Turning Big Ben back one hour takes Five Hours

Steve Jaggs is a name to be reckoned with as he is the man in charge of putting the hands of the clock which powers the Palace of Westminster back. The great bell has to be locked to stop it ringing, and the hands have to be stopped and then re-started at the new midnight, one hour behind the old.

There are dozens of light bulbs which have to switched off which light up each of the clock’s four faces, to deter passers by from getting the time wrong. Mr Jaggs said ” It’s a job that makes us all very aware of how much people rely on Big Ben. it’s a clock that means so much to so many people, not just in Britain but around the world.”

There are over 2,000 clocks in the halls and chambers of Westminster and the palace staff apparently take two days to adjust them all.

There is a repairs bill looming over everyone’s favourite clock. Big Ben may cost £29M to have a proper refurbishment.  Mr Jaggs recognises the huge pride the public have in this majestic “timepiece” and says rightly that it is a “hugely significant part of so many people’s heritage”.