Yarm Town Hall clock winder retires after 32 years

Mr Tebbs revealed that he had given people a helping hand over the years with the clock’s time.

“It was always either right or a little bit fast, half a minute or a minute. But never ever slow, never – in case people missed the bus.”

He said he would listen to the radio or phone the speaking clock to get the correct time.

Later he used a watch that received a signal from the atomic clock, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

He also recalled the clock stopping a few times during his tenure.

“The pendulum snapped once, so I made a new spring out of an old saw and machined it in my workshop.

“I think I charged the council £25. It lasted for years,” he said.

“It stopped a time or two with the weather when the pointers froze, but I went down, warmed it up and gave it a bit of a shake.”

During a council meeting in Mr Tebbs’ honour, Councillor Barbara Wegg said: “He tells me he’s enjoyed every second of doing it, and I thoroughly believe that.

“You were one of the most important people in Yarm, because everyone looks at that clock.”