7th March 2019
AGM followed by a talk from Stephen Doerr
Some 18th Century Provincial Longcase Clockmakers
As usual this meeting will be a two-stage event. Firstly, there will be the AGM where you have the opportunity to find out the current state of branch affairs. There will be reports from the Chairman and Treasurer followed by any questions, and the election of the committee for the coming year.
Please remember to vote at the AGM you must be a member of both our Branch and the BHI at Upton Hall.
Now for the main event!!
Stephen’s talk promises to be a jaunt through his horological encounters with particular reference to some interesting makers, their hallmarks of quality and struggles to survive.
Having had a technical education and always intending to be an engineer, after his A levels Stephen joined a large multinational electronics research company. Early on, realising it was not for him, he returned to college to study mathematics and a career in Secondary Education followed. His 20 years as Head of Mathematics were punctuated by various secondments to government agencies where he developed an interest in Project Management. Currently this includes Summer Schools in London for American post graduates research and chairmanship of a medical charity developing Primary Health care in The Gambia.
And clocks? – about 30 years ago his engineering interests were rekindled with the purchase of a birdcage longcase clock movement and he was hooked! The last 20 years he has focused on researching 18th century provincial longcase clocks and their makers. ‘I am pleasantly surprised by the number of unrecorded makers and examples of unusual features that still surface’. There is always a bit of ‘creep’ and in recent years he has strayed into early painted dial features; is currently renovating an 1868 two train turret clock – and to his wife’s consternation the construction of an appropriate turret!
Stephen is an active member of various horological groups and has just been appointed external examiner for Birmingham University BA Hons Horology programme.