Volunteer prides himself as an ‘island ambassador’

Every Wednesday Arthur Tatem hops in his car and drives from his Somerset home to volunteer at the Historical Society Museum in Hamilton.

He’s been doing it for the last six years now and prides himself on his role as ‘island ambassador’ to visitors from across the globe.

But the 83-year-old also has a very unique and hidden skill.

The former British Army serviceman has a talent for making and mending classic and antique clocks.

Grandfather clocks

It’s a quality that sees him called upon by residents across the island to restore and fix their grandfather clocks.

But it’s also an attribute that comes in very handy in the museum, which boasts a host of historical clocks, including the prized Blatchley Clock from 1787 that was restored by Bob Shaw.

Mr Tatem told the Bermuda Sun: “I have always enjoyed meeting and talking with new people, so when I was asked to volunteer at the museum in 2007, I was happy to help out.

“Tourists that visit the museum need someone to talk to them through all the exhibits and I like telling them about Bermuda’s
history.

“I get to meet people from all over the world and tell them a little bit about the island and our history.

“And when the children come in I give them old Bermuda pennies and half pennies as a kind of
memento of their trip here.

“I like the idea of being seen as an ambassador for things Bermudian.”

When he’s not working at the museum Mr Tatem spends much of his spare time mending old clocks and making new ones in Bermuda cedar boxes in his garage workshop.

He said: “It’s really a labour of love and it has helped to keep my mind occupied since my wife passed away in May. 

“It started off as a hobby and it has become a part-time profession.

“I was a signaler in the army so I always had a bit of mechanical ability.

“I just read a lot of books and got really into clocks and how they work.

“I get people calling me from Somerset to St George’s when their old grandfather clock goes wrong.”