ROBERT BRAY
MANAGING DIRECTOR & CLOCKMAKER
SINCLAIR HARDING
“Having been a rock star for the last 45 years (with the same band), I love playing the occasional gig. Our goal as a band is to play Glastonbury in another 15 years when we should be old enough. At the weekend, away in our caravan by the coast, I like to get up very early and practice my guitar, mainly playing covers from the 60s to the 80s.”
Robert Bray, born in 1956, embarked on his horological career after initially training as an engineer. Leaving school at 15, he undertook an apprenticeship with a company specialising in precision gears. In 1979, he earned a first-class honours degree in Production Engineering from Brunel University. Robert then spent 16 years working for the same company, gaining extensive experience in the design, production, and quality control of gears and gearboxes for aerospace, defence, and medical applications.
In 1995, seeking a new challenge, Robert took over the ailing clockmaking firm Sinclair Harding in Cheltenham. Under his leadership, the company was revitalised, growing to a team of 15 skilled craftsmen. Robert’s expertise ensured that nearly all components were made in-house, adhering to the highest standards learned from his experience manufacturing mechanical components for aeronautical and defence applications. Sinclair Harding became known for its exquisite skeleton clocks and the impressive three-quarter-sized model of John Harrison’s H1 clock.
Robert’s dedication to craftsmanship is evident in his commitment to preserving traditional techniques while incorporating modern technology like CNC machining. His work culminated in prestigious projects, including creating a clock presented to the Queen at the opening of the refurbished St. Pancras station in 2007. Today, Robert continues to train apprentices, ensuring the future of British clockmaking.