Inspired by Brian Cuff’s recent presentation, John Watkinson lifts the lid on the Pandora’s box that is his own life and explains some of the reasons behind the directions he has explored. Known in the TV industry as the author of “The Art of Digital Video” and “The MPEG Handbook”, Watkinson’s literary output goes far beyond, including textbooks on aircraft and helicopters and a translation of Antoine de Saint Exupery.
As an expert witness he has been involved with everything from the Walkman to speed cameras and singing Father Christmases.
As a designer he has no time for ephemeral products built to a price, but believes in things that perform and are lasting. He prefers to have and use designer products and will argue the merits of Atmos clocks, the Renault Avantime and the Mamiya 645. A demonstration of his Legend loudspeakers will make the point about building to a performance level.
He is a long-time driver of the Jaguar XJ-S, once advertised as “the car few people will ever be able to own”. Those few people are, of course, ones who are skilled at welding and diagnosing electrical faults. As a consultant to the Jaguar Drivers Club he delivers seminars on restoration, writes for the club magazine and collects Lucas jokes. From a design standpoint, taking old British cars apart provides an explanation why there is no longer a British motor industry. The presentation will be accompanied by a large collection of items having optical, acoustic, musical, horological, agricultural and aerohydrodynamic properties chosen to illustrate the topics discussed.
