MAN & MACHINE
“Chris Ward was working on his boat when I rang his mobile, so we ended up having a lengthy discussion about ignition distributors.”
“He lost interest in it when it fell off a jack and crushed his arm. I had it for four years. It was a really great car.” Given his appreciation for fine British engineering, it is no surprise that Jonathan is a committed fan of Christopher Ward watches. And right from the start he got to know the level of service that the company provides. In 2008, having discovered Christopher Ward on the internet, Jonathan decided to buy his wife Karen an S3 watch as a Christmas present. Inexplicably, the ordered watch did not arrive in the post, so Jonathan called the company and ended up speaking to Chris Ward himself. “Chris was working on his boat when I rang his mobile, so we ended up having a lengthy discussion about replacement electronic ignition distributors,” Jonathan recalls. “Chris was very apologetic about the missing watch and invited me round to his office to collect another. The original watch actually turned up in the post a few days later, but by this time Chris and I had hit it off and become friends. Karen loved the watch, by the way.” Jonathan now wears his own Christopher
Ward C3 Malvern Chronograph and is mulling over which of the Racing Collection to acquire. “I admire excellence of design and quality of engineering, whether in cars or watches. I appreciate the classic looks of the C3 Malvern. It is designed well, engineered well,” he says. The pinnacle of Jonathan’s motoring adventure was the period when he helped his friend Keith Norman in various historic motor racing series, starting with historic Porsches. Keith, a fabulous driver, left Jonathan in charge of the tool kit. “I have had so much enjoyment just being involved with various racing cars from Porsches through to historic single-seaters. I have met some fantastic friends. The most exciting car I have ever driven was a 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS, which I took to Donington. And the most memorable drive I had was taking Keith’s Audi Quattro around the Spa Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.” No matter how fast he was driving, a Christopher Ward watch would have measured Jonathan’s lap time very accurately.
Classic British engineering is a passion for Jonathan Rolls, whether it is a 1969 E-Type Jaguar or his C3 Malvern Chronograph from Christopher Ward. A watch from the Racing Collection has been added to his wish list, appropriately enough.
Orderline 0844 875 1515
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Photos: Angus Muir
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