The 'British Weights and Measures Association', or 'BWMA', is a
pressure group established in the
United Kingdom (UK) in 1995,
[1] that campaigns for the preservation of choise in measurement. Their aim is to uphold the freedom to use the
Imperial system rather than the compulsory imposition of the
Metric system in the UK. BWMA maintain that people should be free to use the metric system if they want, but that it should not be forced upon them.
[2]
Among other initiatives, the BWMA promotes the continued use of Imperial units (miles, yards, feet and inches) on road signs,
[3] as well as the freedom for traders to serve their customers in whichever measures both parties find most convenient. This is in contrast to the
UK Metric Association (UKMA) that campaigns for complete, compulsory
Metrication in the United Kingdom.
BWMA support the
Metric Martyrs - a group of traders prosecuted for selling goods in traditional measures. BWMA members have published a number of books aiming to explain the case for customary measures to a wider audience. These include ''The General Rule'' by BWMA President Vivian Linacre (Squeeze Press) and ''About the Size of It'' by
Warwick Cairns.
Patrons and Honorary members
Patrons
★
John Monson, 11th Baron Monson [4]
★ Vice Admiral Sir Louis Le Bailly
★
Sir Patrick Moore
★
Gwyneth Dunwoody
Honorary members
★
Peter Alliss
★
Clive Anderson
★
Trevor Bailey[5]
★
Michael Barry
★
Christopher Booker
★
Ian Botham
★
Max Bygraves
★
Beryl Cook
★
Jilly Cooper
★
Richard Demarco
★
Roy Faiers
★
Ranulph Fiennes
★
Edward Fox
★
Dick Francis
★
George MacDonald Fraser
★
Sandy Gall
★
Simon Heffer
★
Peter Hitchens
★
Jools Holland
★
Richard Holmes
★
Richard Ingrams
★ Dr. James Le Fanu
★
Candida Lycett-Green
★
Jonathan Lynn
★
Richard Mabey
★
Christopher Martin-Jenkins
★ Robin Page
★
Andrew Phillips, Baron Phillips of Sudbury
★ William Poole
★
Tim Rice
★
Andrew Roberts
★
J.K. Rowling
★
Quinlan Terry
★
Antony Worrall Thompson
★
Keith Waterhouse
See also
★
UK Metric Association
★
Metrication in the UK
★
Metric Martyrs
Notes
1.
Database of archives of Non Governmental Organisations - BWMA
2.
3.
Metric Transport and Signs
4.
BWMA Patrons and Honorary members
5.
Letter to Prime Minister
References
★
Cairns, Warwick (2007). ''About the Size of It: The Common Sense Approach to Measuring Things'',
Macmillan, ISBN 978-0230016286
★ Linacre, Vivian (2007). ''The General Rule: A Guide to Customary Weights and Measures '', The Squeeze Press, ISBN 978-1906069018
External links
★
BMWA's official website