At the Dr Welsh Trust meeting on Tuesday 7 January 2025, Councillor Robin Kleinman shared an update on Dr Paterson’s Clock, following the accident at the end of last year. The fallen clock was carefully removed by Stirling Council and is in safe storage with J. P. RESTORATION in Alloa. The plan is to have the cast iron clock restored b SMITH of DERBY.

The above, archive photograph, was taken by Ian Anderson of Bridge of Allan. Fortunately, Ian was at the meeting on the 7 January 2025 and was able to share more of the history of the clock.

Ian Anderson: “I served my joiner apprenticeship with Robertson & Ramsay, Union Street, and passed the clock each morning. If the hands were out of time, often! I went into Ramsay’s studio to reset it”

Ian went on to explain: “What worked the mechanics of the clock was an electric motor, the workings of which were housed in Ramsay’s Studio on Union Street. A cable ran from there to the clock”

“About 1950? Ronnie Ironside and Jack Drummond, Burgh Painters, painted Dr Paterson’s clock in beautiful, reds, blues, greens and other bright colours. As a young man, I thought it was wonderful, but then they were made to return it back to the original dull green”

Restoration of the clock last took place in 2009 with a fresh coat of green paint with gold leaf to pick out the ornamental highlights. The clock was refurbished by JAMES RITCHIE and SONS, Clockmakers, Edinburgh. Ian Anderson wanted to make clear that the credit for this restoration “goes to Francis Hamilton who found monies from various organisations”