4th Quarter 2013 - World Lighthouse Society

Transcription

World Lighthouse Society
Promoting, Preserving &
Protecting the World’s
Lighthouses
4th Quarter 2013
Volume 11, Issue 4
Page 2
CHAIRMAN’S LETTER
Dear Members,
Let me firstly wish you a good start to the New Year. May you, your families and friends all keep well. A warm welcome
on board to all new members of the World Lighthouse Society. I hope you will find many new lighthouse contacts or,
even better, new lighthouse friends.
As mentioned before, the figurehead and calling card of our Society is our Newsletter. Thanks to our highly engaged
and most creative Editor, Donna Suchomelly, the Newsletter has reached a very high standard over the last years.
Donna, let me thank you again on behalf of the Executive Board and all our members, for the brilliant and outstanding
job you have done again and for spending so much of your time for the benefit of our Society. My thanks also go again
to your editorial team. Last but not least let me also thank all the members who have again contributed articles or
photographs for our Newsletter. As Donna always says, the Newsletter simply could not exist without you, so please
continue to send your contributions.
Looking back over the last year, or even the last years, I think we have to ask ourselves the question “what have we
reached on our way to our main aim as a world wide organisation for the promotion, protection and preservation of
lighthouses, lightvessels and other seamarks?”
I personally think we have achieved much but I want to ask how we can go forward and achieve even more. It is time
to focus on the future of our Society and the way it will go forward.
What we need is to breathe new life into our Society! What we need are new ideas on how to meet our main aim!
It is not realistic that we will be able to master this big challenge as the Executive Board alone. What we need is your
active participation!
So as a first step please let us know your creative and innovative ideas. All proposals will be most welcome and they will
be discussed by the Executive Board.
Let us make 2014 a year of renewal and regeneration on our way to achieve our main aim. If we are to make 2014 a
unique opportunity for change, then there is an urgent need for your support and participation.
So let us all work together to make the future of our Society a long lasting success!
Jürgen Tronicke (Germany)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Letter from the Editor ........................................................ 3
Everyday Heroes ......................................................... 29
Port Ellen Lighthouse ......................................................... 3
Mystery of Lighthouse Photo Solved ............................. 30
176 Years of Lighthouses in Chile .................................... 4
Photo Tour of LV50 Lightship .......................................... 31
Cover Photos ...................................................................... 4
News from the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Found. ...... 34
Clyde Lighthouses in Wartime ......................................... 5
Obituaries .......................................................................... 35
CoastLight.net .................................................................... 6
National Lighthouse Museum Opening ....................... 36
Negril Point Lighthouse, Jamaica ................................... 8
Membership ...................................................................... 38
Lighthouse Postcards ...................................................... 11
Newsletters ........................................................................ 38
Lights Go Out at Orfordness .......................................... 16
Contact Information ....................................................... 39
My Trip to London ............................................................ 18
The Light on Top—Part 20 ............................................... 20
International Lighthouse Heritage Weekend ............. 27
Book Reviews:
A Light in the Wilderness ........................................... 27
Belle Tout: The Little Lighthouse That Moved ......... 28
© 2013 World Lighthouse Society
Page 3
4th Quarter 2013
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Dear Members:
My best wishes to all of you for a New
Year filled with Peace and Joy. A
special welcome to our new
members: Stan and Margret Butcher
(England), Hileri Seery (U.S.A.) and
Machelle Dumaine (U.S.A.) We hope
you will all become actively involved
in the WLS.
As I sit here at my computer on this
very chilly day in January I can’t help
but think back to the year just past
filled with so many wonderful
experiences and opportunities. I can
only hope that 2014 is as good or
even better, for all of us.
Some people make “resolutions” at
the start of a new year. I prefer to
mark the start of a new year with a
realignment of goals. That is precisely
what we, as members of the World
Lighthouse Society, are being asked
to do by our chairman, Jürgen
Tronicke. The time has come for each
and every one of us to examine what
the WLS means to us and what we
can do to make it more than just a
quarterly Newsletter.
The goals of this Society, “Promoting,
Preserving and Protecting the World’s
Lighthouses”, are printed on the front
cover of every issue of the Newsletter.
I think we’ve done a fair job of
Promoting our lighthouses, but we
need to do much more in the areas
of Preserving and Protecting.
I’ve often written that this Newsletter
would not exist without the assistance
of our members, and that is true.
However, more importantly, this
Society cannot achieve all of its goals
without the active participation of
more of our members. The World
Lighthouse Society belongs to the
members and it is our members who
will determine how or if we achieve
our stated goals.
I remember back in 2004 when I first
learned about the World Lighthouse
Society. Quite honestly, I joined
because I wanted a copy of The
Lighthouse Encyclopaedia, which
was included with membership at
that time. However, inside the first
issue of the Newsletter I received
after joining was a plea from then
WLS President Rosalie Davis Gibb,
asking for precisely what is being
asked of you now. I responded by
saying that I’d love to help, but really
didn’t know how since I lived so far
away. Little did I know where I would
be today. After many messages back
and forth Rosie persuaded me to try
my hand at Newsletter Editor. And
here I am still, all these years later.
I’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons
through my involvement in the WLS.
None more important than this: Never
underestimate what one person can
do to make a difference.
We look forward to hearing from you
all as we move forward into the New
Year.
Donna Suchomelly (U.S.A.)
PORT ELLEN LIGHTHOUSE
The Laird of Islay built Port Ellen lighthouse on the southern
Hebridean island of Islay in 1832 as a memorial to
commemorate the life of his wife. Lord Walter Frederick
Campbell had been an officer in the Scots Guards and
later was the Member of Parliament for the County of
Argyll. His beloved Lady Ellinor, the daughter of the 7th Earl
of Weymss, had died at the age of thirty-six. This fact is
recorded on a plaque on the west wall above the doorway
of the main tower.
It is a PRB lantern fixed to a short mast on the flat roof
showing a red, green and white sectored light flashing
every three seconds. The focal plane of the light is 20
metres above sea level giving it a range of 15 nautical
miles.
Peter Williams (Scotland)
The twin-towered lighthouse was built on Carraig Fhada
rocks at the end of a low rocky promontory jutting out from
the shore, to the south west of Port Ellen. The towers were
constructed from rubble masonry and lime washed. The
keeper lived on the first floor in a room with the comfort of
a fireplace with an internal chimney.
There is an internal stone stairway to the second floor and a
ladder to give access to the flat roof and a fixed oil light.
This was exhibited through an oriel window built into the
parapet wall of the tower.
