Keeping the art of clock repair alive and ticking
SIR – Further to your report (“Hard times for antique clocks without experts to repair them”, January 30) and Jane Shilling’s article (“Repairing a much-loved broken clock”, Comment, January 31), there are important efforts being made to correct the problem.
The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers has designed and implemented a modest but nevertheless nationwide scheme under which new apprentices are supported with the provision of training materials and, crucially, professional mentoring. We have helped fund workshop improvements for the horology courses at the School of Jewellery in Birmingham, and West Dean College in Sussex, and we reward excellence with annual prizes.
As with other craft professions, a further goal is achieving appropriate levels of compensation and recognition of value for highly skilled professional work.
Dr James Nye
Master of the Clockmakers Company London EC2