WINDSOR GLOCK KEEPER

Taranaki Daily News, 29 April 1931, Page 9

WINDSOR GLOCK KEEPER

VISIT TO TWIN BROTHER., REUNION AT MASTERTON. To travel 14,00 miles to join- the twin brother he had seen only once in 57 years with the object of celebrating their 80th birthday together was the experience of Mr. Robert Henry Ward, of Windsor, who arrived in Masterton. last week. The brother he has come so far to visit is Mt. John Ward, of Wrigley Street, one of Masterton’s oldest residents. Mr. Robert Ward is known as “Windsor Clockie,” as his lias been the task for the past 53 years of caring for clocks in the King’s famous collection which are housed at Windsor Castle. The twin brothers who " have been united after being separated for more than half a century were born ou May 18, 1851. In 1874 Mr. John Ward came to New Zealand, taking up his residence in Masterton. Since then the brothers have not. seen each other except on one occasion 17 years ago, when Mr. John Ward paid a short visit to the Old Country. This year, however, Mn Robert Ward determined that he and his brother in faraway New Zealand would be together for their eightieth birthday, and in spite of his age and the distance he left the little town of Windsor, which had sheltered him for 53 years, and set out on his long journey. He arrived in Masterton on Monday, a cheerful man, bearing.a precious burden in a, cardboard box—a birthday cake brought , with him from the Old Country, and 80 candles which will be lit on the cake on May 18 when he and his brother, celebrate their birthday. ■ ' ... . 7 There is a striking likeness between the twins. Unfortunately, Mr. John Ward lias been indisposed ever since the Hawke’s Bay earthquake, but he w-s able to leave his bed. to be photographed with his brother, and he is looking forward with the keenest anticipation to the family party at which; he and his brother will celebrate their eightieth birthday. ■ - Mr. Robert Ward intends to spend three months with his brother in New Zealand, and he will then return to England to take up his duties at Windsor Castle again. - There is a third brother in Masterton, Mr. George Ward, also of Wrigley gtreet. . :

i. In an interview with a Dominion representative, “Windsor Clockie” gave some interesting information regarding liU charges. In all, King George has 1000 clocks in-his unique collection, and of’thpse 360 are at Windsor

. Twq big ledgers in the Lord Cham-, berlaiu’S. office contain full descriptions, and a 1 photograph of each timepiece, as well ■as a record, of where it can. b&. found—a very necessary thing in a. building the corridors of which are measured by miles and the rooms by. acres.

Air. Ward’s chief charge is the great “ding-dong” quarter-striking clock which is situated over the State entrance, to the quadrangle of the castle. This clock tvas made by one ' - of the' most .famous of- the .English craftsmen; B. L. Vulliamy, in 1829, when Windsor. Castle was altered and 4 repaired by Sir Jeffery. Wyatville. The clock it replaced was inscribed “'Joseph Knibb, Londoni, Anno Domini, 10-77.”

The present clock is a remarkably good time-keeper, seldom varying ten seconds in seven days, the time being taken from a private wire in the castle; from Greenwich. What is very unusual is that it gains the few seconds, in the summer or hot months and loses: them in the Cold months.

On the striking barrel of the clock there are suspended’ by steel ropes, 2Z weights, weighing 15Jcwt, and standing sft 6in high. The quarter barrel has 13|cwt weights, tit strikes on three bells placed on tOp of the castle sup* ported by a cast-iron brace frame. The large hour bell weighs 35cwt, the second 12cwt,.an<I t.he third 7cwt. * . Some idea of the work entailed winding the,- clock at XVindsor Castle may be gained when it is known that it ..takes .448 .turns to wind the striking of this one clock and'uaO turns, for the quarters. . ' , The smallest clock at Windsor Is also one of the most interesting. It is only two inches high and -was given to Anne Boleyn by Henry VIII oh their wedding morning. Engraved on the weights are true lovers 1 knots. This timepiece came into the possession of Horace Walpole' and was eventually bought by Queen Victoria. ' ■ ,• .

Another interesting clock, an I . one .of great interest to collectors owing to ’is extreme rarity, is an ‘‘Act of Parliament Clock,” which stands in the room used by the castle footmen. This clock is an amusing relic of the time when Pitt put a tax ou watches, and is one of those which were specially designed to evade the new form of taxation.

The oldest clock at 'Windsor, stated Mr. Ward, stands in the Curfew Tower. It was made about 300 years ago. The tower which houses it, is the oldest part of the castle, being portion of the original building which William the Conqueror built after his successful invasion of Britain in 1066. ‘ Windsor Clockie’s” last task before leaving England was to recondition three Empire clocks for the Queen’s apartment.