The jubilee clock in Keswick’s Hope Park is to be repaired thanks to the generosity of a local man who came forward following a report in The Keswick Reminder.
Clock enthusiast Bill Booth, who was a member of the now defunct Keswick Civic Society, has offered to repair it himself and if that fails, he is willing to pay the bill for the public clock to be mended, which had been estimated at costing up to £1,500.
It had been installed in the clock tower of the Cafe Hope building when it was opened in 2012 but has now stopped working, parks trustees were told at their previous meeting in November.
Speaking at their meeting last week, Councillor Duncan Miller told his colleagues of Mr Booth’s offer to help.
“Clocks are one of his hobbies and he would like to see the clock working.
“He said he couldn’t promise to repair it but would like to have a look at it. He is strong on the civic side of Keswick.”
Mr Miller thanked Mr Booth for his support, saying the work could take six to eight weeks to complete.
“We have every confidence the clock will be working again by March at no cost to the trust.”
He added that the development came after a report in The Keswick Reminder, which he also thanked.
At the November meeting, Keswick mayor Paul Titley had opposed the park’s trust spending up to £1,500 repairing the clock, saying it was a waste of money when everyone either wore a watch or carried a mobile phone with a clock on it.
The clock had been provided by Keswick Lions to mark the Queen’s 60th jubilee nine years ago.
It coincided with the official opening of Hope Park Leisure;s new cafe.
