Mathew Porton

Mat qualified as a professional engineer and previously pursued a career in engineering and project management before making a change to horology in 2010.  A desire to get back to the practical side of engineering saw him studying at Birmingham City University where he gained the British Horological Institute qualifications in clock and watch servicing.  On qualifying in horology Mat was also awarded the Institute Bronze Medal given for attaining the highest achievements in the studies.  Subsequent experience working with clocks and watches then led to him becoming a Fellow of the Institute.

For over a decade now Mat has run a business focusing on the service, repair and conservation of mechanical clocks and pocket watches.  This now runs alongside his role as Horology Lecturer at BCU and the two roles complement each other with the commercial clock repairs often providing examples of work that can be used in demonstrations and lectures.

Practical workshop skills form the core of Mat’s work with clocks and watches focusing on the importance of hand skills, tools and techniques before moving on to include lathe-work and other workshop machines.