Britain’s Big Ben marks 100 years of New Year ‘bongs’

[FILE] The Elizabeth Tower, commonly known by the name of the clock’s bell, “Big Ben”, is pictured at the Palace of Westminster, home to the Houses of Parliament, in central London on March 6, 2023. (Photo by ISABEL INFANTES / AFP)

London’s Big Ben on Sunday marks the 100th anniversary of its “bongs” to ring in the New Year being broadcast live across the world.

Ever since New Year’s Eve 1923 when BBC engineer A.G. Dryland clambered onto a roof opposite the British parliament to record the strikes, live transmission has become an annual tradition.

The unmistakable sound of the “nation’s timepiece” has long occupied a special place in national life.

The bongs are heard twice daily — at 6pm and midnight and three times on Sunday — on BBC radio, and at the start of the nightly News at Ten on commercial channel ITV.

Such is their importance that even during…