SNARESBROOK: Repair man helps BIg Ben reach 150th birthday (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

SNARESBROOK: Repair man helps BIg Ben reach 150th birthday

2:30pm Saturday 11th July 2009 in

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THE most famous clock in the world celebrates its 150th birthday today - and is still keeping perfect time thanks to a man from Snaresbrook.

Tony McCarty, of Ellesmere Close, regularly spends hours dangling from the top of Big Ben while carrying out vital repairs.

The Great Bell struck its first hour on July 11, 1859, and a year of celebrations is taking place for the anniversary.

A message reading "Happy Birthday Big Ben, 150 years, 1859 - 2009," will be beamed on to the tower after sunset.

And Tony is an old friend of the iconic tower, having helped with the clock's overhaul seven years ago when he was first trained to abseil.

He told the Guardian last year: "When it's a bit windy up there it's not great, I let go the first time and you twirl around a lot and it unnerves you, but you're in more danger messing about when you're up on a ladder doing your guttering at the side of the house."

Tony has been self-employed as a glass restorer since 1984 and now runs Gilbert and McCarty in South Woodford.