Pressure on Cumbria company to get Big Ben right as clocks go back

Crangle said when the team turn the lights, hour strike and quarter chimes back on in the early hours “you hear a big cheer” from the nearby bridge.

“Which is quite strange to hear in the dead of the night in the middle of London,” he said.

“It’s quite funny.”

Crangle said “of course” he gets nervous about setting the time accurately.

Once in Seaham, County Durham, he accidentally put a clock forwards instead of back, only realising his mistake when he was half an hour away.

“You only make that mistake once,” Crangle said.

“If there’s pressure working on one clock it’s working on Big Ben.

“All eyes look towards Big Ben, it’s the most iconic clock in the country.”

He said there was extra pressure to get this time change right as it is so close to Remembrance Day on 11 November.

After a long night working on Big Ben, Crangle and his team will then move onto other clocks around the city, including the one at Westminster Abbey.

Crangle said: “It’s a big weekend for us, it’s good fun.”

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