Meet the man who has kept Nottingham's famous water clock running

A man who has maintained a famous shopping centre water clock for over a decade says he hopes to keep its legacy going for future generations.

The Emett Clock stands 23ft (7m) high in the Victoria Centre, in Nottingham.

Retired engineer, Pete Dexter, said was "inspired" to help repair the clock after visiting the "iconic piece" with his granddaughter in 2011.

He has now been presented with a painting featuring him with the sculptor as recognition for his work.

The Aqua Horological Tintinnabulator or water-powered clock, which opens up and moves every 15 minutes, was designed by the eccentric Englishman Rowland Emett in 1973.

The sculptor and cartoonist also created contraptions for the 1968 film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Mr Dexter, who had a career in engineering for 40 years, said he was "keen to have a look inside and how it worked" when he took his granddaughter to see the sculpture in 2011.

"I was rather surprised of its poor state," he said. "At that point, I thought if I don't get involved it could end up in a skip."

Mr Dexter, who volunteers his time and skills, redesigned the electrical control system the following year, and after extensive research reinstated the clock's chime by transferring the harpsicord music it played from an obsolete audio cassette tape system to a CD player, which he installed.

The clock was then dismantled in 2014 and taken to Birmingham to be completely restored before it was returned 18 months later.

The 66-year-old said it was a "really proud moment" to see the clock return. He added: "We did it. We got it back to the original specification.

"I studied old online videos frame by frame to look at things like the colour of the little crystals and the butterflies.

"I'd be very particular about getting it as near to visual as I could even though some of the detail would not be noticed by anybody - even things like the nuts and bolts.

Mr Dexter said he had also designed and handcrafted some missing elements "from scratch" including the fountain ring of 12 flower buds and the electromechanical drive for the large water wheel - known as the cobweb wheel.

The newly restored clock was unveiled by his granddaughter, which Mr Dexter described as a "legacy to her".

"My granddaughter inspired me, but then I was driven by thinking this is an iconic piece in Nottingham for the people of Nottingham," he said.

"Everyone in Nottingham knows about it - it's a meeting place. So it's important and I hope it's still there in 50 years.

"I also have two other grandchildren, and hopefully in 10 years time they can appreciate it knowing their granddad had a hand in keeping it going."

To mark Mr Dexter's dedication, the Victoria Centre teamed up with Nottingham Trent University's fine art graduate, Molly Moss, to produce a bespoke acrylic painting.

Miss Moss said it was "an absolute delight" and she was "excited" to present the canvas, which took three weeks to create, to Mr Dexter.

Mr Dexter said he was "really surprised" and "touched" to receive the token.

The Victoria Centre director Nigel Wheatley said: "We're delighted to have formally thanked Pete for everything he's done, not just for the Emett Clock, but for Victoria Centre, and the wider Nottingham community."

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