The light was placed to assist vessels approaching the
western entrance of the harbour. The modern light
maintained by the Northern Lighthouse Board is automatic.
Port Ellen Lighthouse.
Creative Commons photo by Thomas Keetley.
Page 4
176 YEARS OF LIGHTHOUSES IN CHILE
A few weeks ago, the Maritime Signaling Service of the
Chilean Navy commemorated the 176th anniversary of the
first lighthouse on Valparaiso bay. This important event was
celebrated at Punta Angeles Lighthouse, our head
lighthouse.
Our first step [toward lighting the coast] started in the 19th
century, securing our long coast across the country,
especially the commercial route of the Strait of Magellan.
This strait connects the Pacific Ocean with the Atlantic
Ocean. At that time, the Panama Canal did not exist and
maritime transport was mostly by this route.
The first effort to establish a lighthouse network was started
by Heinrich Siemsen. After that, the Scottish engineer
George Slight designed and built a set of lighthouses
among which featured the Islote Evangelistas Lighthouse.
This lighthouse had a great history, perhaps compared only
with the Bell Rock, and is one of the most exposed, isolated
and least accessible in the world.
From that [beginning], we [now] have more than one
thousand maritime signals including manned lighthouses,
automatic lighthouses, buoys, beacons, and others. This
complete signal network aids navigation and development
of our country.
Marcelo Aliaga (Chile)
Interesting links:
The anniversary celebration: http://www.armada.cl/
armada-de-chile-conmemoro-los-176-anos-de-laespecialidad-de-faros/prontus_armada/2013-1108/094421.html
Short video about the anniversary: http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=y66unfCMrwE
Editor’s Note: Both of the above websites are in Spanish.
However you can use Google Translate to get a rough
translation of the article in the first link. I was able to
understand the main points covered in the article. The
video is entirely in Spanish, however there is some good
footage of a museum with great displays about the
lighthouses of Chile that is worth looking at.
Punta Angeles Lighthouse. Creative Commons photo by Claudio Alvarado
COVER PHOTOS
Front Cover: Orfordness Lighthouse, England. Photo by Patrick Tubby. Story on page 16.
Back Cover: Negril Point Lighthouse, Jamaica. Photo by Elinor DeWire. Story on page 8.
4th Quarter 2013
Page 5
CLYDE LIGHTS IN WAR TIME
The North Carr Light vessel was moved from her home
station on the East Coast of Scotland to a War station
where she was known as the Clyde Light vessel in 1942. She
Dunoon and started to narrow in the approaches to
Glasgow. This made it an ideal site to control access to the
wharves of Glasgow. An anti-submarine boom defence net
with its controlled opening was therefore stretched
between the lighthouse and Dunoon on the northern shore
with the lighthouse acting as the lookout and control point
for the operation of the boom. At this point the river is just
over two nautical miles wide. The boom was completely
replaced six times during the war, and eight boom defence
ships were in continuous service night and day. It cost
£1,000,000 and made impregnable the Clyde anchorage,
sheltering at times some of the greatest concentrations of
shipping the world has ever seen.
North Car Light Vessel
was positioned about six miles to the southeast of Sanda
Island at 55 08º north 05 20º west. She was repainted
battleship grey for the duration of her Clyde duty. The
vessel was only manned when the Admiralty ordered her to
be lit for convoys approaching Tail o the Bank at the
entrance to the Clyde estuary where there was an
anchorage and make up and dispersal area for the North
Atlantic Merchant ship convoys.
An incident was recorded when the German U-Boat U1172
under the command of Oberleutnant sur See Jürgen
Kuhlmann managed to evade the defences and enter the
Clyde Estuary on 15th January 1945. He sighted and
torpedoed the Escort Carrier HMS Thane (a US built Ruler
Class) as she was passing near to the position of the light
vessel. Although sadly ten of the crew of HMS Thane were
killed in the action the carrier was saved and towed to
Glasgow for repair. Kuhlmann and his crew did not survive
to return to Germany for the submarine was depth charged
and sunk in St. Georges Channel between Scotland and
Northern Ireland by Royal Navy warships on 27th January
1945 when all the crew were lost. During 1945 the light
vessel was towed back to her home station on Scotland’s
east coast.
Further up the River Clyde the Cloche (its Gaelic meaning is
“stone”) lighthouse operated by the Clyde Lighthouse Trust
played a significant part in the protection of the shipping in
the river. The lighthouse was built in 1797 by Thomas Smith
for the Cumbrae Lighthouse Trust (which later became part
of the Clyde Lighthouse Trust) at a strategic point two miles
west of Gourock on the South bank of the river where it
changed course ninety degrees between Gourock and
Boom defence at Cloche
It was natural that in nearly six years of war incidents
occurred to relieve the monotony for the men of the guard
ships and these incidents were usually associated with the
alarm system. So delicately adjusted are the alarms that
any contact with the net set off a series of rocket flares and
lit up the waterway. More than once a small boat
inadvertently touching the boom set off the flare. One
night when the alarm was raised the intruder was
discovered to be nothing more deadly than an old basking
shark.
One of the other lighthouses built for the Cumbrae
Lighthouse Trust was at Toward Point completed in 1812 by
Robert Stevenson. It is sited on the bank of the Clyde six
miles south of Dunoon. During the war it was painted grey
and fitted with a chequerboard on one of the cottages
that acted as a marker for the Toward Coastal Defence
gun battery to calibrate their rangefinder; a small but
nevertheless important wartime duty for the lighthouse.
Images from the collection of the author.
Peter Williams (Scotland)
Page 6
COASTLIGHT.NET—A GLOBAL SERVICE TO PRESENT LIGHTHOUSE HERITAGE
“In 2009 the Norwegian Coastal Administration presented a
national plan for the preservation of different aspects of our
maritime infrastructure”, says Jo van der Eynden, director of
the Norwegian Lighthouse Museum. ”The plan described a
significant number of objects to be preserved, but it went
one step further. It also described 5 different geographical
areas of the coast that they called ‘Representative areas’.
In these five geographical areas the goal was not to focus
on singular objects, but to try to communicate the complex
and interdependent relation between different ATONs [Aids
to Navigation], and to show both the historical
Lindesnes Lighthouse history
The
Jan-Robert Jore, project
manager and filmmaker
digital
map
based
service Coastlight.net reaches
people through smart phones,
tablets and PC/Macs. The
service is conceived and
designed to present both the
historic and present-day world
maritime infrastructure with
lighthouses and other aids to
navigation,
traffic
surveillance,
ports
and
maritime history in general
through
geo-tagged
documentary films, photos
and text.
