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Category: Trade Organisations

Created on Friday, 03 February 2012 10:21

Written by Louise Hoffman

The British Horological Institute (BHI) has awarded Roger Smith the Barrett Silver Medal of the BHI at its recent annual awards and new members day at Upton Hall, Newark. The award is in recognition of his dedication to and successful continuation of the finest traditions of English watchmaking.

First awarded in 1987, the BHI Silver Medal is only awarded to members of the BHI and, although presented at the annual event, is not necessarily an annual award. Since 2000 it has only been awarded six times, requiring "a justifiably outstanding achievement in the opinion of the panel."

Ahead of the prize-giving, the event also gave Roger the opportunity to address the new members as well as the recently successful exam candidates. He shared his belief 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," he said.

Roger was previously honoured with the BHI Bronze Award on graduating in 1989, for "the most outstanding student of the year."