A brief history of time

By Katheri

ne Rose

For thousands of years human beings have used devices invented to measure the passage of time.

The earliest monitored the sun’s shadows using stone obelisks and sundials.

Sundials remained in popular use until the nineteenth century. During Shakespeare’s time, people even carried pocket sundials, referred to by the bard in his play As You Like It. However, measuring time using the sun only works during daylight when it is not cloudy. Another method was to use graduated candles whose measured burn could also calculate the passing of hours, especially at night. The ancient Egyptians and Greeks built water clocks. Known as clepsydrae, they basically

consisted of two containers, one placed higher than the other. Water would drip slowly from the top container to the bottom, while markers inside the lower container showed how much time had elapsed. Another popular and iconic timepiece was the hourglass. They were reasonably accurate and used to measure time at sea. Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan had eighteen hourglasses on each of his ships during a circumnavigation of the globe in 1522. Even today we still use the minute version to time the perfectly boiled egg! It was around the fourteenth century that the first mechanical clocks with gears and escapements were invented in Europe. The old English word for a clock was daegmael meaning ‘day measure’. It was at this time that the word ‘clock’ came into parlance, derived from the Latin word clocca meaning ‘bell’, as the first mechanical clocks were made to strike the hour rather than display time. Operated by weights, these clocks were usually large and heavy so tended to feature in church towers. The clock in Salisbury Cathedral is one of the oldest surviving examples of a working mechanical clock, built in 1386 out of hand-worked iron.

In 1450 the coiled spring mechanism was invented, heralding portable clocks and watches. The oldest pocket watch is the spherical Melanchthon Watch made in 1530.

In 1650 Christiaan Huygens invented the first pendulum clock, which kept time more accurately than anything previously. It was found that the longer the pendulum, the greater the accuracy, which is how the Grandfather clock developed. Pendulum clocks remained the standard right up until the invention of quartz clocks in 1927.

During the nineteenth century, industrialisation made it important to keep track of time and the use of pocket watches exploded.

We tend to think of the wristwatch as being relatively modern but in fact it goes back a lot longer. It is recorded that a jewelled bracelet with a portable coiled spring timepiece was made for Queen Elizabeth I and given to her as a gift by Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, in 1571.

However, such timepieces were seen as no more than ladies’ jewellery. The first purposebuilt wristwatches were not produced until the early 1900s.

Today, we have seen the advent of the digital watch, mechanisms that no longer need winding, and atomic clocks accurate to a second within 100 million years – more than the length of human timekeeping itself.

PAYCARE IN THE

COMMUNITY september/ october 2020

Garry Hale, Vice Chair of Darlaston Town (1874) FC, and Sally Bromley, Paycare’s Partnership Engagement Officer, check out the newly-created gym room at the club’s ground.

SPoNSorSHiP DEAl ExTENDED

Black Country organisation Paycare is set to continue its sponsorship of a local football club for another three years. The announcement that the Health Cash Plan and Wellbeing Provider would be supporting Darlaston Town (1874) FC all the way up to the end of the 2023/24 season came in the same week as the FA decided local football leagues could resume from September. Now it’s just weeks until the club’s team can start playing at The Paycare Ground, named after their main sponsors who also feature on the home shirt of the first team. Club Chairman Neil Chambers said: “This is fantastic news and a boost for everyone at the club. Paycare has been our main sponsor for the last six years, so to extend their sponsorship for this forthcoming season and a further three seasons is wonderful, especially given these difficult times. “Our progress and development over the last six seasons have been achieved with the support of Paycare and with this news we look forward to continuing our development plans.” Extensive work has also been underway while games have been on hold, thanks to a team of loyal and dedicated club volunteers, including the refurbishment of the dressing rooms and the main club room, and reconfiguring the space to create a fully-equipped gym. Sally Bromley, Paycare’s Partnership Engagement Officer, added: “The Paycare team is absolutely delighted to confirm that we will be extending our current sponsor partnership with Darlaston Town (1874) FC for a further three years beyond the forthcoming season. “It is amazing to see the works that have been safely carried out during the lockdown months, and to know what a positive impact these improvements will have for everyone at the club and the local community. To have such a dedicated and passionate group of volunteers with Darlaston Town at the very heart of everything they do can only bode well for the future of the club. “We are extremely proud to continue our support of Darlaston Town, their fans and our community, and wish the club every good luck for the forthcoming season in the West Midlands Regional League Premier Division.”

www.twitter.com/MyPaycare/ www.facebook.com/MyPaycare/ www.linkedin.com/company/paycare/