The targeted audiences are
tourists and people travelling,
students and schools, museums and the interested general
public. A lot of the world’s lighthouses are closed or
unreachable to the public. Through Coastlight.net all
lighthouses and their history can be opened up for
everybody – to see, learn and experience.
Director Jo van der Eynden, Lindesnes lighthouse museum,
during filming
Lindenses Lighthouse- rays of light
development of the different aspects of maritime
infrastructure as well as presenting how the different objects
and installations function together today.” But one difficult
question remained: How could this be done?
The Norwegian Lighthouse Museum on the southernmost tip
of Norway took the challenge and developed the pilot
project "Maritime cultural landscape - Lindesnes". 16
documentary films were produced and linked to their
geographical
location
through
geo-tagging.
A
technological platform for net-based distribution to smart
phones, tablets and PCs was developed, based on the use
of digital maps and geo-tagged documentary films, photos
and text. In May 2013 the net based service, kystreise.no,
was opened by the Minister for Fisheries and Coastal affairs,
Hurricane at Lindesnes lighthouse
Page 7
4th Quarter 2013
Lisbeth Berg-Hansen.
Developing a technological platform has been one goal
for the project, but the development of content for the
service has been even more important. Five thematic
documentary films have been made, covering topics from
aids to navigation and lighthouse history to weather and
food from the sea. Short documentary films have been
made covering specific geographical places and its
maritime history. By using the digital maps and assigning
icons to geographical positions, the user of the service can
get access to documentary films, photos and text telling
the story of that specific geographical location. And the
use of the service does not cost anything for the user.
Now the kystreise.no project is developing into a
nationwide service covering the Norwegian coast. Five
museums, from the North Cape to the southernmost tip of
Norway are producing documentary films and other
content from their geographical area, and 25 more
museums in the Network for Fisheries and Coastal Culture
are starting to work on their stories from their geographical
areas.
In June 2013 kystreise.no was presented at the IALA
(International Association for aids to navigation and
Lighthouse Authorities) conference “Preservation of
Lighthouse Heritage” in Athens, Greece. The response was
very positive, and one of the concluding action points of
the conference was: “The IALA Heritage Working group
should investigate the possibility of extending the
Norwegian
'Kystreise.no'
initiative.”
kystreise.no to English, but after Athens we understood that
we needed an English language service with a meaningful
name all over the world. Our answer was to develop and
open the Coastlight.net service. The interest of tourists and
the tourism industry will also benefit from this”, says Jore.
The geographical extension of the Coastlight.net service is
now developing rapidly. France will be first with their
lighthouse museum, Musée des Phares et Balises, located
together with one of the strongest lighthouses of the world,
Le Créac’h, on the island of Ouessant in Bretagne. And
more French lighthouses will follow. The Nordic Council of
Ministers has asked us to develop plans for the Skagerrak
and Kattegat region of Sweden, Denmark and Norway.
Coastlight.net was also presented at the ”5th Baltic Sea
Region Cultural Heritage Forum” in Tallinn in September
2013 and led to talks with the Baltic sea initiative “South
Baltic Maritime Atlas”. Coastlight.net was also presented at
the IALA meeting in Paris in October 2013 where
representatives from China and Ireland expressed interest in
looking into possible cooperation through the Coastlight.net
service.
"Our aim now is to establish an international network that
can contribute to making Coastlight.net a major platform
for communicating and promoting our lighthouse and
ATON history as a common global heritage" says Jo van der
Eynden." We also want to develop Coastlight.net as an
international service of qualified information. To achieve
this we hope for the active cooperation from IALA
representatives in all the member countries and from the
World
Lighthouse
Society."
Other
interested
countries,
organisations
and
lighthouses
are
asked to contact the
Coastlight.net service
through Jan-Robert
Jore
at
[email protected].
“The
response
in
Athens led us to
rethink our goals for
an English language
version
of
Kystreise.no”, says Jan
-Robert
Jore,
documentary
filmmaker and expert
on
digital
film
distribution.
“Initially
we had planned to
just
translate
all
content
within
Jo van der Eynden
(Norway)
Coastlight web page
Page 8
NEGRIL POINT LIGHTHOUSE, JAMAICA
In
December 2002, I made a visit to Negril Point
Lighthouse, Jamaica. It was a chance to see colonial British
lighthouse practices of the nineteenth century combined
with the modern-day operations of the Jamaican Port
Authority. In addition, I had a chance to study a little
Jamaican maritime history, meet a lighthouse keeper
working in an idyllic spot on a tropical jewel of the
Caribbean at 18° 15’ North latitude, and escape the cold
weather in December. Not a bad assignment for a gal who
lives in the rainy Pacific Northwest!
Jamaica is about 146-miles [235 km] long and 50-miles [80.5
km] wide and has a diverse geography of sandy beaches
and a rugged coral reef shoreline giving way to interior
mountains with sharply walled valleys carved by rushing
rivers and streams. It also has a thriving tourist industry and a
colorful history. It’s believed the name Jamaica is a
corruption of the native Arawak word xaymaca, meaning
“land of wood and water.” These Amerind natives lived
quietly until the late 15th century, disturbed only by
occasional raids by the aggressive Caribs from South
America.
Then, in 1494 and 1503, Christopher Columbus visited
Jamaica on two separate voyages from Europe, landing
on the north shore of the island near present-day St. Ann’s
Bay. The visits were exploitive to some degree, involving the
repair and provisioning of Columbus’ ships and the claiming
of land for Spain. Columbus’ son attempted to set up a
Spanish colony. It wasn’t wholly successful, but Spanish
influence stuck, and the islanders never forgot Columbus. A
monument to him stands in the town of Seville.
Not long after Columbus’ visit, pirates found the island’s
geographic location perfect for their nefarious activities.
The buccaneer Calico Jack lived in the area around Punta
Negrilla, on the western tip of Jamaica, along with his
pirate girlfriends Anne Bonney and Mary Read. The French
captured them all in 1720, and Calico Jack was executed
by hanging in Port Royal. Piracy blackened the area, but
it’s not responsible for the name Negril, which means
“black” in Spanish. Historians believe the black cliffs of the
area, or possibly the black eels that live in the sea here,
occasioned the name.
Whalers used Jamaica as a processing center to cut up
and dry their catch. A protected bay north of Punta
Negrilla was a favorite spot for this activity and quickly
earned the name Bloody Bay for the whale butchery. South
of it lay a seven-mile-long stretch of tawny sand - one of
the finest beaches in the world - where the whalers could
relax, drink rum, and carouse with the natives before
heading home to New England with their holds filled with
whale oil, the fuel of America’s colonial lighthouses.
