Michael Tiddy Speaking

Today Michael Tiddy gave us a very interesting talk about how he had taken up clockmaking and repairing.

The interest in matters horological had started at the age of three when his great grandfather showed him a hunter watch and showed him how to open it by blowing on it, this led to him eventually taking up repair and restoration in 1975.

He was asked to restore the clocks in Holker Hall near Cartmel,which resulted in many requests to restore those of other local residents.

The extreme precision involved in clock making and repairing was apparent from the slides presented to the assembled audience. We were all fascinated by the mathematical and artistic precision that Michael illustrated, demonstrated, and described. Proficiency in mathematics is of course a considerable advantage in his other interest, music. 

After many years studying the intricacies of clock repair and assembly he finally made two ‘Michael Tiddy’ clocks, one of which he had brought to show us. The illustrations that he provided showed that he had become an expert in engineering such wonderful mechanisms.

All in all one of the most erudite, memorable and unassuming talks any Rotarian has given in my time in Rotary.

Keith Ward