My Home City - Reflections on my early years in Plymouth 13

Derry’s Clockmaker, Plymouth by Rev’d Paul Collings

Plymouth’s 158 year old Derry’s Clock remains one of the few prewar landmarks, that older Plymouthians can use to orient the former Street scene of their youth, The clock tower was a gift from William Derry (1817–1903), the Mayor of Plymouth between 1861–62. The clock and the nearby former bank are the only buildings to survive the Blitz and postwar development in the immediate area. 

Today if you look carefully you will notice that the four dials give the time of 8:20 as the old mechanism is in need of significant overhaul and temporary painted dials have replaced the original faces.

For he says, “In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2

There almost hidden stands the time

As Derry’s clock, it’s hands outline

The passing of the hours through years

That counts each minute’s laughter, tears.

Through change, destruction there it stands

As onwards turned its outstretched hands,

To mark the passing of the years

As round and round turns cog and gears.

It’s faces four, north south, east west,

Have viewed each moment’s ceaseless test,

Where rich and poor within that town

Have traced life’s cycle, round and round.

Whilst centre stage the timepiece stood,

It’s purpose now misunderstood

As faces four purport to say

The time, no longer can display.

The mechanism old and frail

Needs maintenance repair wholesale;

And in their place four painted dials

Though look the part, lack time’s detail.

I wonder how through pass of time

So many lives now fail to rhyme

With life’s vocation’s, once their aim

Now stand empty, in shell like shame.

Lord, with craftsman careful hand

You touched enlivened, made lame stand

You opened eyes restored, made well

That through new living folk could tell,

Tell of new resurrection power

As with new life you filled their hours

Repurposed hope, replenished trust

Redeemed their time, gave life new thrust.

Lord, you claim my time, my hours

My living days and all my powers

To work for you and through your grace

Help others too, your love to trace.

"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin." - Mother Teresa