French, Spanish, and English colonists fought over
ownership of Jamaica and alternated occupation of the
island for over three centuries. In the process, they founded
the island’s profitable sugar industry, assuring Jamaica a
stable vertex in the famous Triangle Trade that brought
slaves from Africa to work in the cane fields and sent
molasses to New England for the production of rum. Slavery
was outlawed in Jamaica in 1832, and after years of
political and social struggle, the island gained
independence from Britain in 1962.
Much has changed since explorers, pirates, and whalers
occupied the island. Reggae music wafts through the air,
vacationers sunbathe and swim nude, women in bright
clothing walk the streets and beaches with baskets of fruit
and vegetables on their heads, artists offer handmade
crafts of jewelry and woodcarving and hawkers sell
cigarettes and Ganja, the Jamaican marijuana. Negril’s
famous Seven Mile Beach is cluttered with resorts, hotels,
restaurants, and bars – a much different-looking place than
the pristine beach the rough whalers knew, but equally
hedonistic. Outside this artificial Jamaica are the shacks of
the locals and their simple farms and cottage industries that
provide food and crafts for the tourist markets.
During my week in Jamaica, I headed out to enjoy the west
coast scenery and visit the old Negril Point Lighthouse, one
of seven lighthouses still operated by the Jamaican Port
Authority and the first lighthouse seen by ships arriving from
the west. I was thrilled when the smiling gentleman who
greeted my group at the base of the tower introduced
himself as the resident lighthouse keeper. Wilson Johnson
told me he had served at two other Jamaican lighthouses
for nine years before becoming the keeper of Negril Point
Light where he had been assigned for the past eighteen
years. He and his family, including six large dogs, lived in
one of the keeper’s homes at the base of the tower.
Though no services are needed to maintain the beacon itself,
Wilson Johnson (shown with me in December 2002) remained on
station as a caretaker. He knew enough about the old-style
lighting apparatus to put it back in operation if the modern
equipment failed
4th Quarter 2013
Johnson arrived at Negril Point Lighthouse only a few
months prior to the station’s automation in 1984-85, just long
enough to oversee installation of the tower’s self-sufficient
electric beacon and learn how to operate and maintain it.
The station also got a little facelift and upgrade at this time.
The Jamaican Port Authority entrusted Johnson to supervise
the sprucing up and automation, and a few years later the
solarization of the beacon. Although actual lightkeeping
duties were no longer necessary after automation, and one
of the keepers was retired, Johnson remained on the
compound as a caretaker, giving tours and doing the daily
upkeep of the grounds and tower. He told me it was
important to have someone living on-site to prevent
vandalism and to restore the beacon in the unexpected
event it should fail. He knew how to switch it back to
kerosene lamp operation
if a hurricane hit the
island!
Following
automation,
Johnson prudently asked
the Port Authority to allow
him to keep the old
kerosene
lamps
and
acetylene apparatus and
many of the station tools,
which he made sure to
keep in operational order.
He also kept the logbooks.
He displayed these in the
base of the tower, and
though there was no
money
to
properly
maintain them in the
When the lighthouse was
humid conditions, at least
automated in the 1980s,
they
weren’t
lost
or
lightkeeper Wilson Johnson wisely misplaced. I took a peek
asked to keep the old kerosene
in the musty logbooks but
lamps. He had them on display in
the base of the lighthouse during found nothing beyond
my visit in 2002 and explained to daily records of weather
and duties. Johnson said
my group how they worked.
most Jamaican lighthouse
logbooks are like this. Keepers were not encouraged to
write anything flowery or personal, and many of them were
barely literate before the 1940s. He added that he had no
talent with words and was glad there was little of it needed
in his job. I found him to be a colorful speaker though,
impassioned by his unique work.
Johnson gave a brief historical talk to my group, as he did
for all visitors before taking them up the 103 steps of the iron
spiral staircase to the lantern. He asked no fee for this, but I
pressed some money into his hand before I left – $200
Jamaican, which was worth about $4 American as of
December 2002. He accepted it graciously, and I joked
that he might use it buy extra dog food, with so many dogs
running about on the station! He quipped that his wife
would take it and buy candy for the children.
One of the more interesting points in Johnson’s historical
Page 9
talk concerned the foundation of the lighthouse, which was
designed by Trinity House to withstand earthquakes. The 66foot [20 m] concrete tower sits on a 45,000-gallon [170,343
liter] manmade reservoir of water that cushions it and
allows the tower to sway gently when tremors wrack the
point. This flexibility is the secret to stability. Earthquakes
have struck Jamaica on numerous occasions, most notably
in 1692 when the town of Kingston was seriously rattled, and
nearby Port Royal was destroyed by the ensuing
tsunami. The island’s volcanic origin is to blame.
Johnson told me Negril Point Lighthouse went into service
under English rule in 1894, the fourth sentinel to be lighted in
Jamaica (the oldest is at Port Morant, 1841). The tower was
constructed of concrete made with crushed coral,
quarried locally, and coated in a protective layer of
cement. The beautiful second-order, barrel-shaped Fresnel
lens was manufactured in Paris by Barbier & Benard in 1888
and shipped to the point where it was hauled 34-feet [10
m] up the cliff using a derrick. Lit by kerosene lamps, it was
later changed to acetylene gas, then electrified, and
finally solarized in 1985. Its white beacon flashes once every
two seconds. A red panel warns of the reef just off the point
to the north. A bell on the catwalk of the lantern was once
used to signal the change of watch for the two resident
keepers in the era before automation.
The keepers’ homes, made of coral blocks, were
constructed next to the lighthouse. They are substantial,
having weathered numerous hurricanes. In 2002, Johnson’s
family occupied both homes. His son and daughter-in-law
lived in the smaller house, and Johnson, his wife, and the
younger children still at home occupied the larger house.
Quaint, striped awnings still keep out the harsh afternoon
sun, and two cisterns stand next to the houses. They were
once used to store water that was caught on the roofs of
the houses during rainstorms. Modern conveniences of
plumbing and electricity came relatively late to the station.
Johnson thought the entire complex, including the
A small concrete dock and seawall are visible in this image taken
by D. Ramey Logan in 2008 from just north of the station. The rough
coral rock of the shoreline of Negril is evident here. The nutrient
rich Caribbean Sea is deep blue and warm - a snorkeler’s
paradise. Wikimedia Commons photo by D. Ramey Logan.
