YORK has said farewell to its 'very own timelord' - clockmaker Geoffrey Newey.

A service of thanksgiving was held today at the Minster for the life of Mr Newey, who died recently aged 87.

His grandfather George started a clock-making business in York in 1882, and the company, R Newey & Son, made clocks for numerous churches, York Racecourse, the Co-Operative Society, Naburn Hospital, and other buildings around the city.

York Press: York Minster

Today's service was held at York Minster

Geoffrey created some of York's most distinctive timepieces, including the clock at St Martin le Grand in Coney Street.

His daughter Sarah Goldsmith said today's service was not just for him but also for his father Roland and grandfather George.

York Press:

Mr Newey's father Roland, pictured in 1944

"All three served York continuously for just short of 150 years and it is the end of an era," she said.

>>> Geoffrey Newey obituary from last month, and reproduction of 1997 interview

She said she was intensely proud of what they achieved, which had been honoured when her father was made an MBE and received Maundy money. "When he received the MBE, Dad didn't particularly want to go to Buckingham Palace," she said. "'A waste of time,' he called it but, with mum being a huge fan of the Royal Family, he relented and hugely enjoyed the day."

York Press:

Mr Newey with the Naburn Hospital clock, in 2003

When he received the Maundy money, he immediately handed it to her, saying it was hers. "I don't think he really understood the significance of receiving the honours and certainly didn't feel he deserved them. Dad was a modest man."

She added that he was born into a trade and never tried to go astray from that trade.

York Press:

Mr Newey, pictured in 2007 on the roof of York Castle Museum

A close friend of the family, Amanda Daw, read out a poem she had written, dedicated to "York's very own timelord," called Don't Stop All The Clocks.

It read:

Whatever you do, don't 'Stop all the clocks,'

Don't let them wind down or rust.

I kept them going for 65 years,

So take care of them now that I'm dust.

 

I spent all my life on the clocks of York,

Others would long since have stopped.

But I was determined to carry on,

Now it's me that's wound down, not my clocks.

 

I climbed many Everests to turn the wheels,

Making sure that time moved forward.

I've been much-loved, I've had my hour,

Worked hard and been much honoured.

 

Was I a Time Lord, or was I Time's servant?

Either way, I tried not to shirk.

Don't stop all the clocks to remember me,

Just make sure they continue to work!