a fascinating history. It was initially a lunar calender but developed into a solar calender. However, it has been shown that the lunar agricultural calenders used to indicate the best times to plant specific crops etc really do work and I find it fascinating.

Our day is divided in two lots of twelve hours with hours divided into sixty minutes and minutes into sixty seconds. Why were these numbers used ?

I became fascinated by this subject when I taught navigation to airline pilots. I found they understood the concepts better with some of this historical background to explain why and how we measure time the way we do.

PS I also repair clocks !

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About Barry Hamblin

After 25 years flying in the RAF as a navigator I found myself running a training company for airline pilots after doing a favour for a friend.

My wife has a lavender business (I am the tractor driver) and when she opened a shop which was too large for her sole use I closed my training company and took the spare half of the shop to indulge my passion for selling antiques. My wife and I give talks on the history of lavender, growing lavender and how it is used (see Lavender and Co) and this, together with being a trustee of our small but beautiful local museum and a love of antiques and history, has resulted in me giving number of talks on a variety of historical subjects.

The RAF trained me to instruct and I just love presenting the subjects I care so much about.


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