West Dean College student Tabea Rude has received a prize for
the best conservation-restoration project from the Southern Section
of the Antiquarian Horological
Society (AHS) as part of the prize-giving ceremony for all West
Dean programmes. The society was formed in 1953 to encourage the
study of all matters relating to the art and history of time
measurement.
AHS Section Chairman, Ian White, along with Peter Ponsford
Jones, Richard Newton and Derek Frampton selected Tabea for her
scrupulous and very detailed restoration of a Russian Poljot Marine
Chronometer.
Tabea was also awarded the prestigious Chairman's Prize by Peter
Benson, Chairman of the Trustees of The Edward James
Foundation.
Originally from Germany, Tabea started out in watchmaking at
Pforzheim University before deciding to specialise in the
preservation of timepieces. Internationally renowned for its Clocks
Conservation programmes for graduates and postgraduates, West Dean
College attracts students from across the UK, Europe and
internationally for the high level specialist training that sets
them up for a career in horology, both making and conservation.
Tabea started at West Dean College in 2014. Speaking about the
award, she comments: "I spent over 400 painstaking hours repairing
the 1960s chronometer so was delighted to be recognised for all my
hard work."
Tabea has a bright future ahead with a job lined up at The
Clockworks in London when she completes her MA in September. "West
Dean has given me a set of skills which is invaluable and uniquely
shaped to my plans for the future. Not only have I learnt about the
conservation of clocks, I have also had the opportunity to network
and understand the terminology and language of the industry."