British Weights and Measures Association

The British Weights and Measures Association, or BWMA, is a pressure group established in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1995,cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Database of archives of Non Governmental Organisations - BWMA
work =
publisher = DANGO
date = 2007-04-17
url = http://www.dango.bham.ac.uk/record_details.asp?id=831&recordType=ngo
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-08-17 ] that campaigns for the preservation of choice 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.cite press release
title = British Weights & Measures Association - Annual Awards
publisher =
date = 2004-05-21
url = http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=123374
accessdate = 2007-08-17 ]

Among other initiatives, the BWMA promotes the continued compulsory use of Imperial units (miles, yards, feet and inches) on road signs,cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Metric Transport and Signs
work =
publisher = British Weights and Measures Association
date =
url = http://www.bwmaonline.com/Transport.htm
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-08-17 ] as well as the freedom for traders to serve their customers in whichever measures both parties find most convenient, regardless of the confusion over unit price that this arrangement results in. This is in contrast to the UK Metric Association (UKMA), which campaigns for the completion of Metrication in the United Kingdom for all legal and official purposes.

BWMA support the Metric Martyrs - a group of traders prosecuted for offences under the [http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/legResults.aspx?LegType=Act+(UK+Public+General)&title=weights+and+measures&Year=1985&searchEnacted=0&extentMatchOnly=0&confersPower=0&blanketAmendment=0&TYPE=QS&NavFrom=0&activeTextDocId=2191980&PageNumber=1&SortAlpha=0 Weights and Measures Act] and the [http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/legResults.aspx?LegType=S.I.+(All+UK)&title=Price+marking+order&Year=2004&searchEnacted=0&extentMatchOnly=0&confersPower=0&blanketAmendment=0&TYPE=QS&NavFrom=0&activeTextDocId=962202&PageNumber=1&SortAlpha=0 Price Marking Order] . 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 cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = BWMA Patrons and Honorary members
work =
publisher = British Weights and Measures Association
date =
url = http://www.bwmaonline.com/Hon%20members.htm
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-08-17 ]
* Vice Admiral Sir Louis Le Bailly
* Sir Patrick Moore
* Gwyneth Dunwoody

Honorary members

* Peter Alliss
* Clive Anderson
* Trevor Baileycite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Letter to Prime Minister
work =
publisher = British Weights and Measures Association
date = 2006-04-16
url = http://www.bwmaonline.com/Letter%20to%20the%20Prime%20Minister.htm
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-08-17 ]
* 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

ee also

*UK Metric Association
*Metrication in the UK
*Metric Martyrs

Notes

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

* [http://www.bwmaonline.com/index.html BMWA's official website]