Look no clock hands on Old Joe (at the University of Birmingham)!

The Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower at the University of Birmingham, known more famously by his nickname of 'Old Joe' has been stuck at 12 for ages now. On Tuesday 8th June 2021, mobile cranes / cherry pickers went up to remove the hands from the clock faces. This is the start of work to repair the clock mechanisms. Before long you'll be able to read the time again!

See this Twitter thread from the University of Birmingham for more.

Having noticed some posts on Twitter about the clock tower at lunchtime, Tuesday 8th June 2021, I travelled down to the University of Birmingham, catching a no 61 bus from Bristol Street to the Bristol Road in Edgbaston (getting off near Edgbaston Park Road).

I walked up to the East Gate, and headed towards the Chancellor's Court via University Road East. This is between the Guild of Students and Barber Institute of Fine Arts (and opposite King Edward's School).

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Heading towards University Square, I could already see the missing clock hands on one of the clock faces of Old Joe over the Watson Building (School of Mathematics).

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This building is linked to the Poynting Building (Physics Department). Heading under the bridge and turning left into the Chancellor's Court.

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There was barriers around the lawn, but you could still walk around the paths near the Aston Webb Building (in a semi circle).

dndimg alt="Old Joe University of Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe UoB (Jun 2021) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A zoom up to one of the clock faces, looks so weird without any clock hands. Also the brickwork could do with a clean, so much bird muck to wash off.

dndimg alt="Old Joe University of Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe UoB (Jun 2021) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I arrived in the afternoon, so missed the mobile cranes going up. Although they were still around the clock tower.

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Better lighting from this angle, two clock faces without hands!

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Not all hands had been taken down, the hand pointing to 6.

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Heading out past the Law Building, then down some steps towards the West Gate. The Aston Webb Building seen to the right of here.

dndimg alt="Old Joe University of Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe UoB (Jun 2021) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Now on University Road West, a look at the Faraday statue and Old Joe. The statue was a gift from the artist, Sir Eduardo Paolozzi, in the Centenary Year of the University of Birmingham (2000).

dndimg alt="Old Joe Faraday" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe Faraday (Jun 2021).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Towards the West Gate and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, I initially got this rear view of the bronze Faraday statue. The University recently celebrated their 121st birthday, since their inception by a Royal Charter issued by Queen Victoria in 1900.

dndimg alt="Faraday QEHB" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Faraday QEHB (Jun 2021).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading past University Station, and crossing over New Fosse Way, followed the path towards the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, to catch my next bus, the 76. I initially waited at the next stop, but realised the 76 was extended from the QE to Northfield, and I wanted the 76 to Solihull. Other buses I saw included the 48 and 25. This was the closest I've got to the QE since the pandemic began in 2020.

dndimg alt="Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/QEHB Hospital Way (Jun 2021).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown