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It’s August, and that means there’s a bank holiday! The August holiday was introduced in 1871 and was originally intended to give bank employees the opportunity to participate in and attend cricket matches. 

Liberal politician and banker Sir John Lubbock authored the Bank Holidays Act of 1871, which bought these public holidays into effect. Initially, there were four days known as St Lubbock’s Days. 

Why cricket? It was rumoured that Sir John Lubbock was so keen on cricket he chose the bank holiday dates to fall on the days when village matches were played in his home county! 

The August bank holiday was moved to the last Monday in August for England, Wales and Northern Ireland under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act of 1971. This was because it clashed with the traditional two week shut down that many companies undertook in the summer. In Scotland, it remains the first Monday in August.

If you are planning to watch the cricket matches being played during the Commonwealth Games or The Hundred competition that runs until early September, don’t let TV interference spoil your viewing. There’s a small chance it may be due to mobile signal upgrades. We’re here to help – contact us on 0808 13 13 800 (free from UK landlines and mobiles).