Paul Roberson FBHI
Tutor

Biography

At school I was always mechanically minded and very into Meccano and model trains. Originally I wanted to be a motorcycle mechanic, but I saw a watchmaking apprenticeship advertised at Fish Brothers, a jewellery chain in East London, so I took it on and stayed with them for more than 30 years.
In the mid-1970s, when I was 16, I did the BHI training and exams at Hackney Technical College. Apprentices used to start on clocks before they could be trusted with watches. Watches are smaller, but clocks are quite chunky and more forgiving while you get the feel of things.
After I left Fish Brothers, I was self-employed, but while I’m good with my hands, I’m rubbish as a business person. Then the job as Clockmaker at the Palace of Westminster came up. They needed someone who was within easy reach of the Parliament buildings and on call for the Great Clock of Westminster, Big Ben – well, that was me…
It’s amazing to think that I started as an apprentice in a basement and went on to look after ‘Big Ben’. If you had told me at technical college that I would have such a privilege and honour, I would never have believed it.
I took a number of famous people up the clock tower while I was there, including Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie and Jools Holland, who’s a clock and watch enthusiast.
I’m retired from my position at the Palace now, but I’m very active in the British Watch and Clock Makers Guild – I’m a Director – and, of course, a BHI tutor and Vice President of the Institute.
It’s always nice to teach enthusiastic people. Sharing knowledge and passing on your skills is such a pleasure. If you’re mechanically minded then it’s usually just about being shown and guided – anyone can do it.

Paul trained at Hackney College before working at Fish Brothers. He then took the leap to becoming self-employed and then worked as Clockmaker at the Palace of Westminster. Paul brings with him a wealth of technical experience.

‘It’s amazing to think that I started as an apprentice in a basement and went on to look after Big Ben.’