What does 'A? a cold welcome' refer to ?

On Wensday Wednesday evening, we went to the Town Hall.

It was the last day of this year and a large crowd of people had gathered under the Town Hall clock.

It would strike twelve in twenty minutes' time.

Fifteen minutes passed and then, at five to twelve, the clock stopped.

The big minute hand did not move.

We waited and waited,but nothing happened.

Suddenly someone shouted, 'It's two (minutes)pass twelve, the clock has stopped!'

I looked at my watch. It was true.

The(big) clock refused to welcome the new year New Year.

At that moment, everybody began to laugh and sing.