Decimal changeover lessons

Following on from last week’s informative article about the UK’s introduction of decimal currency, we look at some of the features contributing to that success and draw comparisons with the changeover to metric measures.

Continue reading “Decimal changeover lessons”

Straight bananas and the metric system – the EU legacy?

With Brexit still dominating the news, Ronnie Cohen looks at one of the biggest obstacles to completing our transition to the metric system: its perceived link to the European Union.

Continue reading “Straight bananas and the metric system – the EU legacy?”

How decimalisation succeeded while metrication stalled

The media like nothing better than an anniversary, so it was predictable that the 40th anniversary of “decimal day” – 15 February 1971, when the UK finally gave up its archaic and inconvenient coinage and currency – would get a good airing.  Some commentators have even recalled that decimalisation was originally supposed to be complementary to metrication, with both operating to roughly the same timetable.  So, it is interesting to compare the slick and successful operation to decimalise our currency with the incompetent bungling of metrication.

Continue reading “How decimalisation succeeded while metrication stalled”