03 July 2023
Representatives of the Education Committee of the Clockmakers' Company and two of our apprentices headed to the Guildhall's Old Library on 3rd and 4th of July for the annual Livery Schools Careers Showcase. With over thirty displays, mainly Livery Companies, there was a wide range of stimulating activity for everyone.
The two days are divided into Primary and Secondary age groups; this was the first year that the Clockmakers have attended both days.
On the Primary day, groups of year 6 children (age 10-11) embraced the Clockmakers' stand with great enthusiasm. The children enjoyed the chance to use a lathe, and marvelled at the laser cutting prowess of 10 year old Archie, grandson of Liveryman David Andrews, who had very kindly loaned his Elements clock to the stand.
They tried their hands at assembling a clock from plastic components, and raced clockwork toys on a race track.
Having consumed extraordinary quantities of candy watches, they departed with Clockmakers' pencils, stickers and make-a-sundial kits.
The secondary day saw more of a careers focus, with interested young people asking an array of pertinent questions. Opportunities for training were explained both to youngsters and the accompanying staff.
There were so many fascinating conversations, two will suffice:
- A cuckoo clock weight with the sign “What is it?” resulted in some fascinating answers. The favourite, a hand grenade!
- One very enthusiastic young person explained he had a counterfeit Patek Philippe but queried the details of the hall mark. Was the case really valuable? He was satisfied with the response – ‘All that glitters is not gold’.
With hardly a moment to look at other displays, it was a delight to learn the organisers felt the Clockmakers’ was one of the finest, actively engaging young people. As a result of our efforts, there might be a future clockmaker, or two?
