Clock man wound up as safety risk

A clock-winder, who is the fifth generation of his family to keep a town's timepiece ticking, has been stopped for health and safety reasons.

For the last 150 years David Rees and his ancestors have looked after the clock at Llandovery Market Hall.

Time was called on the 68-year-old after a safety inspection but he has criticised the move.

Carmarthenshire Council said the working conditions in the clock tower posed a danger to Mr Rees.

Once a week for the past six years he has climbed a ladder into the tower to wind the clock.

He was paid just �8 a week but said he loved the job as it was a family tradition.

"I don't know how it started but I know that my great great grandfather Thomas Davies, a watchmaker here in Llandovery, was one of the first winders," he said.

"It just followed on after that.

Health and safety these days has gone absolutely berserk - in every aspect of life David Rees

"I check the mechanisms and wind it and in the meantime if something should go wrong during the week I'm on call.

"I met the buildings officer and health and safety officer here a couple of months ago and we had a long discussion - they wanted to know exactly what I did and how I did it."

Retired gas board manager Mr Rees said had now received a call ordering him to stop immediately.

"Apparently I did not tick one of the boxes whatsoever - failed on everyone."

He said it was the first time he had undergone a health and safety inspection while doing the job and added he imagined it was the first ever.

"I am quite baffled because I am used to it - they went up and did not like it one little bit as it can be claustrophobic.

David Morgan, his great-grandfather was also a watch maker

"Health and safety these days has gone absolutely berserk - in every aspect of life."

It appears the clock may now have to be fully mechanised.

The council's head of corporate property Jonathan Fearn said: "Following a report from the health and safety advisor it has become necessary to cease the clock winding activity in its current form due to the danger posed by the extremely difficult conditions within the clock tower.

"The space is extremely confined, there are no handrails, and inadequate footholds - the confined space makes it impossible to install sufficient safety restraints.

"Our focus now is on finding alternative means for keeping the clock going, either through mechanisation or moving of the clock mechanism.

"The currently employed clock-winder, Mr Rees will be kept fully informed of our progress in this regard, and may still need to be involved in the future management of the clock.

"We are saddened that we have had to cease the clock winding, but it is imperative that we do not put our employees at risk of injury while undertaking their duties."

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