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The Church clock is now electric, but it used to be wound by hand. In 1959, the clock ran down because there was no one to wind it up.

Newport Pagnell Parish Church clock stopped last week-end. Nothing went wrong with the 200 year old mechanism, it was just that no-one could be found to wind it up.

Recently Mr. Reg Howson had to give up his job after nearly 20 years. His place was taken by a former sexton, Mr. Bert Beard, who agreed to carry on for a few weeks until a successor could be found. His notice ended last week, and so the clock ran down.

This clock winding lark is no sinecure. Every day it means a walk down the church, a long climb up narrow winding stone stairs to the waether vane turret and another jaunt along a wooden cat-walk to the bell tower. And that second walk on a winter's day with snow and ice on the roof is no joke.

Inside the bell tower the hard work begins. The key is more like a mangle handle and there has to be 5 turns for the clock itself, 25 for the quarters, 18 for the striking hammer and 120 for the carillon.

There has been quite alot of sweat lost over the years at this job, especially when it is realised that there is a pull of half a ton on the carillon "spring".

Questions about the stopped clock were asked at Tuesday's meeting of the Newport Pagnell Urban District Council. Members were told that the Council had paid half the clock winder's salary of £13 a year since 1898.

After a good deal of discussion it was agreed to tell the Parochial Church Council that the U.D.C. was willing to investigate the possibility of installing electrical winding equipment,and help pay for it. In the meantime the Surveyor, Mr.J.F.Hopkin, has been authorised to see that the clock is kept wound by Council employees.