Page 10
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Lighthouse Society
World
Society
lighthouse, was electrified about 1960. A connection to the
town of Negril’s water supply also was made about this
time, and the cisterns were abandoned. Before that,
keepers had to be thrifty with water, as rain was the only
source.
Bougainvillea and other flowers added splashes of color to
the compound. A small vegetable garden, some chickens
scratching around the yard, and a plantain tree gave
evidence of the semi-self-sufficiency of the Johnson family.
Wilson Johnson told me he liked to make beer too.
Curiously, I could hear a screechy voice in the distance.
Johnson laughed and told me it was the family’s pet parrot,
Henry, named for none other than the pirate-turned-vice
governor, Captain Henry Morgan, more famous as the face
on good Jamaican rum.
Near the lighthouse are the famous coral cliffs where
intrepid tourists jump into the sea. Considering that the
mean daytime temperature in Jamaica year-round is 86ºF
[30ºC] and the humidity can be oppressive, a refreshing dip
must have been commonplace for the early lightkeepers
and their family members. Johnson told me there was no air
conditioning at the light station, and like as not, there still
isn’t. Johnson said the house remained cool because of its
coral construction and the pleasant ocean breezes that
blow over the point. He also mentioned that fishing was a
popular past time with lightkeepers and that his family still
fishes regularly off the point.
spectrum, and green is the last to disappear over the horizon
in a swift salute. I asked Wilson Johnson if he had ever seen
it, and he admitted he had seen all manner of optical
delights on the ocean horizon. He said his favorite sky
tableau was a view of Venus in the west when the New
Moon sat near it. “She is a fine lady,” he added with a smile.
This validated my hunch that lighthouse keepers have a
front row seat to an amazing, nightly, celestial show!
I don’t know if Wilson Johnson still lives on Negril Point. If so,
he’d be nearing or at retirement age. Recent pictures I’ve
seen of the station show the homes are occupied and wellmaintained. The Jamaican Port Authority likely would keep
someone on site to deter vandalism and greet tourists. The
1894 lighthouse is a popular tourist stop and is registered as a
Jamaican National Heritage Site. It’s a showpiece in the
“Land of Wood and Water,” pirates, reggae, and good rum.
Eh mon!
All photos by the author except otherwise noted.
Elinor DeWire (U.S.A.)
Editor’s Note: Follow Elinor’s Blog about lighthouses at
elinordewire.blogspot.com and visit her Author Page on
Facebook at “Elinor DeWire, Author.”
Sunsets here are breathtaking. That may sound hackneyed,
but it’s true. I waited and observed it for myself. Myriad tints
of pink, lavender, and tangerine colored the sky late in the
day, as the sun descended into a long solsticial twilight. I
even thought I glimpsed the Green Flash in a clear spot
along the horizon to the southwest, a strange and rare
optical phenomenon as the sun drops behind a calm, clear
sea, departing with a quick flash of green. This occurs
because sunlight contains all the colors of the visible
The handsome, 20-meter [66 ft]
tall tower was constructed of
local materials, primarily coral
mixed with concrete. It was
the fourth lighthouse to be built
in Jamaica and still serves
shipping
The diagonal astragals on the lantern windows are its most notable
British signature, intended to create less interference with the
beams
The second-order barrelshaped Fresnel lens, made in
Paris in 1888, has served the
lighthouse for over a century.
Several evolutions of upgrades
have occurred,
including acetylene lamps,
electricity, and more
recently, solarization.
Page 11
4th Quarter 2013
LIGHTHOUSE POSTCARDS
When I first became interested in lighthouses my way of
“collecting” them was to visit them and take photos of
them. Then, just in case my photos didn’t turn out as well as
I’d hoped, I would purchase a postcard of each lighthouse
if there were any available. Sometime when we traveled to
various places to see the lighthouses we would stop in
antique stores even though we aren’t really antique
collectors; we just enjoy finding things from our childhood
and seeing what they are worth today. It was during one of
these side visits to an antique shop that I found my first
vintage lighthouse postcard and I immediately realized the
value of these treasures, especially if the images contained
on them were of lighthouses that no longer exist. A new
hobby was born, and now we regularly look for vintage
postcards whenever we come across an antique shop. In
addition, about once a year we make a special trip to the
state of Maryland, where we found a shop that deals
entirely in vintage postcards.
Recently my good friend and fellow World Lighthouse
Society member Jeremy D’Entremont started displaying
some vintage lighthouse postcards from his collection on his
Facebook page. I had the immediate reaction of a light
bulb going off in my head, and thought, why not start a
series in the WLS Newsletter featuring vintage postcards?
After all, it might be the only opportunity some of our
members have to see some of the world’s lighthouses,
especially those which no longer exist.
So here we are. I am going to start things off with a few
images of some of the postcards in my collection. But I am
going to challenge all of you fellow vintage lighthouse
postcard collectors to keep this series going by sending me
image files of the postcards (front and back) in your
collection. If you feel up to even more of a challenge, you
can include a few words about each of the lighthouses on
the cards, or you can leave that up to yours truly. So, if you
are willing to share your collection with the rest of our
members, please contact me at the address listed on the
Contacts page of this issue.
in 1957. The capitol of the
country, Papeete, is located
on Tahiti, one of the islands
in a chain known as the
Society Islands.
Although
most
of
the
navigational aids in French
Polynesia are small modern
structures, there are some
historic traditional towers,
but most are no longer used
as lighthouses. The tower at
Point
Venus
is
one
exception.
The site was named Point
Venus because it is the site
of Captain James Cook’s
observation of the transit of
From the back of the card:
Venus in front of the sun on 3
Point Venus Lighthouse. Only
June 1769. The lighthouse is lighthouse on the island of Tahiti
located in a park at the
French Polynesia
Built in 1867, Charcoal was used
northern tip of Tahiti.
before electricity.
Columbia View Cards,
The notation on the back of
P.O. Box 398,
my postcard states that the
lighthouse was built in 1867. Ocean Park, Washington 98640
However records indicate
the light was actually built in 1868 by Thomas Stevenson,
one of the famous Stevenson lighthouse engineers from
Scotland. Stevenson was also the father of famous author
Robert Louis Stevenson. The light was restored and raised by
7 m (23 ft) to a height of 33 m (108 ft) in 1963. The white
square tower has six stepped stories below the watch room
and gallery and is trimmed in gray. Point Venus Lighthouse
is still an active aid to navigation and displays a white flash
every 5 seconds at a focal plane of 31 m (102 ft).
