AS the nation prepares to put the clocks back this weekend when the UK officially says goodbye to summer, spare a thought for JH Oxtoby and Sons, in Bradford’s Northgate, who have hundreds of time pieces to alter.
The clock and watch repairers, believed to be the longest-running family firm in Bradford, has been ticking along nicely since 1894, with Callum Oxtoby, 25, the fifth generation to work there.
“To be honest, we don’t change all the clocks and watches when it’s time to put the clocks back or forward. We just do a few. We’ve quite a few that alter themselves as well so that helps,” he said.
The business deals in timepieces from brand new to antique and has quite a high footfall of people bringing in repairs.
“The oldest clock we get occasionally is one dating from the 1500s which only has an hour hand. They didn’t need to know the minutes in those days,” he said.
British summertime officially ends on Sunday at 2am and the additional hour in bed helps soften the blow.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here