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Roger Smith Awarded BHI's Silver Medal...Posted by Curtis
Hi all,
English watchmaker Roger Smith has been awarded the British Horological Institute's Silver Medal - their highest honor. Below you'll find the press release. Congratulations Roger! Roger W. Smith Honoured with BHI Silver Medal for Outstanding Achievements in Horology. The British Horological Institute have awarded Roger Smith the Barrett Silver Medal of the BHI at their recent annual awards and new members day at Upton Hall, Newark. The award is in recognition of Roger Smith’s “Dedication to and successfully continuing the finest traditions of English watchmaking”. First awarded in 1987, The BHI Silver Medal is only awarded to members of the British Horological Institute and, although presented at the annual event, it is not necessarily an annual award, requiring a justifiably outstanding achievement in the opinion of the panel. In fact it has only been awarded six times since 2000. Kenneth Lloyd Jones, in presenting the prize to Roger, noted his exceptional story of devotion to the pursuit of making watches by hand, and extraordinary determination during the many years it took him in doing so. Roger was commended for bringing his work into the commercial industry, and for his success therein. Ahead of the prize-giving,the event also gave Roger Smith the opportunity to address the new members as well as the recently successful exam candidates. During his speech, Roger remembered his own studies for the BHI qualification at the Manchester School of Horology almost 25 years ago, remarking that his first day on the course was ‘the most enjoyable day in education that I had ever had’ and from that day, he knew that he ‘had been gripped by this fascinating and multi faceted occupation of horology’. Roger was awarded the BHI Bronze Award on graduating in 1989, for ‘The most outstanding student of the year’. Having been recognised for his own continuation of the finest traditions of English watchmaking, Roger shared his belief with the new members that, despite the current economic downturn, there has never been a better time for the horologist; “In the past 15 or so years we have all witnessed a rapid expansion of the Swiss watch industry and its renewed interest in the modern mechanical wrist watch along with the ever increasing numbers of watches and clocks that are now becoming collectable”. In wishing the new members of the BHI well in their chosen profession, Roger reminded them that they are the future face of British horology ascribing professionalism as the key the success. In joining other ‘horological greats’ such as Jonathon Betts and Derek Pratt who have previously received the BHI Silver Medal, Roger also provides an inspiration to young horologists who might also one day find themselves accepting the award… 
(left) Richard Thomas – Chairman, Roger Smith, and Kenneth Lloyd Jones (Right) - President
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