Now, here are a few postcards from my collection. These
are all from outside of the U.S.A. I’ll save those from my
homeland for another time. Most of the information about
the lighthouses on these cards I found using WLS member
Russ Rowlett’s Lighthouse Directory (http://www.unc.edu/
~rowlett/lighthouse/), and WLS member Lighthouse Digest’s
Explorer
Database(http://www.foghornpublishing.com/
digest/database/searchdatabase.cfm).
Point Venus Lighthouse, Tahiti
The island of Tahiti is one of more than 130 islands
comprising the country of French Polynesia in the South
Pacific Ocean. France started colonizing the islands in 1842,
and finally controlled them all by 1889. Once known as
French Oceania, the named changed to French Polynesia
Current photo of Point Venus Lighthouse.
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Pierre Lesage.
Morro Castle Lighthouse (Castillo del Morro), Cuba
Cuba is the largest island in the West Indies. It was originally
a Spanish colony, but was conquered by the United States
Page 12
during the Spanish-American War in 1898. U.S. occupation
of Cuba ended in 1902. Unfortunately longstanding political
difficulties between Cuba and the U.S. have prevented
most American tourists from gaining access to Cuban
lighthouses. As a result, most information available on the
country’s lighthouses has been posted on the Internet by
European or Canadian visitors, or by Cuban tourist
agencies.
On the front of the card:
80 Saint-Nazaire. – La Tour du
Commerce á Bonne-Anse.
The Commercial Tower at
Bonne-Anse. – LL.
Habana:-Farola del Morro.
Lighthouse at Morro Castle
Current photo of Castle Morro
Lighthouse. Flickr Creative
Commons photo by Ruben
Moreno Montiliu.
As an interesting side note, most Cuban lighthouses ore not
automated, resulting in the fact that keepers are on site at
most of them. Some of the lights are staffed by civilian
keepers; however others are very highly restricted military
posts. As a result, most of the major lighthouses are well
maintained.
Current photo of Tour du
Commerce Light.
Flickr Creative Commons
photo by Florent Moritz.
the rear light of a range with the Pointe d’Aiguillon
lighthouse being the front light. La Tour du Commerce was
deactivated in 1897 after the range was moved due to
changes in the channel. The postcard view shows the
tower’s lantern intact, however it was removed after
deactivation and a communications mast was placed on
the capped tower.
Cherbourg Lighthouse, France
El Morro Castle is a familiar landmark located on the east
side of the very narrow entrance to Havana’s harbor. A
lighthouse was first established here in 1764 and was
replaced in 1845 by the unpainted round cylindrical
masonry tower that has become Cuba’s best known
lighthouse. It sits on the ramparts of the Castillo de los Tres
Reyes del Morro, El Morro Castle.
The 44 m (144 ft) tower is floodlit at night. It is an active aid
to navigation displaying two white flashes every 15 seconds
at a focal plane of 44 m (144 ft).
La Tour du Commerce, Saint Nazaire, France
On the west coast of France, south of Brittany, lies the
region known as the Country of the Loire. The relatively low,
sandy coast facing the Bay of Biscay includes the lower
estuary of the Loire River and the historic port of SaintNazaire, famous for its shipyards.
A light was first established on the southwest side of SaintNazaire in 1756. It was replaced by the existing round, white
masonry tower in 1857. The 39 m (128 ft) tower was once
47. – Cherbourg. – Le Phare de la Grande Jetée;
Collection A. B. éditeur, Cherbourg;
Cherbourg Lighthouse, also known as the “phare de la
Grande Jeteé” and the “jeteé nord” (north jetty) was
located at the end of the east jetty of the old commercial
harbor in the city of Cherbourg, in the Basse-Normandie
region of France. Cherbourg has served as an important
port since the area was conquered by the Vikings in the 9 th
century.
4th Quarter 2013
Page 13
The white conical masonry lighthouse was established on
July 1 1838. It was 7 m (23 ft) tall with a focal plane of 10 m
(33 ft) and had a fixed red light until it was changed to a
flashing red light (two flashes every 10 seconds) on August
15, 1901. The light was discontinued in 1937. Unfortunately
this light no longer exists and it is not known whether the
light was demolished at that time or destroyed during WWII.
Smeaton’s Eddystone Tower, Plymouth Hoe, England
Celebrated engineer John Smeaton designed the third
Eddystone Lighthouse, completed in 1759, to mark the
infamous Eddystone Rocks. The Eddystone Rocks are an
extensive reef lying approximately 12 miles south-southwest
of Plymouth Sound, one of the most important naval
harbors in England. The rocks, submerged at high spring
tides, were so feared by mariners entering the English
Channel they would often avoid them by hugging the
coast of France.
Recent photo of Smeaton’s Tower by Karl Agre, M.D.
Smeaton’s Tower, standing at 22 m (72 ft) high, was
opened to the public on 24 September 1884. It has been
painstakingly restored to its original glory and is open to
visitors who may climb the tower to the lantern room for
fantastic views of Plymouth Sound and the city.
Lindau Bodensee Lighthouse, Germany
On the front of the card: Plymouth, The Hoe Slopes.
On the back of the card:
O.F. (Stengel 7 Co., Ltd.) Post Card Publ., London E. C.
The first Eddystone tower, completed in 1698, was the first
lighthouse to be built on a small rock in the open sea. The
steel tower was destroyed during a storm in 1703. It was
replaced by a wooden tower in 1709 which stood until it,
too, was destroyed by a fire in 1755.
Smeaton’s design for a new Eddystone tower was based
on the shape of an oak tree, for strength. His design marked
a major step forward in lighthouse design by using a
technique involving the securing of granite blocks together
using dovetail joints and marble dowels. He also pioneered
the use of a form of concrete that will set under water to
help stabilize the foundation. When completed in 1759 the
tower was lit with an array of 24 candles.
In the 1870s cracks were discovered from undermining by
the sea of the rock on which the lighthouse stood, so it was
decided to dismantle the top two-thirds of the tower and
rebuild it on a new base at Plymouth Hoe as a monument
to Smeaton. The remaining stump of the tower still stands on
the Eddystone Rock close to the current lighthouse.
On the back of card:
Wiro – Künstlerkarte Ges. geschüzt; Lindau-Bodensee,
Hafeneinfahrt.
The back of this card also includes a message written in German.
