Neil Oliver and his grandfather's gold watch
Post categories: Video
| 12:54 UK time, Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Neil Oliver is the historian familiar to most of us from trekking around the cliffs and beaches of the UK in the 91Èȱ¬ Two series Coast.The Radio Café's Chris Kane asked him about A History of the World and how objects can engage us with history. He also got him to nominate an object that he owns, and he chose a gold wristwatch presented to his grandfather when he retired from Cooper and Co's supermarket.
On the back of the watch it says 'in appreciation of 41 years loyal service 1913 - 1954.' But, as Neil explains in this video, the inscription quietly glosses over a momentous event in world history in which his grandfather played his part: the First World War.
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So a watch presented in the mid-50s can tell us about the way people went to war, and then returned to their everyday lives, at the start of the 20th century.
And even the popularity of the wristwatch is connected to the war, as Neil pointed out on The Radio Café.
The fashion for wristwatches was essentially a product of the First World War itself. Up until that time men had worn pocket-watches - a watch on a chain. But they were less practical in the often filthy circumstances of fighting in the trenches of the First World War. And wristwatches made more sense - you were less likely to lose them.
Did you know that? I didn't. Listen to the rest of the interview for more about the watch and Neil's thoughts on why it's important to find ways to teach our children and ourselves about history.
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You can catch up with stories from A History of the World on The Radio Café every Tuesday.
And if Neil has inspired you to look for history in your home, then you can add your object to the site whenever you want. Or see what others have added using our timeline (use the arrows or the bar on the right to move forward through the objects).
Comment number 1.
At 11th Mar 2010, kleines c wrote:Does Neil ever wear his grandfather's watch?
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Comment number 2.
At 11th Mar 2010, batty wrote:Lovely to see this. We have my grandfathers watch presented for loyal service to Stewart and Lloyds his service there started after the great war but is yet another piece of history as this was the company which became British Steel and the Lloyds were related to the banking family.
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Comment number 3.
At 13th Mar 2010, Ian Burgoyne wrote:I have a silver dish that was presented to my Grandfather, C. H. Burgoyne in 1947 that shows appreciation of over 44 years loyal service. It is telling that this small object accounts for so much time and loyalty to one employer - something that is unusual in this day and age. In fact the dish also commemorates the centenary of the company, Sander's, Sidmouth, Devon on 1st December of that year. Unfortunately the object that I am lucky enough to possess that is a daily reminder of my Grandfather, cannot possibly do justice for all the experiences and hardships of the Great War.
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Comment number 4.
At 17th Mar 2010, Paul Sargeant wrote:kleines - I think Neil says in the interview that he used to wear the watch, until one day when he started to think about how upset he would be if he lost or damaged it, since when it's been kept in a box.
Ian - I hadn't thought about how the length of service engraved on the watch told us something about the change in our working lives. You're right. How many people these days expect, or perhaps even want, to spend 41 years with the same employer? That seems like a big social change which we get a glimpse of from thinking about items like this watch and your grandfather's silver dish.
Paul Sargeant - A History of the World blog editor
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Comment number 5.
At 17th Mar 2010, kleines c wrote:Thanks for the clarification, Paul. I should have followed the links more closely!
;)
As for adding our own objects, although tempted, I have as yet added nothing.
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At 20th Jan 2011, Manzanita wrote:I love the fact that he was awarded this watch even though a portion of his career with the company was spent fighting for his country. You gotta love the way people stood behind the fundamental protection of their land and way of life. I have seen Neil many times on Coast and love the story.
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