Memorial Clock Whirred Into Life Again

The internal workings of Seymour Square’s War Memorial Clock whirred into life again last week after several months of standing silent. The clock has been showing the time since 1928, and was built as a memorial to local casualties of the First World War.

Council’s head gardener Brad Molony climbed the narrow steps up the 16-metre tower to wind the clock after earthquake engineers had assessed the safety risk of the tower and its masonry.

The masonry that was being strength-tested is rock drawn from all over Marlborough; from the Pukaka Valley near Tuamarina, the valleys of the Waihopia and Awatere and from Wharanui on the Kaikoura coast. There’s also some Takaka marble and some Australian sandstone – a gesture to the spirit of Anzac.