NEWSOC arranges Clockmakers Livery Company visit to City of London School

Old Citizen, Keith Stella (1972), recently arranged a visit by the Clockmakers Livery Company to City of London School.

“In retirement”, he said “I have taken a keen interest in the study of antiquarian horology (the history of time and clockmaking) and as part of that pursuit, a few years ago I joined the Clockmakers Livery Company, one of the former great trading guilds operating in the City of London and which was granted its Royal Charter by Charles I in 1631. 

“It was in this capacity that I was able to help facilitate a recent visit to the school by senior members of the Clockmakers Livery Company, the purpose of which was to introduce boys at the school to the history and importance of time and timekeeping and its relevance today.” 

The visit started with a tour of the technology department in a recently refurbished section of the school. “We were introduced to Mark Jones, who leads the technology department and who explained how the school is now focused on teaching a wider range of technology skills (not just computer and IT based),” said Keith. “To this end, the technology department has an impressive range of newly installed workshop machines, such as lathes, saws, laser cutters and 3D printers. We had the opportunity during the tour to ask the boys about their work and the areas of study they were most interested in. The boys were keen to show their work and the projects they were working on.”

The Clockmakers Company gave a presentation which included videos, animations and items brought from the Clockmakers’ Museum which the boys could examine. “The session was extremely well attended,” said Keith “and there were lots of questions from the boys both during the presentation and afterwards, when they also had the opportunity to ask the Clockmakers team about the practical steps to becoming a watch or clock maker.”

Among those present from the Clockmakers Company was the Curator of the Clockmakers’ Collection which is on permanent display at the Science Museum. The visit was considered an overwhelming success, so much so that an organised private tour to the Science Museum is to be organised to allow boys to view this important collection.  

Keith added, “The event was arranged for us by Isy Paton and Jess Bishop, both members of the School’s Development and Alumni Engagement team, to whom the Clockmakers express their sincere thanks and appreciation.”