How University's New Clock Is Taking Shape
24 February 2010
From left to right: Charlotte Kelly, Amelia Wood, Amy White, Bethan Harris, Evie Wingfield with Chellaston School Form Tutor Chris Glover and Smith of Derby MD Bob Betts.
We were overwhelmed with the amount of entries, their quality and most of all the imagination shown by the children
”Peter Allen, University Director of Marketing.
The winner of the University of Derby's Incredible Clock design competition has been on a special visit to see its development in progress.
Amy Louise White's design for a clock to grace one of the three towers at the University's Kedleston Road site, part of its Derby Campus, was chosen out of entries from more than 500 schoolchildren. The competition was organised in partnership with clockmaker, Smith of Derby.
When she entered the competition, Amy was in her final year at Lawn Primary School, and now she is a first year pupil at Chellaston School in Derby.
Amy was invited to Smith's Alfreton Road base this week with four of her friends, and her Chellaston School tutor Chris Glover, to see how the clock's production is progressing.
They saw the 4.2m metal crescent-shaped frame, which forms the dial of the clock, the 'chapters' or numerals 0 and 12 and the single hand which will show the time. Mains powered with battery backup, accurate to six decimal places thanks to liquid crystal technology, the clock will shortly be unveiled at the University to become a significant landmark on the Derby skyline for many years to come.
The group was also given a tour of the factory by Smith of Derby Managing Director, Bob Betts, to see some of the company's other 125 projects currently in development, including what will be the largest mechanical clock in the world, en route for Ganzhou in China. The children also took part in a workshop applying gold leaf to clock faces as part of a separate exercise.
Bob said: "The standard of entries was outstanding and we had to consider practicality alongside the budget; Amy's design was the nucleus of the final product. Smith of Derby is very keen to work with young talent - they are our future and keep us on our toes! We believe that this clock will be the largest 'fly-back' clock in the world."
Peter Allen, University Director of Marketing, added: "We were overwhelmed with the amount of entries, their quality and most of all the imagination shown by the children.
"We were delighted to be able to invite Amy, her friends and tutor, to Smith of Derby to see how the clock is taking shape."
With regard to the rest of the clock's manufacture, Smith of Derby's Electronics Department is preparing to add the 'Stepper Motor' to the movement which drives the hand. This will then enable the 'fly-back' feature of the hand on the clock, which, on reaching 12 midday will sweep back to 0 to start again.
Smith of Derby's electronics experts are also manufacturing an electronic controller which will be programmed to enable auto catch-up following a power cut, and also facilitate automatic British Standard Time and Greenwich Mean Time changeover.
Around £50,000 has been set aside for the project, the core aims of which are to find an iconic design and reflect the University's operation on a global scale, with links and students from all over the world.
The top four entries - including Amy's - had aspects of their ideas incorporated into the final clock design.
The runners-up were:
- Second Place: Tom Cooper of Swanwick Hall School in Swanwick.
Design appeal: Its modern look
- Joint Third place: Jacob Heald of Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Ashbourne.
Design appeal: The clarity of the numbers.
- Joint Third place:Billy King of The Curzon C of E Primary School in Quarndon.
Design appeal: The design of the hands and the numbers.
Once complete the large-scale clock will go on the side of the North Tower at the University's Kedleston Road site and be visible for miles around.
The site's three towers, part of Derby's cityscape since the 1960s, are already changing as part of a £13.5million transformation, with new windows making for a sleeker, more modern look.
