'National Watch Day', June 19

Simon O'Donovan
4 hours ago
3 min read

National Watch Day – Introduction

National Watch Day is a great opportunity to celebrate one of humanity’s oldest and most useful inventions – the humble timepiece. From ornate grandfather clocks and pocket watches to modern smartwatches, keeping track of time has shaped the way we work, travel and live. It’s also a chance to reminisce about treasured watches, family heirlooms and memorable moments marked by the ticking of a clock. Today’s activities encourage conversation, memory, observation and a little nostalgia as we explore the fascinating world of time.

Today's Activities

⌚ What watch do you wear?
🕰️ Name as many time-keeping things as you can.
🌍 Greenwich, GMT & BST explained.
🤔 Guess the sayings and idioms about time.
💬 Let's Talk – the passing of time.
🎵 CST Songs of the Day featuring classic songs about time.

What Watch Do You Wear?

Watches often tell a story as well as the time.

Discuss:

Do you wear a watch every day?
Is it analogue, digital or a smartwatch?
Have you ever owned a pocket watch?
Did someone special give you your favourite watch?
Have you ever forgotten to change your watch when the clocks changed?

Name As Many Time-Keeping Things As You Can!

Can you name as many different ways of measuring or displaying time as possible?

Examples might include:

Wristwatch
Pocket watch
Grandfather clock
Alarm clock
Sundial
Hourglass
Stopwatch
Egg timer
Church clock
Cuckoo clock
Atomic clock
Smartphone clock
Calendar
Water clock
Ship's chronometer

How many can your group think of together?

Greenwich, GMT & BST Explained

Greenwich in London is famous as the home of the Prime Meridian (0° longitude), the line from which east and west around the world are measured.

GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) is based on the average position of the Sun at Greenwich and has long been used as a world reference time.
BST (British Summer Time) begins in spring when clocks go forward one hour to make better use of daylight.
In autumn, the clocks go back one hour and the UK returns to GMT.
Modern timekeeping is now based on incredibly accurate atomic clocks, but GMT remains an important reference used around the world.

Guess the Sayings About Time

Can you complete these famous sayings?

Time flies when you're having ________.
A stitch in ________ saves nine.
Better late than ________.
There's no time like the ________.
Time heals all ________.
Once in a blue ________.
Make every second ________.
Time and tide wait for no ________.
The clock is ________.
Against the ________.

Let's Talk – The Passing of Time

Time means something different to everyone.

Discussion prompts:

Does time seem to pass more quickly as you get older?
Which decade of your life do you remember most fondly?
If you could relive one day, which would it be?
What invention has saved you the most time?
Do you prefer being early or arriving just on time?
How have clocks and watches changed during your lifetime?
What event made you realise just how quickly time passes?
If you could turn back time, would you change anything?

CST Songs of the Day

Rock Around the Clock – A rock 'n' roll classic that helped define a generation and became one of the most influential songs of the 1950s.
Time in a Bottle – A reflective ballad about wishing there were more time to spend with loved ones.
Time After Time – A timeless pop hit about loyalty, reassurance and enduring friendship.
If I Could Turn Back Time – An anthem about regret and the desire for second chances.
Time to Say Goodbye – A soaring crossover classic often associated with farewells, celebration and new beginnings.