THERE appears to be a lot of controversy as to whether or not to replace the Big Ben bell striker at an exorbitant cost of £500,000 in Parliament’s Elizabeth Tower to enable the bell to strike on the 31st January to mark the UK quitting the EU.
The amount of money specified seems a little out of proportion and the Government will certainly drop a big clanger if they approve that sort of expenditure.
Rather than disrupt restoration work and incur such a high cost why not consider a simple military gun salute.
The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery (based at Woolwich) have for some time fired their 13 pounder guns in Green Park for all major ceremonial occasions.
As you are aware they have been firing blanks for some time, as Baldrick in Blackadder would remark ‘’it’s the bromide in the NAFFI tea’’.
Green Park is situated less than a mile from Big Ben and I’m sure the lads in the artillery could put their hands on a bit of live ammunition, adjust the gun trajectory and make a big hit for the occasion. As the official time is 11.00pm signified by eleven shots or better still twenty three hundred hours [23.00hrs] twenty three shots!
Five minutes before eleven, sound the evacuation signal in Parliament after which any rabble that choose to still remain may have to scrabble out of the rubble.
The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery could prove to be a big hit with the public.
Allan Foxall
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