ANNivErSAry CElEBrATioNS

Black Country Chamber of Commerce employees are celebrating a fantastic first year of being Paycare Policyholders. The staff all enjoy access to an array of Health Cash Plans with the Wolverhamptonbased not-for-profit organisation, meaning they benefit from cash back on a range of everyday health costs, access to a digital doctor with MyPocketGP and find support when they need it with the Confidential Counselling Helpline. The association between the two organisations stretches back far longer than the last year as Policyholders – Paycare has been a Chamber member for over 35 years, first joining in January 1984, and became a Patron of the Black Country region’s Chamber of Commerce in 2014. Paycare CEo Kevin rogers is ever passionate about the cause of the organisation and its alignment to Paycare’s own values, more so having been a former board member at the Chamber. When asked what difference the Paycare plan had made, Chamber CEo Corin Crane explained: “Like many employers, we are much more aware of the value of employee health benefits. These benefits are seen very positively here at the Chamber and for both us as a business, and for our employees, the range of health benefits has been incredibly well received. “As a business support agency and membership organisation, we know that benefits implemented by employers for their workforce can have a dramatic effect on company productivity and morale, so it’s no surprise that more and more businesses are introducing Health Cash Plans as an employee benefit, recognising the impact that sickness absence has on the bottom line. “I know many of the team are using Paycare for everything from dental care to eye tests, GP consultations to personal counselling, gym membership and even booking discounted holidays with Paycare Perks. During these tough economic times, the business case for implementing an employee benefits scheme has never been stronger, and a year into our Health Cash Plan with Paycare, we know that the raft of physical, mental health and wellbeing measures available to our teams is incredibly important. “The availability of preventive healthcare also means less absence because of our employees’ own health issues, or those of their families. Many employers and especially small businesses don’t realise that offering healthcare benefits can be attractive to employees and even be a retention factor.” PAyCArE’S GoT THEir BACKS It’s been a summer campaign as a tribute of sport for Paycare, to all the NHS staff who also announced it and carers for the would be sponsoring selfless work they have Bilston Town Football done and continue to Club’s kits for the do for all of us.” next two years. Sally Bromley, The organisation Paycare’s Partnership will have its logo Engagement Officer, displayed on the said: “the Paycare home and away shirts, team was delighted as well as the kits of to continue its the youth team and valued partnership under-eights and on with the club. advertising around the Queen Street ground. “Next season may be a season like no other as The shirts are made we continue to adjust by Midlands-based and find our way Macron who are through the strange currently including times we are all facing; the message ‘Thank we couldn’t be more You NHS’ on the front in recognition of key workers during the Coronavirus pandemic. excited to see Bilston Town start the season in the Premier Division of the West Midlands Regional League, having Club Chairman Denise been in fifth position Frankham said: “We when the league are delighted that was suspended and Paycare has confirmed the 2019/20 season it will be continuing its declared null and void support of Bilston Town earlier this year. FC and will be the club’s new kit sponsor for the 2020/21 season and 2021/2022 season. “We are proud to continue to support the health and wellbeing of the Bilston “Everyone at the club fans, as well as the and Paycare is keen wider community, and to support Macron’s wish the club good luck unique Thank You NHS for the season.”

Bilston Town FC Club Secretary Hayley Farren, Youth Team Manager Wayne Smith and Chairman Denise Frankham join Sally Bromley, Paycare’s Partnership Engagement Officer, to celebrate the kit sponsorship announcement.

To learn more abouT Paycare, Please visiT www.Paycare.org or call 01902 371 000

Pa r g e t e rs New furniture styles for your home

If you’re busy updating, improving or redesigning your home interior this autumn, you’ll no doubt be keen to find a selection of quality and contemporary furniture to complete the new look.

Displaying modern designs, from leading British brands, over three floors, there are looks to suit every home interior style. And, what’s more there’s an incredible 25% off most leading brands as part of the company’s amazing autumn discount event. As Miles explains: “We have got lots of fantastic new displays at the showroom and we’re delighted to offer our customers a substantial discount in our autumn event.”

A change in direction has taken place over the last five years at the family-run store, which has seen the business focusing on being an upholstery specialist that no longer sells bedroom furniture, curtains and carpets. Now instead, there is a brandnew department that specialises in Sherborne lift and rise beds, reclining chairs - which are all exempt from VAT - as well as sofas to match.

With all of this and more you’re sure to find outstanding designs and style at affordable prices when you pay a visit. In fact, customers at Pargeters are always surprised by the independent stores’ low prices, as Miles explains: “Sometimes an established business and single store furniture shop can be deemed to be more expensive to buy from than larger group stores. “But I can assure you that it won’t cost you to shop at Pargeters, very often we are cheaper and will price match the leading brands. We pride ourselves on offering the lowest possible prices combined with the highest standard of customer service.”

Indeed, the store is renowned for its exceptional service and that’s why it has remained a firm favourite with locals, ever since its doors first opened over 90 years ago. Unlike their competitors, the staff at Pargeters aren’t on commission, which means their focus is entirely on helping you make the purchase that’s right for you – if, of course, you decide to buy from the company. “We don’t sell ‘add-ons’ – like finance or insurance, which some companies use to boost their profits,” adds Miles. The company offers free delivery within a 50 mile radius and will also take your old items away free of charge. So, whatever you’ve got in mind for your home interior this autumn, make it look amazing with the addition of a quality buy from Pargeters.

PARGETERS SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES

We are offering customers the opportunity to shop safely on their own or with family members (maximum of 3 people). The showroom will also be open to 2 more walk-in customers at any one time. The current social distancing guidelines will be adhered to at all times. Staff will be available to assist you and answer any questions while following the current guidelines. Personal Protective Equipment will be used in the showroom by all staff. Please ring (01384 394176) to book your preferred appointment time at the showroom between the hours of 9am and 4pm Monday to Saturday.