Big Ben

[Nick WheelerParticipant @nickwheeler]

Ken, I think you need to experience being in a belfry when large bells are chimed(let alone being rung). I’m sure that your local ringers will be happy to help with your education.

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

In respect of Big Ben leaning I am sure that was sorted when they excavated underneath for Crossrail and the new Westminster tube station because they pumped concrete grout into the area below Big Ben and subsequent monitoring showed that it had stopped moving, anyway it has only moved a couple of millimetres so we are not into a leaning tower of Pisa scenario.

Dave

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

Ken I appreciate your comments about hearing protection and continuing work whilst Big Ben continues to chime but have you ever stood close to a large bell when it is chiming, I have whilst working on our church bells in our village church, there is a tremendous amount of energy released, way above safe working levels and if that is extrapolated up from a relatively small church bell to a bell the size of Big Ben I wouldn't want to be in close proximity when it was struck. I am coming from the position of one who has a severe hearing loss due to loud noise exposure ( gas turbine engines) and it is something that should be avoided at all costs, in the case I believe Health and Safety have got it right.

Dave

[Mick HenshallParticipant @mickhenshall99321]

If a masterclass in presenters/news interviewers interrupting and talking through people is needed you only need look at news channels, eg. BBC / Sky News etc, ask a question and 10 seconds interrupt with another one deeply rude

Mick

[Grizzly bearParticipant @grizzlybear]

I thought it was well presented, lady presenter.

What about the scaffolding, not allowed to touch the tower. That is a work of art too.

Bear..

[ChrisHParticipant @chrish]

Hi Bear, I thought they were not allowed to drill into the tower to secure the scaffolding as presumably one would normally do but that they were going to brace off the tower, thus touching it but not secured to it, so as the scaffolding would not rock about in the breeze and that they had worked out that it would not impose excess loads on the tower in doing so. But you're absolutely right, the whole scaffolding bit is some stunning job in it's own right.

Chris

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