John Murphy FBHI
Tutor

Biography

There have been quite a few moon phases since I first became interested in horology. It all started at 16 when I took up an apprenticeship with a family owned jewellers and watchmakers store in Northern Ireland. The owner was a professional member of the British Horological Institute 
and keenly passed on his knowledge during the time I spent with him.
I don’t think anyone simply makes the decision to become a watchmaker but, if they have the opportunity to observe someone repairing a watch, I am sure that, like me all those years ago, they will find it fascinating. To take a mechanism apart and put it back together again so it will operate correctly is highly rewarding, especially if the piece was not performing when it was initially seen.
As a child I loved to build model kits and, as I got older, this was encouraged by my Dad. He showed me how to take apart anything that was mechanical, and put it back together again. He flew with the RAF and, like most service men of his era, liked to repair things, so I guess it runs in the family.
After moving to England and taking my BHI examinations with the school at Manchester, I went on to study in Switzerland. I then worked in the industry, as watchmakers did in my day, for numerous watch houses. After that, I was asked to go in to teaching and eventually taught both the BHI and WOSTEP courses.
I was later approached to tutor the short courses at the BHI’s headquarters in Upton Hall. This I enjoy immensely but it is a team effort and everyone involved at the BHI plays a huge part in making these courses successful.
I get a real buzz out of teaching. I like passing on my knowledge to students and seeing them enjoy what I saw for the first time all those years ago: intricate mechanisms, some seeming to have a beating heart, which we use today to indicate time.
Teaching is a vocation; I never once thought all those years ago that I would enjoy passing on my knowledge, like others were able to do for me. I have such a passion for education. We, as human beings, love to take up new information, meet new people and visit new places, especially if the subject area is of interest to us. If I could bottle the reward of passing on knowledge and sell the feeling of teaching, I would.

Trained from 16 with an apprenticeship at a family jewellers and watchmakers John then completed his BHI examinations at the school at Manchester before moving to Switzerland to study. As well as being a professional watchmaker John has been passing on his knowledge for years.