Beliard Clock Value Repair Shop: When Andy Cronk brings in an 18th-century French clock made by Julian Beliard, clock connoisseur Steve Fletcher is given an exciting Challenge. When Andy’s grandfather acquired this valued relic after World War II, he did so by chance, but the minute hand is missing, the dial is scuffed, and the clockwork components have been patched together in an unprofessional manner.
Aside from Stephen Fry, Lorraine Kelly, and Kathy Burke, the BBC’s The Repair Shop has a large and devoted following among viewers at home. One team member was notably absent from the photo recently, so it’s no surprise that many people were left wondering what had happened to them. Show fan Will Kirk posted a picture on Instagram of the cast, including Suzie Fletcher, Jay Blades, and others to celebrate the new season’s premiere. “Catch me on ITV’s @lorraine tomorrow morning when I will be chatting all things @therepairshop.tv with the wonderful @lorrainekellysmith,” he said in the accompanying photo. What’s coming ahead, who inspired me as a kid, and why apprenticeships are so essential are just a few of the things I’ll be talking about.”
We have almost 500 collective years of experience in our little community under the thatched roof!” In contrast to the glee of Will’s many fans, many others were puzzled as to where Steven Fletcher had disappeared in the group photo. “Is Steve behind the camera?” was a comment made by one user. Fewer still chimed in with the question, “Where’s Steve?” and “Mr. Fletcher, where are you?” Another follower responded with: “Hello you amazing lot. Greetings to you all. What’s up, Steve? Where are you?” To the show’s relief, the host and antiques expert Steve hasn’t wandered too far away.
Steven is a horologist, which means he specializes in clock maintenance and function. A BBC workshop family member since 2016, after being requested to join by the production team to help out with the show. The host expresses his pride in the show’s work by mentioning his personal favorite moment. Beliard clock was “a bit of a problem,” he told the BBC. “I find most clocks relatively plain forward.” Because of the damage and the inability to locate the proper mainspring, the project took longer than anticipated. However, when it was finished, the clock worked flawlessly and was a true work of art.
Steven Fletcher, owner of The Repair Shop
A horologist, Steve has a passion for timekeeping. In Steve’s family, clockmaking has been passed down for generations, and he has worked with clocks for more than 40 years now. Anything from clocks to bus ticket machines is no problem for him; he can fix them all. The Repair Shop has a lot to offer its employees. Despite our differences, we all get along so well and have a great time working together.
“ Do you have a story to share with us about how you become an expert in your field?
In the words of Steven Fletcher, A childhood memory of my father fixing timepieces in a little workshop convinced me that this wasn’t the career for me. In high school, I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian after seeing All Creatures Great and Small on television. As a result, I studied every topic under the sun to prepare for this career path. My teachers should have warned me that I lacked the intellectual capacity to handle the studying, so I decided to enter the family business after pondering my options. A two-year British Horological Institute course in Hackney, London, where I received a first-class pass, led to the establishment of my own clock repair and restoration shop. Almost every day, my grandfather, a retired clock and watchmaker, would drop by the business and check on how things were doing. He was a wealth of knowledge and advice.
As a clock repairman for more than 45 years, I’ve learned a great deal, but there’s always more to learn! We have seven clockmakers, including my son, two watchmakers, and three administrative assistants working in our Witney clock and watch repair shop presently, including one of my daughters who is also learning about watch mechanics. For as long as I can remember, I’ve taken apart mechanical devices to figure out how they function and how to fix them, so when something new arrives at the Repair Shop, I’m overjoyed!
In what way do you get involved with Repair Shop?
An email from a firm I had never heard of asked whether I would be interested in participating in a brand-new show when it came my way in 2016. I nearly threw it out and would have done so if my spouse, Mel, hadn’t reassured me that everything seems fine. After I replied, Shane called and told me about the show. I agreed to appear on it right away. A few days into my first stint as a mechanic, my boss requested me to do more, and I ended up becoming a part of the team’s core.
Which of your repairs has been the most memorable or difficult thus far?
The steamboat was a lot of fun to fix. It was a magnificent antique that required a great deal of labor to get it running while preserving its original patina. The lakeside unveiling was both exciting and nerve-wracking, due to the potential of the boat sinking. The Beliard clock stands out for me as the most difficult of the clocks I’ve ever had to put together. It had a rough start, and finding a suitable mainspring proved difficult. As a result, the project took longer than anticipated, but the finished product was stunning.
Do you have any ideas for a repair you’d want to make?
A 16th-century iron chamber clock maybe my ideal restoration project. They’re my favorite timepiece by far, but they’re quite scarce, so I doubt I’ll ever be able to get my hands on one. A free-flying glider would be great fun for me since I used to create them as a kid.
In your opinion, what is best part about working in Repair Shop?
The Repair Shop has a lot to offer its employees. Despite our differences, we all get along so well and have a great time working together. Occasionally, we have no idea what will arrive or how tough the repair will be.
Other specialists who are always prepared to share their knowledge have taught me a great deal. As a member of the Repair Shop, I enjoy watching people’s reactions to their repaired items, from enthusiasm to genuine sadness. When horologist Steve Fletcher was asked to repair a clock for a visitor on Wednesday’s edition of The Repair Shop, he encountered many difficulties along the way. One of his grandfather’s heirlooms had been passed down to him and he had never seen it tick.
First-time guest Andy inquired about the clock when he saw it on the wall, and the former explained that it was his grandfather’s. “My grandfather lived in a highly bombed, blitzed district of London during World War II, and the inhabitants kept their most prized items in the church crypt. As soon as the war ended, he returned to his home and saw that everything had been destroyed, save for one clock in the corner.” There were no signs of human hands on it, and I believe the vicar felt bad because it was the only thing left in the church crypt.
