The amazing clockwinder... The man who always wound the clock, Mick Bethel, has retired after 45 years of winding and maintaining the church clock. Perhaps not everyone realizes what this job entails -a daily trip up the church tower climbing over 90 steps, then winding up three sets of weights. - A 15 hundredweight one to power the 'Westminster chimes' . - A 53 pound one to power the actual clock, and - Another 15 hundredweight one to power the stroke of the hour bell. Then it's a decent of 90 steps back down again! He also oiled and cleaned the mechanism and the only trouble he ever encountered was when ice formed in the shaft which turns the clock fingers, thus bringing time to a standstill.     In the early days he did this job virtually without a break, but of late one or two stalwarts have stepped in to help when he went away on holiday. We are saying goodbye to a little bit of history here. When Mick started doing this job the Beatles were virtually unknown and president John Kennedy was experiencing a spot of bother in Cuba. It's a long time is 45 years! Thanks again from all of us. Why? - The Clock - Events - Progress - Please Help! - Contact Copyright 2003 your company. All Rights Reserved.