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Father Time at 100: a century watching over Lord’s

Posted: 29 April 2026

Father Time celebrates his 100th birthday this week, marking a full century since the iconic weathervane first took its place above Lord's in 1926.
The figure depicts the mythical Father Time, often compared to the Roman god Janus, symbolising the passage of time. Cricketing folklore has long debated whether he is removing the bails at the end of play or placing them to begin a new day.

Diana Rait Kerr, MCC’s first Curator, argued that he is removing them, citing Law 12.3 of the Laws of Cricket: “After the call of Time, the bails shall be removed from both wickets.” Writer E.W. Swanton preferred the more optimistic interpretation in that the day’s cricket is about to begin.

Standing around 6ft 6in tall, with the figure itself measuring roughly 5ft 4in, Father Time is cast in iron, painted black, and gilded on the wind‑arrow tip and the end of his scythe. 

fathertime100.jpg

Despite his sturdy build, he has not escaped mishap. During the Second World War, a drifting barrage balloon tore him from the Grand Stand roof. He spent the remainder of the conflict safely in the Committee Room.

In 1992, lightning struck the weathervane, damaging one hand and prompting a full restoration. During this period, he made his first trip away from Lord’s, appearing on the BBC children’s programme Blue Peter.

Heavy winds in 2015 caused further damage, requiring specialist conservation work that kept him away for two months meaning he missed his first ever Test match, between England and New Zealand.

When Sir Herbert Baker’s Grand Stand was eventually demolished, Father Time was relocated to his current home above the lift shaft between the Mound and Tavern stands.

From this vantage point, he continues to watch over Lord’s into his second century and to demonstrate how Father Time straddles many different eras of the game, as part of the London Spirit relaunch which was announced in January, there is a nod to Father Time’s 100th anniversary, with the weathervane being used in Spirit’s training kit as well as branding across the season.

As part of the build‑up to the anniversary, MCC has been looking beyond the famous weathervane to the people who have shared its century-long story and in doing so, discovered a remarkable parallel – a Member who is turning 100 during the same week.

Lt. Col Anthony Collyns, a long‑standing MCC Member based in Salisbury, reached his milestone on 28 April, just one day before Father Time itself marks a century at Lord’s. Collyns, who has enjoyed a lifetime in cricket as both a Somerset member and former Somerset Stragglers player, represents a living link to the eras Father Time has silently witnessed.

To honour the occasion, MCC visited Collyns in Salisbury to hear first‑hand his memories of watching and playing cricket across ten decades, learn more about his personal cricketing journey and deliver special birthday gifts.
 
father time at lord's
father time at lord's