Cofi Clock arrives at the Dock

Five years ago the then Town Clerk Mr Vernon Pierce was approached by Mrs Dilys Fletcher-Hill with a view to commemorate her family's link with the town by installing an elegant clock in a suitable location in town. Following numerous discussions. the clerk on behalf of the Town Council approached Mark Watkin Jones of Watkin Jones Developments to see if  the clock could be installed on the former site of the Fletcher-Hill family business.

Those of us old enough to remember "Fletchers" in Caernarfon will know that the firm built quality slate billiard tables and exported them to Commonwealth countries all around the world. Each table carried Dilys' grandfathers name John Fletcher underneath the slate bed.

John was a popular and well known man in Caernarfon and was a member of both the Yacht club and the Harbour Trust. We spoke to Dilys (now in her nineties) and she fondly recalls her grandfather who started the family business. She told us she remembers him passing away in 1963 and all the town's shops closed for the day as a mark of respect. She went on to say that she was overwhelmed with the ceremony today and it had been a total surprise for her.

She asked Caernarfon Online if we could thank everyone involved in ensuring the clock found a suitable home and for all the people who attended today. Special thanks went to the former Town Clerk Mr Vernon Pierce for all his hard work before passing it on to the current Clerk Katherine Owen. Watkin Jones were singled out by Dilys, as she told us she was extremely grateful to Mark Watkin Jones for allowing the clock to be sited at the dock and for taking over responsibility in maintaining it with regular servicing.

 
1. Former Town Clerk Vernon Pierce and current Clerk Katherine Owen with Keith Cotton the clock maker
2. Debbie Owen of Watkin Jones looks on as The Mayor Myfi Powell Jones unveils the clock with Mrs Dilys Fletcher-Hill

The Caernarfon Mayor told Caernarfon Online. " I am very honoured to be here today and very touched as members of my family actually worked at Fletchers all those years ago. I am also proud to have been able to meet this extraordinary woman and would like to thank her on behalf of the peope of Caernarfon for her generosity. The Town Council will install a commemorative plaque on the clock shortly."

Councillor Roy Owen Chairman of The Victoria Dock Venture Board told Caernarfon Online "I am very proud to be here today to witness this event and I think the clock looks absolutely wonderful in this serene setting. Many thanks goes to Vernon Pierce who worked diligently with Mrs Fletcher-Hill and later in talks with Mark Watkin Jones which resulted in findinding such an apt location for this beautiful time piece. Can I also thank Caernarfon Online for coming here today to record this event on video. It is very important to have a visual record of these events and publicity like this can only help the town".

Mr. R. Glyn Evans M.B.E. and President of the Caernarfon Civic Society told us "I am very pleased to be here today to witness the unveiling of the clock and finally after many years we find a first class location for this wonderful gesture by Mrs Fletcher-Hill."

Debbie Thomas spoke on behalf of Watkin Jones and told us. " Watkin Jones is very pleased that Doc Fictoria was chosen as the home for this wonderful clock. On our part we have promised to maintain the clock and ensure that it is in good working order for years to come."

Councillor Huw Edwards a member of the Victoria Dock Venture told us " The clock looks magnificent doesn't it? It looks as if it is in it's rightful place and many thanks goes to Mrs Fletcher-Hill for her kindness.

The final word went to Mr Keith Cotton General Manager of J.B. Joyce which is a division of Smith of Derby for designing and building the clock. He told Caernarfon Online "We were approached around 5 years ago and commissioned to build this time piece, which plays numerous different tunes and runs on electricity. The clock is made of a cast iron pillar and the top is made of a fiberglass casing, the clock is also gilded with 23.5 k gold leaf. It has a separate back up facility which allows the clock to still run in the event of a power failure."