Vancouver鈥檚 famous clock master, Ray Saunders, wants to thank the 麻豆传媒映画community for $36,000 worth of generous donations to a fundraiser set up to help him, after he was seriously injured from a fall.
鈥淚t's just the most wonderful blessing I could ask for," Saunders told 麻豆传媒映画, from his 麻豆传媒映画General Hospital bed on Saturday, Sept. 28.
Canadian clock master Ray Saunders in hospital. Photo: Supplied
The well-known 79-year-old 鈥� who made the iconic Gastown Steam Clock in 1977 鈥� was working on a clock in Trenant Park Square in Delta, B.C. on Thursday, Sept. 12, when he fell 15ft off a ladder.
He suffered a fractured pelvis, a broken vertebra (L1), three cracked ribs, a nicked spleen and iliac artery, and a badly dislocated and fractured left shoulder in the accident. Saunders has spent more than two weeks in hospital receiving treatment, including three separate surgical procedures. He's now slowly moving towards gentle physiotherapy exercises.
The major accident means Saunders, who is yet to retire from the job he loves dearly, won鈥檛 be able to fulfill his contracts or make a living. It鈥檚 expected he will be recuperating for about six months 鈥� to a year 鈥� if no complications develop.
A close friend of the family set up the on Sep. 15, to help cover the costs of his long recovery and to fund his living expenses. In just one day, donations reached $5,000. They鈥檝e now reached over $36,000.
鈥淚鈥檓 very grateful,鈥� Saunders said. 鈥淚t has given me a great deal of relief to not have to worry about struggling to get all the rent and all the bills paid.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really heart-warming to see the comments and to see how many people have donated, and I don鈥檛 even know who they are.鈥�
To the 麻豆传媒映画community and all who have donated he wanted to say, 鈥淭hank you so much.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very nice recognition and I really do appreciate it,鈥� Saunders said.
The family hopes to raise $100,000, to cover expenses for a year and mobility adaptations to his apartment.
Canadian clock master Ray Saunders. Photo: Supplied
While Gastown鈥檚 steam clock is enjoyed by millions of people every year, Saunders has never received royalties from any of the millions of photos, album covers, t-shirts and other items with pictures of his famous clock.
He has instead spent tens of thousands of his own money and time on this and other clocks, without compensation, for the love of providing landmark clocks for the enjoyment of the public.
His eldest daughter, Marion Kirkham, told V.I.A she was 鈥渁mazed at how generous 麻豆传媒映画has been.鈥�
鈥淚 think a lot of people didn't know that he didn鈥檛 make any money off of his clocks,鈥� she said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always just been a passion of his. He鈥檚 never received anything accept for public accolades for the amazing [Gastown] steam clock.
鈥淗e鈥檚 always just been extremely kind and really too generous.鈥�
When asked if this would be the time her father retired, she laughed and said, 鈥淗e will never retire.鈥�
鈥淗e鈥檚 a stubborn, strong willed man. He has too much passion for what he does. "He鈥檒l be forced to retire but I think he鈥檒l just move on to smaller clocks,鈥� she said.
Kirkham said despite dealing with a lot of pain, her dad was still 鈥渢he usual, cheerful, very charming man鈥� he鈥檇 always been.
Canadian clock master Ray Saunders in his younger years. Photo: Supplied
Known around town as 鈥楾he Father of Time鈥�, Saunders has built over 250 clocks in his 50 year career, with a total of seven Steam Clocks: several in the Lower Mainland, as well as one in Australia, one in Indianapolis and two in Japan.
He said he was in the process of passing his knowledge on to an apprentice, before the accident.
鈥淭here鈥檚 not very many of us left that fix clocks in Vancouver,鈥� he said.
While he has a long road to recovery, he is already setting a goal to 鈥渞eturn to making my metal art鈥� and managing the clock projects he has contracts on, if all goes well with his mobility.
鈥淚鈥檓 getting better everyday and it鈥檒l be on to the exercises next,鈥� Saunders said.
In the meantime, he said he would work on a hobby he鈥檚 been wanting to get to for a while, creating sculptured clocks out of recycled antique mechanisms.
Canadian clock master Ray Saunders. Photo: Supplied
Pascale-Sara F. McAfee, who is managing the , said Saunders was incredibly touched by all the kind words being sent his way.
鈥淲e go through the messages with him and it gives him a lot of strength, I would say,鈥� she told V.I.A.
鈥淗e鈥檚 very determined and he鈥檚 going forward.鈥�
The family is now working to spread the word internationally to continue the fundraiser鈥檚 momentum.
鈥淭hank you so much for thinking of my father. He鈥檚 an incredibly generous man and it鈥檚 wonderful to see the city being generous right back,鈥� Kirkham said.
鈥淧lease keep spreading the word.鈥�
To donate go to .