The Bodensee, also known as Lake Constance, is a large
lake in southern Germany through which the Rhine River
passes on its way out of Switzerland and continues
northward into western Germany. The northern shore of the
lake is in Germany, the southern shore is in Switzerland, and
the eastern end of the lake is in Austria. Navigation on the
lake is limited to ferries, excursion boats and pleasure craft.
The Lindau Lighthouse was built in 1856 at the end of the
west mole sheltering the town’s harbor. The round stone
tower stands 33 m (108 ft) tall and is an active aid to
navigation displaying a white flash every three seconds at
a focal plane of 35 m (115 ft) when triggered by radio
signals from arriving ships.
Page 14
Current photo of Lindau Bodensee Lighthouse.
Photo by Priska Kerner-Blunschi.
The lighthouse was originally built and operated by the
railroad until it dropped its ferry routes and sold its facilities.
The town of Lindau acquired the lighthouse in 2010 and
opened it to the public as a museum.
Current photo of Vanäs Lighthouse.
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Elena.
Málaga (La Farola), Spain
Vanäs Lighthouse, Lake Vättern, Sweden
On the front of the card: Málaga. – La Farola;
On the back of the card: Ed. Domingo del Rio. – Málaga
On the front of the card: Lake Vettern. Sweden.
On the back of the card:
Axel Eliassons Konstförlag, Stockholm 3642
Lake Vättern (Vettern) in southern Sweden is Europe’s sixth
largest lake at 130 km (81 mi) in length, but only about 31
km (20 mi) wide. Vanäs Lighthouse guides vessels
westbound on the Göta Canal across the lake to Karlsborg.
The canal is an inland waterway connecting Göteborg on
the Kattegat to Mem on the Baltic Sea. It crosses Lake
Vättern on its way from the larger Lake Vänern to the Baltic.
Although most vessels traveling these waters are
recreational, there is some commercial traffic on the canal.
Vanäs Lighthouse, located on a promontory on the east
side of Karlsborg, is an active aid to navigation. The 8 m (26
ft) tall white octagonal pyramidal tower was established in
1892. It has a characteristic of three white or green flashes
every nine seconds, depending on the direction, and its
lantern roof is painted green.
The city of Málaga is the second most populated city of
Spain’s Andalusia region and is the southernmost large city
in Europe. It lies on the Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun) in
southern Spain along the coast of the Mediterranean, east
of the Strait of Gibraltar. The Port of Málaga, one of the
busiest ports on the Mediterranean Sea, is the city’s seaport
and has been operating continuously since at least 600 BC.
The lighthouse at Málaga, affectionately known as La
Farola, is located on the east side of the harbor. Built in 1817
by Joaquín M. Pery y Guzmán, it is one of the oldest and
most historic lighthouses in Spain. The 37 m (125 ft) white
round masonry tower rises through the center of a two story
keeper’s house.
The lighthouse has had a very eventful history. In 1898 it was
damaged by an earthquake and was not completely
repaired until 1913. It was damaged again by artillery in the
1930s during the Spanish Civil War, resulting in extensive
repairs in 1939. In recent years GPS and radar have been
installed. The light continues to be an active aid to
navigation with a characteristic of four white flashes in a
Page 15
4th Quarter 2013
3+1 pattern every 20 seconds. It’s third order Chance
Brothers Fresnel lens, installed in 1922, is displayed at a focal
plane of 38 m (125 ft). The tower is floodlit at night and is a
familiar symbol of Málaga’s waterfront.
The lighthouse on the last card in the series is a mystery, at
least to me. The text on the back of the card appears to be
Asian, giving one clue to its identity. I welcome any
information from readers that could help me to identify the
light and its location. Please contact me at the address on
the Contacts page if you have any information that can
lead to the identification of this lighthouse.
Now it’s YOUR turn! If you have any vintage lighthouse
postcards you are willing to share, any comments about
this series or additional information about the lighthouses
shown above, please let me know!
Current photo of Málaga Lighthouse.
Flickr Creative Commons photo by Franz Van Pelt.
Mystery Postcard
Mystery Postcard – Front
La Plate Lighthouse, France
Photo by Graham Rabbitts
Mystery Postcard - Back
Talacre Lighthouse, Wales
Photo by David Wilkinson
Page 16
LIGHTS GO OUT AT ORFORDNESS
Happisburgh lighthouse became operational in 1791 and
holds the title of being the oldest operational lighthouse in
East Anglia. Until recently the oldest operational Trinity
House lighthouse in the region was at Orfordness in Suffolk,
which was built in 1792 and became operational in 1793.
This summer there was a major change in the lighthouse
scenery of East Anglia; on the night of Thursday 27th June
2013, Orford Ness shone a navigational light for the last
time.
There has been a lighthouse on Orfordness since 1637,
making a total of 376 years of a navigational light being
displayed on the shingle spit. Over this period of time many
lighthouses on the Ness have been washed away by the
sea due to the never ending coastal erosion and the storms
that batter the coast. Orfordness Lighthouse was one of
the first to use oil to produce the light. This technology
produced a more powerful light, but ultimately led to two
lighthouses on the Ness burning down; one in 1730, and its
replacement in 1731.
A system of higher
and lower lights was
used at Orfordness,
frequently with the
lower lights being
abandoned
before
they were ultimately
claimed by the sea.
The remaining tower
would then be used
as the lower light with
a new higher light
being constructed as
a replacement.
In
1789 a great storm
caused the lower light
(built in 1732) to
1720 Orfordness Lighthouse, circa
b
ecome
unsafe,
1840. This structure was used as the
leading
it
to
being
High Light from 1720 to 1793; as the
Lord
Low Light from 1793 to 1889; and was abandoned.
Braybrooke
(the
first)
abandoned in 1889 Image from the
funded the building of
collection of Patrick Tubby
the current 1792 tower
(designed by William Wilkins) as a high light, to be used in
conjunction with the surviving high light (built in 1720),
which would then assume the role of the low light.
The 1792 tower, 30 metres tall, was built in brick, with 163
steps from the base of the tower to the lantern. MDCCXCII
was carved in the stone above the entrance door to the
lighthouse tower and can still be seen today. The tower
gradually and elegantly tapers towards the lantern room,
and is rendered and painted white with two red bands.
Originally two cottages for the lighthouse keepers and their
families adjoined the lighthouse tower – one on the east
side of the tower and one on the west. Both were two
storeys high and each dwelling had a black chimney at the
far end.
