14th April 2022
Clockmaking in Guernsey, Surviving the Distance Learning Course
Ian Lihou
When Ron Rose organised courses for the South London Branch members at BHI Upton Hall, not only did we get to meet some of the best Tutors but other horologists, many of them starting out in their careers. Meeting Ian at Paul Schroders course on Platform escapements was wonderful. A young man dedicated to traveling from Guernsey to Upton Hall in the pursuit of his career humbled me.
Ian was to be the recipient of the Beresford Hutchinson prize that year awarded from the South London Branch.
Very little was exchanged but friendship and advise until a mutual customer took delivery of his latest treasure and the opportunity to visit Ian’s workroom while waiting for the ferry in Guernsey took place.
Here was a great workroom of a young an enthusiastic recently qualified MBHI working as a full time Clockmaker in the Channel Islands. Most of his study had been achieved using the Distance Learning course and Ian was embarking on making his first clock. He has now completed his second commission, a 4-leg gravity escapment regulator.
The South London Branch welcomes Ian, one of our newest members to have joined during the last two years as he briefly touches on the history of the island, its significant clockmaker, and some of the work that has cross his bench over the last nine years, Warts, and all. The reality of working in isolation and as we all experience in horology, the knowledge that we are still learning, seeing something new.
Duncan Greig
The meeting was held at The White Hart Barn in Godstone and made accessible via Zoom to those unable to attend.