Whitley Bay’s iconic Grant’s clock has finally returned to its rightful place on the town’s promenade following a stay in Derby for repairs after last year’s storm Arwen.
Mayor of North Tyneside, Norma Redfern, who unveiled the restored timepiece today at 3:30pm, said: “Grant’s Clock is a well-known landmark in Whitley Bay, and it was heart-breaking to see the state of it once the storm had blown over.
“We know how much the clock means to local people and we were determined to get it back on public display. The experts have done a remarkable job of restoring it and the column has been repainted ‘Whitley Bay blue’ to ensure it looks its very best.
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“From now on, the clock will always remind me about the challenges we faced last winter, and the amazing response of our staff whose job was to keep people safe from fallen trees and debris, clean up the borough, repair people’s homes, and clear highways.
“They showed incredible resolve and dedication in coming to the aid of our residents and although there is still some work to be done, the return of Grant’s Clock is the final major piece of storm damage, and it now stands in testament to the resilience of our borough.”
The clock was sent to Smith of Derby where it ran up repair costs of around £15,000. It is also included in North Tyneside council’s list of buildings, parks and gardens of special local architectural or historic interest.
Storm Arwen occurred between November 26-27 2021 and left a million homes without power. Around 100,00 homes were left powerless for several days. Brizlee Wood in Northumberland saw the highest recorded wind speed of the storm at 98mph.
The Met office described the storm as “one of the most powerful and damaging storms of the last decade.”
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