Derek Hall’s passion for clock repairs … and he is one of the regulars at the Bury St Edmunds Repair Cafe

Meet Derek Hall (pictured above), the resident clock repairer at the Bury St Edmunds Repair Café! Now enjoying retirement after a fulfilling career in engineering,

Derek spends his time in his home workshop, bringing clocks back to life.

\When he’s not tinkering, you can find him tackling his endless home improvement projects, helping out with his grandchildren, or volunteering at his local parkrun on Saturday mornings.

Derek’s fascination with clocks began at the tender age of five, when his grandfather gifted him a box of old clocks.

He fondly recalls the hours spent disassembling them, even if reassembly proved to be a bit challenging.

Over the years, he has become an associate member of the British Horological Institute, deepening his knowledge and skills.

Inspired by a TV series and a successful clock repair for a work colleague, Derek became involved in his local repair café.

One of his most memorable projects was a beautiful carriage clock that, despite being in good shape overall, wasn’t operational.

Upon returning it to its owner, he was touched to hear that it was one of the items they would definitely save if they ever had a house fire.

Thankfully, they hadn’t shared that before the repair, or Derek might have approached it with extra caution.

Nowadays, when asked to repair particularly valuable items, Derek prefers to refer owners to accredited repairers.

He finds immense joy in reviving mechanisms that have been silent for too long, although he jokes that some owners might curse him when their clock starts chiming at unsociable hours.

Derek understands that the sentimental value of a clock—its history, its place in the home, and the sound of its chimes—often outweighs the mere function of telling time.

What Derek loves most about the repair café is the camaraderie among fellow repairers, the sharing of skills and experiences, and of course, the delicious coffee and cake!

If Derek’s story inspires you, come along to the next Repair Café on Saturday, November 14,, from 10.30am to 1.30pm at West Road Church.

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