News New clock face for Whitgift church
A new clock face is to be put up on historic Whitgift Church after it was decided that the existing dial was in need of a face-lift.
For some time now concern has been expressed about the deteriorating condition of the clock face and in February of this year an engineer scaled the church tower and carried out an inspection.
The verdict was that a new clock face was needed but that this was going to cost a considerable amount of money.
Funds for the work have kindly been donated by Mrs M.E. Leeman and her family, in memory of John Leeman, who wound the clock for many years.
The present clock mechanism is considered a marvel of engineering. For years it was wound each week by Mr Alfred Leeman before John, the church warden and Alf's nephew, took over. It is now wound by Ken Howitt, the late John's son-in-law.
The new clock face will be an exact replica of the old clock face with its famous and unusual twelve, presented as XIII. Its dial also bears the latin inscription in terra pax, meaning 'peace on earth'.
The tower has probably possessed a chiming clock for more than 300 years and was made famous by Lord Haw-Haw, who mentioned in one of his infamous broadcasts during the second world war.
Pictured left are Kevin Ireland and Eric Robinson, the clock engineers from Leeds. (06-09-47 GT)
Published on 6th September 2007 in News.
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