Big Ben chimes again for Christmas and New Year

The Big Ben bell in the iconic clocktower at the British parliament in London chimed again yesterday in a Christmas respite from long-term repairs. The bell, which gives the misnomer Big Ben to parliament’s Elizabeth Tower, will be used until it rings in the New Year and then fall silent except for other special occasions.“The joyful striking of Big Ben will ring in the festive season for Londoners, visitors, and the millions of viewers who use it as a focal point to celebrate the New Year,” said Steve Jaggs, the clock keeper.Big Ben has been mostly silent since August under parliament’s four-year, £61mn ($80mn) refurbishment programme.It was used for several days last month during ceremonies for the 99th anniversary of the end of World War I.“As Keeper of the Great Clock, my team of clock makers and I have the great honour of ensuring this beautiful piece of Victorian engineering remains an accurate time piece on a daily basis,” Jaggs said.“This essential programme of works will safeguard it for future generations, as well as protecting and conserving the Elizabeth Tower,” he added.Repairs to the 160-year-old, 96m tower include adjusting the clock to fix problems that “cannot be rectified whilst the clock is in action,” parliament said earlier.Before the recent repairs, Big Ben had rung every quarter hour, almost without interruption, for 157 years.The 13.7-ton bell was briefly silent during renovation work in 2007, and before that between 1983 and 1985.