Rochdale’s bells to fill ‘silence of the bongs’ on BBC at Christmas
THE traditional bongs from Big Ben are familiar to BBC Radio 4 listeners.
But proud northerners believe a set of their own historic bells are as worthy of the limelight as the great bell in Parliament’s Elizabeth Tower.
And with Big Ben silenced during renovation works, the bells of Rochdale Town Hall – which have the same “Westminster chimes” – will be heard by listeners on Christmas Eve.
Big Ben is out of action except for national occasions during the four-year renovation project and the “silence of the bongs” means the BBC has had to broadcast a recording of its chimes before its main news programmes on Radio 4 at 6pm and at midnight.
However, Jake Berry, the Northern Powerhouse minister, came up with his own solution and urged the BBC to broadcast the chimes from Rochdale.
Lord Hall of Birkenhead, the BBC’s director general, has now agreed to broadcast the bongs from Rochdale Town Hall before the news at 6pm on Christmas Eve.
In a letter to Mr Berry sent this week and seen by The Sunday Telegraph, Lord Hall said he “really liked” the idea.
He added: “I’m delighted to tell you that Radio 4 will shortly be making a special recording of the Rochdale bells – and that they will feature at a very prominent moment in our schedule, just before the 1800 News on Dec 24.
“I’m really pleased you thought to suggest this, and I’m hoping you’ll enjoy hearing the chimes from Rochdale ringing out around the country for Christmas Eve.”
Mr Berry said he was delighted with the BBC’s plans, adding: “I applaud the BBC’s decision to move from its prerecorded London centrism and recognise that the chimes that have sounded across Rochdale since the industrial revolution are worth its top billing at Christmas as Big Ben.
“The Northern Powerhouse is about growing the northern economy, It is about recognising the industrial and cultural contribution that the North of England makes to Great Britain.”
Ian Duckworth, 70, a former Tory mayor of Rochdale who has been campaigning for years for a wider appreciation of the town’s bells, said he would toast the chimes with a glass of champagne with his wife Christine, 60.
He said it was “brilliant news” and praised The Sunday drawing attention to sound of the bells.
“I am really looking forward to them putting Rochdale on the map for all the best reasons. I advise anybody in the country to visit our wonderful town hall,” he said.
Construction of Rochdale’s Town Hall, a Grade 1 listed Gothic masterpiece, began in the mid-1800s and was completed on June 20 1887, the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
In August last year, Parliamentary authorities announced Big Ben would fall silent during repairs to the Elizabeth Tower to safeguard the future of the 158-year-old clock.
The 13-ton bell was taken out of action to protect the hearing of construction workers on site.
As part of the £61million project, the Great Clock was dismantled and its parts removed for examination and repair. The four dials will be cleaned, the glass repaired, and the hands removed and refurbished. Telegraph the
‘I applaud the recognition that the chimes that have sounded across Rochdale are worth top billing’
Red alert