Martin Thacker has plenty of experience as the British representative for WAI’s 2022 clockwinding ceremony, having served in that role for the prior two years. However, this time, he will be the one doing the actual winding when he visits WAI’s office on Nov. 3.
On Nov. 11, 2020, Thacker served as the first-ever virtual clockwinder as part of a special Association meeting that also included the WAI’s Annual Meeting and the presentation of the Mordica Award. He spoke from his home in Britain, and discussed the significance of the tradition. Each year, a representative for the British wire and cable industry comes to rewind the stately grandfather clock that they gave to the Association on Oct. 20, 1948, in appreciation of the support given during World War II.
On Nov.17, 2021, Thacker again performed his duties before a meeting of the WAI’s Board of Directors. Both times he talked about the value of maintaining close ties. “I am disappointed not to be with you in person today,” said Thacker, who is a Liveryman of the Court of the Worshipful Company of Tinplate Workers Alias Wireworkers (Tinplate Workers) in London. “Last year I had the honor of being the first person to conduct the clock winding ceremony via virtual means. I am now the very first person to have conducted the clock winding ceremony via virtual means twice in succession!”
Now Thacker—whose grandfather was a wiredrawer in Sheffield, and his father worked for Markham and Company Ltd., as did his uncle—will be back for the third time in the flesh.