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

With the UK set to shift from British Summer Time (BST) to Greenwich Meantime (GMT) in the early hours of Sunday, the Cumbria Clock Company is heading to London to handle Big Ben’s time change. The team will start work at 18:00 BST after the lights are turned off, moving the hands to the 12 o’clock position. They will then carry out essential maintenance on parts that aren’t accessible while the clock runs, before switching it back on at 01:00 GMT. Mark Crangle said he always feels pressure because Big Ben is “the most iconic clock in the country,” and noted the loud cheer heard from nearby bridges.