By Ivor Markman

After more than two years the sounds of bells and chimes, once a feature of Port Elizabeth‘s downtown, have returned to delight visitors to the city centre.

Both the City Hall clock and the Campanile clock and chimes are working and can once again be heard echoing through the streets from their lofty perches above.

Not only have the chimes returned, but the clocks are once again keeping accurate time. After the years of delay the municipality have seen to it that the historic symbols are also working.

Nelson Mandela Bay municipality spokesman Kupido Baron said Omar Mallick was the driver of the project to fix the clocks. He was assisted by the NMBM‘s facilities management directorate.

“Both the Campanile and City Hall clocks are working at this stage and are continuously being monitored,” he said.

“All work was done internally, emphasising the skills some of our officials have.”

More information will be provided shortly as the finalisation of repairs on the Campanile will be a very important occasion.

The Campanile, in Strand Street, was erected in 1923 to commemorate the landing of the 1820 Settlers.

The tower is 518 metres high and has a 204-step spiral stairway to the top, providing a view of the city and harbour. It has a carillon of 23 bells, 10 of which should ring three times a day.

The Herald