Ding dong, Big Ben is dead. The big ol’ clock people pose for pictures in front of when they start their Euro gap year has today ceased to chime, except on special occasions like New Year’s Eve and Remembrance Sunday.
Yep, the clock – which lives in Elizabeth Tower – will bong no more (for four years) as it undergoes renovations worth $47 million, the Great Bell being pulled apart. examined and repaired piece by tiny piece.
The silencing of Big Ben was deemed necessary amid concerns for the safety of workers trying to get shit done next to a 13-tonne bell that rings at nearly 120 decibels every 15 minutes. Fair nuff imho.
A group of MPs, as well as parliamentary staff, gathered outside the Houses of Parliament to witness its swansong, heads bowed, at midday local time today, even though parliament is not currently in session. A massive crowd of the general public – let’s be honest: probably mostly tourists, people caught outside on their lunch break, and some particularly patriotic Brits – also showed up to pay their respects.
It’s not even the first time that Big Ben has had a big sook, sulking for maintenance in 2007, and between 1983 and ’85.
I am sorry if I misled you into thinking that I would write seriously about Britons grieving over the temporary loss of a national icon. I’m just here for the jokes.
~let meee heaaar that booo–oo–ong~
(bong, bong bong bong bong)
— Marie Le Conte (@youngvulgarian) August 21, 2017
Couldn’t they just switch Big Ben to vibrate?
— Pundamentalism (@Pundamentalism) August 21, 2017
If someone doesn’t headline the story of the ridiculous #BigBen vigil with “BELL ENDS” there will be no point to life any more.
— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) August 21, 2017
Big Ben in a coma, I know
I know – it’s serious
Big Ben in a coma, I know
I know – it’s really serious— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) August 21, 2017
BIG BEN BONGS NO MORE. TIME NO LONGER EXISTS IN THE UK. CHAOS. NO ONE KNOWS WHEN TO MAKE TEA. WHEN IS EASTENDERS ON. HELP US.
— TechnicallyRon (@TechnicallyRon) August 21, 2017
The real reason #BigBen needs repairs. Sssh don’t tell anyone as it’s a secret 😹 pic.twitter.com/sqQhIVfSgo
— Gladstone 🇺🇦 (@TreasuryMog) August 21, 2017
Find someone who looks at you the way MPs look at Big Ben. ❤️ 🕒
— Steph Paton (@stephenpaton134) August 21, 2017
oh you like big ben do you? name 4 of its bongs
— sean paul sartre (@iggigg) August 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/smurray38/status/899627987221397504
A moment of silence for all the Londoners who will starve today, now that Big Ben will no longer signal lunch time.
— Liam de Valmency / @liamdev@mastodon.gamedev.place (@Kilo_bytes) August 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/billyskaife/status/899628828422787072
When Big Ben comes back in 4 years I hope instead of ringing it sounds like Owen Wilson saying wow.
— Lewis (@lewis149) August 21, 2017
So we’re just going to have silence at the start of News At 10 for the next 4 years?
Disgraceful.#BigBen— Craig Deeley 🇪🇺🏳️🌈 🇺🇦 (@craiguito) August 21, 2017
At least we still have the @big_ben_clock Twitter account to mark the passing of time..
BONG BONG BONG BONG BONG BONG BONG BONG BONG BONG BONG BONG
— Big Ben (@big_ben_clock) August 21, 2017
…
— Big Ben (@big_ben_clock) August 21, 2017
ONLY KIDDING… BONG
— Big Ben (@big_ben_clock) August 21, 2017
