FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD Barrie Jenkins had two key jobs back in 1974 at a Worcester church - singing in the choir and climbing the ladder in the tower to wind up the Victorian clock every Friday evening.

When Barrie’s parents Edward and Jessie Jenkins read in the Worcester News about the £15,000 project to repair the 1830 clock at St George’s Church in Barbourne they decided to support the initiative.

They have chosen to remember their son's efforts more than 40 years ago by sponsoring a minute on the clock.

Experts have told the parochial church council that the historic clock, which stopped a year ago, needs £15,000 for a complete overhaul, the face re-gilded and an automatic winding and auto regulation system installed.

The Friends of St George’s group have raised more than £7,000 in just nine weeks from individual donations, grants and through the Just a Minute idea, which asks people to sponsor a minute on the clock for a minimum donation of £10.

Edward and Jessie, who live in Sunnyside Road, Barbourne, have selected 6.30pm as their minute, the time Barrie wound up the clock.

Now 56-year-old Barrie, who works for an insurance firm in Gloucester and lives in Stroud, looked back with affection on his “exciting” role at St George’s Church.

“When a friend asked for help in winding up the church clock I volunteered,” he said.

“It was exciting climbing up the ladder and then up the metal rungs on the wall into the belfry. It seemed a long way up, but when I got there I had a great view of St George’s Square through the slats.”

Barrie, a former Worcester Grammar and St George’s Primary School pupil who did the job for a year, had to wind up the clock with a metal handle, check there was no dirt in the bells and get back down to the church in time for choir practice at 6.45pm.

One of the choir members back in 1974 with Barrie was Ian Pattison, who still attends St George’s and is treasurer of the fundraising committee to get the clock working again.

Michael Silvey, the chairman of the Friends group who are organising the appeal, thanked the Jenkins family for their kind gift ,adding: “We want people to select a memorable time in their lives and tell us in no more than 100 words why that minute means so much to them.”

The church is planning to produce a large book about the project including each story and the name of the sender and will be publishing the stories on friendsofstgeorges.co.uk

For more details or to sponsor a minute with a story of no more than 100 words write to the treasurer, 2 Ogilvy Square, Worcester, WR3 7LU or email justaminute@friendsofstgeorges.co.uk, making cheques payable to The Friends of Saint George’s Church.

Alternatively visit friendsofstgeorges.vaporum.com