COVID-19 and the BHI

8 April 2020

For over 160 years, the British Horological Institute (BHI), dedicated to the art and science of measuring time, has seen many changes and events. We share our headquarters with the Museum of Timekeeping (MoT), meaning we have everything on site from antique longcase clocks to modern quartz watches, and even the original Speaking Clock. Like everyone else the acknowledgement that this particular time is unprecedented in living memory, is unsettling to say the least.

Public health and safety are of course the top priorities and we have been complying with the new restrictions. For the time being we are continuing to provide limited member services with a skeleton staff. We have already postponed all 2020 exams and suspended DLC tutor feedback until the temporary restrictions are relaxed by HM Government.  All our short courses have been postponed until at least 1 August. Please keep checking here on our website as the situation is changing daily.

Those of you who were about to sit Technician Grade Exams this year please do keep up with your studies and exercises. We also remind you that you can sit Technician Grade and Professional Grade exams in the same year – all you need to do is to purchase the Professional Grade DLC Manual to progress your knowledge.

The BHI team is small but dedicated. The Horological Journal is continuing to go to print every month, and if for some reason that becomes impossible, then it will be published electronically. DLC related courses and our non-vocational courses, exams and all our other events will resume as soon as the temporary restrictions are relaxed by HM Government. We have developed a series of new Masterclasses to further support the advancement of horological skills. Indeed, the BHI is maximising the “lockdown” time to make certain we will continue where we left off and as we mean to go on into the next 160 years.

Horology has been a niche craft for many years, but, like time itself, it endures. Ultimately, the BHI and the Horological Journal have both been running for over 160 years, through two world wars, various recessions and, indeed, previous pandemics. We withstood those and we will withstand this.

COVID-19 has brought a terrible amount of tragedy and loss to our world. We send our thoughts to everyone who is suffering and our thanks to all the key workers. We hope that people can stay safe and well, and that this will pass as quickly as possible.

For further information on Covid -19 – https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus