Guest speaker for the Rotary Club of Bolsover was Adrian Overton of Overton’s Clocks, a local business at Saltergate, Chesterfield, started by Adrian a few years ago and has proved to be a very successful venture.
Adrian is a master craftsman and a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, no less. He has earned a strong reputation, and his customers come from all over the UK.
He imparted his knowledge and skills, with great enthusiasm, to the club who learnt all about the history of the clock from the sundial to the atomic clock. For those not aware of crown wheel or grid iron pendulums the talk was fascinating not to mention differences between basket and bell top clocks and the transition from Bracket to Mantel clocks. Our evening was also charmed throughout by chimes the wonderful clock collection Adrian bought with him to demonstrate the various aspects of his talk. It was interesting to note the influence of German and French makers upon our clock making industry and this caused the English makers to diversify from their traditional role to one that kept Britain in the forefront of clock making for a hundred years or more.
Adrian’s love and enthusiasm for clocks was infectious and President Rita Reed thanked Adrian warmly for his often amusing and informative talk and wished him every future success in his business servicing the timepieces of Chesterfield and beyond.