Steve Fletcher

Steve is the Repar Shop's clockwork expert, and brother of leather expert Suzie Fletcher.

How did you come to be an expert in your field / tell us about what you do?

When I was a child, I saw my father repairing watches all day long in a small workshop and thought that that wouldn’t be for me.

I was always into nature and after watching All Creatures Great and Small on TV decided I would be a vet, so I took all the subjects at school to enable me to do this. My teachers should have told me that I wasn’t intellectual enough to be able to do the studying so after not knowing what I would do decided that I would go into the family trade.

In 1973/4 I did a two-year British Horological Institute course in Hackney where I achieved a first-class pass and then set up my workshop where I repaired and restored clocks. My grandfather who was a retired clock and watchmaker used to come into the workshop most days to look at how I was getting on and to give me lots of advise which was invaluable.

I’ve been repairing and restoring clocks for more than 45 years and although I know an awful lot about them, I’m still learning!

I now run a clock and watch repair business in Witney where we have seven clockmakers including my son, two watchmakers and three admin assistants including one of my daughters who is also leaning about the mechanics of watches.

My whole life as far back as I can remember I have pulled apart mechanical things to repair them and to see how they work so when I get something come into the Repair Shop that I haven’t seen before I am in my element!

How did you come to be on the Repair Shop?

In 2016 I received an email from a company that I hadn’t heard of asking if I would be interested in taking part in a brand new show. Not trusting anything that is on the internet, I nearly deleted it and would have done if my partner, Mel hadn’t stopped me saying that it all looks ok.

I responded and a few moments later had a phone call from Shane who told me about the show and I agreed to appear on it.

I started by doing two weeks but as soon as I said I could repair most small mechanical items I was asked to do more and so I became one of the core team.

What has been your most memorable or challenging repair to date?

One of my favourite repairs so far was the steamboat. It was a beautiful old item and I had to do an awful lot of work to get it working and keep the old patination. The reveal on the lake was such great fun as well as a bit of a worry about the possibility of it sinking.

I find most of the clocks reasonably straight forward but one that sticks out is the Beliard clock which became a bit of a nightmare. It had had a bash and then we couldn’t get a correct type of mainspring so it took much longer than expected but once completed, it turned out really well and was a cracking clock.

What would be your dream repair?

I guess my dream repair would be to work on a 16th century iron chamber clock. They are by far my favourite clock but are quite rare so I think the chances of one coming my way are slim.

I used to make free flying gliders as a youngster so it would be really good fun if one came in.

What do you love most about being on the Repair Shop?

There are so many great things about working in the Repair Shop. We all get on so well and have such fun working with each other. We don’t always know what is going to come in and just how difficult the challenge of the repair might be.

I have learnt so much from the other experts who are always willing to hand on their knowledge.

The best part of being on the Repair Shop is the reaction of people when they see their transformed item, from excitement to true deep emotion.