HE HAS always wanted to reach the top, and at last he made it. Gary Price (in the white helmet), the new Clerk of Works at Salisbury Cathedral, was able to fulfil his ambition when he climbed 123 metres (404 feet) to the top of the tallest spire in Britain. He was accompanied by two steeplejacks, Philip Scorer and Arthur Needham, and they were there to check the fixings and cable of the existing anemometer (wind-speed meter) in preparation for fitting a new digital one, later this year.

To get there, they had climbed five spiral staircases to the top of the tower, and then ten ladders inside the spire, before reaching the "weather door", through which they emerged to climb the remaining 12 metres to the top, using ropes and the metal rungs fixed to the masonry.

Mission accomplished; although I cannot help thinking that descending that top 12 metres again (above) might have been more nerve-racking than Mr Price would admit. "I have looked up at the spire at least ten times a day for the whole of my working life," he said later, "but it wasn't until 11 o'clock that morn- ing that I knew for certain my ambition of 26 years was going to come true: to climb the highest medieval structure in the world - something most people can only dream about."

The current anemometer measures wind speed using rotating cups at the top of the spire, and relays the information down to the cathedral floor, near the spire crossing, where it is regularly checked by staff and is a point of interest to visitors. The new instrument will not only measure wind speed, but will also record the temperature at the top of the spire. All this information will regularly appear on the cathedral's website.

It also has a practical use, to ensure that cathedral tours can take place safely, and to confirm that it is safe for staff or contractors to work high up on scaffolding.