Olympic Bell

Throughout World War II all of Britain's bell towers were stilled, to be rung only in case of emergency.

[2] The hammer mechanism and hanging framework were made by other firms and twenty companies in three countries were eventually involved with its production.

[1][7] The bell is inscribed with "London 2012" and a line from Caliban's speech in The Tempest: "Be not afeard, the isle is full of noises",[8] which featured in the Olympics opening ceremony spoken by Kenneth Branagh.

[1] Bradley Wiggins, who had won the Tour de France five days earlier, opened the ceremony by 'ringing' the bell.

This was symbolic as the hammer was actually moved mechanically: one journalist noted "He may be a superhuman athlete but even Bradley Wiggins isn’t capable of setting the Olympic Bell’s monumental half-ton clapper in motion by hand!

McCartney blamed his faltering start on the unexpected loud sound of the bell, as he had forgotten it was going to be rung.