The sunnier side of love

QUESTION The inscription ‘Time flies. Suns rise and shadows fall. Let time go by. Love is for ever over all’ has appeared on sundials for more than 100 years. Who wrote it?

The earliest version of this rhyme, in Latin, can be found on a sundial at Old Place, Lindfield, West Sussex, the home of the Victorian stained glass artist Charles eamer Kempe.

he enthusiastically restored the former manor and poorhouse with elaborate architectural flourishes, oak panelling and grand fireplaces.

A particular attraction was the large sundial, a copy of the one at Pembroke College, Oxford, topped by a carved pelican feeding her young.

engraved and gilded above the dials, it was also embossed in gothic script twined round the pillar in black, white and gold: ‘Tempora Praetereunt; nunc sol nunc umbra vicissim; Praetereunt; superest ecce perennis amor.’

Translated into english, it became the popular sundial inscription.

The rhyme has been described as Kempe’s Philosophy of Old Place and is assumed to have been written by him.

spencer Williams, Bognor Regis, W. sussex.

QUESTION Is a moonbow possible?

MOOnbOWS, or lunar rainbows, are a meteorological phenomenon. They were first mentioned by Aristotle in 435 bC.

A rainbow is created when light refracts through raindrops and is split into its constituent colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.

The same effect can be produced by a light shining through a prism, waterfalls or sea spray.

A rainbow is best observed when there is a cloud behind it to provide contrast.

The light reflected from the Moon is also refracted in this way by raindrops. however, due to the reduced amount of light, moonbows are weaker and more difficult to see.

For a moonbow, the Moon must be at or close to full and the rain falling on the opposite side of the sky. They are best observed against a very dark sky.

Bob Dillon, Edinburgh.

I WAS in burma in 1946, stationed 60 miles south of Mandalay. Three of us were on guard duty on a clear night with a Full Moon when we realised there was a moonbow. not as strong as a daytime rainbow, but definitely coloured.

Harold Richards, Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire.

QUESTION Are there any sports people who, like snooker’s Ronnie ‘The Rocket’ O’Sullivan, can use either hand?

FurTher to the earlier answer about the ambidextrous u.S. baseball player Pat Venditte, among other sports stars, brian Close, the Yorkshire and england cricket captain, could bat and play golf with either hand.

he would take his stand at the crease and then switch as the bowler prepared his run-up.

he had a handicap of four playing golf right-handed and nine left-handed.

David sunderland, leeds.

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