As you may know, our clocktower clock stopped earlier this year. This was due to health and safety concerns for the dedicated volunteers who maintain and wind it.
The safety of our team members is of the upmost importance, so we spent some months making sure we had the equipment they needed, and the training and support required to continue climbing the tower to wind the clock. Earlier this month the team received new safety equipment, which all the team was trained to use. On Monday 22nd December, they were able to climb the tower and wind the clock to get it working again, and the bell ringing.
Our much-loved clock still runs on its original workings and parts from 1877, and it’s thanks to the incredible effort of our volunteers and the Council that it’s working again, after being paused for safety reasons. And yes, as many of you know, it keeps to ‘Harleston Time’, that’s one minute behind GMT!
At the moment, only one of the clock faces is showing the correct time, as the other has temporarily seized up. But our team will be back up the tower to clean, grease, and get that second face moving.
A huge thank you to everyone who kept their fingers crossed for us! The town’s collective good luck clearly worked! Don’t forget to listen out for the bell ringing at one minute past midnight at New Year’s!
Well done to our team including Councillor Geoff Roy, Maintenance team member Chris, and our volunteer, Malcolm.