Harleston resident Malcolm Wiles has decided to retire from his role as winder of the clock in Harleston’s clock tower, after 35 years!
Earlier this week, Chair of the Town Council, Paul Mba (also known as Mo), presented Malcolm with a gift to say ‘thank you’ for his many years of dedicated service to the town.
The clock has been in situ since the 1870s and contains many of its original workings. Many of you will recall last year when Malcolm had to pause winding the clock due to some technical issues. During this time he undertook training to ensure his safety when climbing the tower.
Winding is a two-person job, and Malcolm is often joined by one of his sons or a member of Redenhall with Harleston Town Council to carry out the weekly task.
Malcolm has long held a fascination with clocks and was able to share with Mo some information about Harleston’s clockmaking past. Did you know that between 1690 and 1900, clockmaking was a core business in the town, and at one point there were 21 registered clockmakers?! The bell in the tower was previously used in the Chapel of Ease, which was situated roughly where Harleston Barbers is based on Church Street now.
Malcolm hands the role of clock winder to two of his sons who will ensure the clock keeps ticking, and keep the family tradition going.
A huge thank you to Malcolm for an incredible 35 years of service, and to his family for the time they have given alongside him. Malcolm has quite literally helped keep a much-loved part of Harleston’s history ticking, and bell ringing for more than three decades.