In 1836 an Act of Parliament resulted in compulsory
purchase of the lighthouse. Lord Braybrooke (the second)
handed over the lighthouse and all entitlement to light
dues
to
Trinity
House
for
the
compensatory sum
of £13,414. From 1st
January 1837 both
the High Light (the
1792 tower) and
the Low Light (the
1720
tower)
at
Orfordness
were
managed
and
m aintained
by
Trinity House. Soon
after Trinity House
t o o k
o v e r
responsibility for the
lighthouses
new
keepers’ dwellings
were built next to
the Low Light to
house the keepers
and their families.
A new lens was also
installed at the
1792 Orfordness Lighthouse, circa 1940. This
lower light in 1838.
structure was used as the High Light from
1793 to 1889, operated as a single
lighthouse from 1889 to 2013, and was
discontinued in 2013. Image from the
collection of Patrick Tubby.
The higher and
lower
lighthouse
system continued
to operate until
1887 when another great storm caused such damage to
the land that surrounded the Low Light that it had to be
abandoned to the sea. Trinity House decided not to build
another Lower Light on the Ness, but to build a new
lighthouse at Southwold, 17 miles to the north.
Following the loss of the 1720 tower on the Ness,
improvements were made to the 1792 lighthouse. In 1888 a
red and green sector was established at Orfordness by
installing filters in the lantern room. The character of the
light was also changed to occulting - whereby a clockwork
mechanism eclipsed the light for 3 seconds every 40
seconds. In 1914 the red and green sectors were removed
from the lantern room and a separate sector light was put
in place that shone through windows midway up the tower.
The red and green sectors were created by a red filter
being placed on one window and a green filter on the
other. This system remained in place until the time of
decommissioning in June 2013.
Also in 1914 a new revolving optic was installed, which
resulted in the character of the lighthouse showing as a
flash every 5 seconds. Three catadioptric lenses floated on
a bath of mercury and a clockwork mechanism with
4th Quarter 2013
weights in a tube running down the centre of the lighthouse
was used to keep the optic turning. During the First World
War the lighthouse at Orfordness only displayed a light
(which had been dimmed) when instructed to by the
Admiralty so as to ensure that it was not used as a
navigational aid by the enemy.
In 1936 Orfordness lighthouse became a rock station due to
the tightening security surrounding the Ness. This meant
that families of the keepers no longer lived at the lighthouse
and keepers were relieved after a month of duty.
During the Second World War, as in the First, the lighthouse
was only lit when orders were received to do so. The
lighthouse was also painted in green and brown
camouflage colours. Sadly In 1940 a lighthouse keeper was
killed by an explosive whilst thought to be beachcombing
(many east coast beaches were mined during the War to
deter enemy beach landings). In 1941 the lighthouse was
machine gunned causing damage to the tower, but noone was injured. The tower was also damaged in 1944 due
to a flying bomb landing nearby. It is also recorded that
during the War damage had been caused to the tower by
shrapnel from an anti-aircraft battery on the shingle ness
itself.
In 1959 electrification of the lighthouse started. Demolition
of the adjoining keepers’ cottages also started in 1959,
commencing with the east cottage followed later by the
west cottage.
Many of the other buildings and the
boundary wall were also demolished at this time. Evidence
of where the cottage buildings joined the lighthouse tower
can still be seen today. Inside the tower there also remain
recesses where there used to be access to the cottages on
either side - the doorways were blocked up when the
cottages were demolished.
In 1964 Orfordness Lighthouse was fully automated. The
keepers were withdrawn on 20th September 1965 and the
station was monitored remotely from Harwich. Since then
the 1792 tower has stood a lonely vigil watching the sea
Page 17
edge ever closer as each day passes.
To appreciate how old the current Orfordness Lighthouse is,
it is interesting to consider that in 1792 when the current
lighthouse was being built the other major events in that
year included the laying of the cornerstone of the
Presidential residence, The White House in Washington; in
France, King Louis XVI and Queen Mary-Antoinette were
imprisoned, followed by the abolition of the French
monarchy. In the United Kingdom, King George III was the
reigning monarch and John Smeaton (designer of the third
Eddystone lighthouse) died. Orfordness Lighthouse has
been present through many historical events and
technological advances, but ultimately nature is the most
powerful force of them all and it will ultimately claim the
tower in the coming years.
Considering the historical and local significance of
Orfordness Lighthouse, it is important that for its remaining
years the lighthouse’s future is managed. In September
2013 it was announced that a new company had now
taken over the ownership of the lighthouse. The Orfordness
Lighthouse Company is planning to ensure that public
access can continue for as long as possible. The company
is also planning to be involved in the discussions regarding
the future of the historical fixtures and removable contents
of the lighthouse including its large first-order optic. It is
hoped that some artefacts from Orfordness Lighthouse can
be preserved even if the lighthouse tower itself cannot.
Southwold Lighthouse dates from 1889, and also has a
more recent connection to the current Orfordness
Lighthouse. Whilst the demise of the last Low Light at
Orfordness led to the building of a lighthouse at Southwold
in the 1880s, the demise of the current tower at Orfordness
has ultimately led to a new revolving light being installed at
Southwold. Prior to the decommissioning of Orfordness,
adaptations and improvements to Southwold lighthouse
were made to compensate, including increasing the range
of the light at Southwold from 17 to 24 nautical miles—and
for the first time in its history, a revolving light (giving one
flash every 10 seconds).
Over the past few years I have visited Orfordness many
times and trekked across the shingle to see the lighthouse.
Each time I have visited I have seen it in many different
weather conditions, each time being completely different.
I was also fortunate enough to see inside the lighthouse
prior to its decommissioning and am also privileged to have
had one of my Orfordness Lighthouse photographs feature
in the Trinity House calendar in 2012. From the very first time
I visited the Ness, Orfordness Lighthouse became my
favourite. Unfortunately in the next few years I will have to
find another favourite as the lighthouse will ultimately
succumb to the sea and experience the same fate as most
of its predecessors. When this does happen, I for one will
be sad to see it go.
Orfordness Lighthouse, August 2007. The wing cottages were
demolished some 56 years ago. Its similarity to Happisburgh
Lighthouse is no coincidence since both towers were designed by
William Wilkins in the 1790s. Photo by Patrick Tubby
Ruth Drinkwater (England)
Page 18
MY TRIP TO LONDON 16TH SEPTEMBER 2013
Editor’s Note: The following article, by WLS member Peter
Humphrey, tells about his recent visit to London during
which he spent some time visiting some of the city’s hidden
lighthouses, as well as other sites. I wish I had known of
some of the hidden lighthouses before my own trip to
London in July. Thanks, Peter, for sharing this information
with us. I know I’ll be better prepared for my next trip across
the pond!
the lighthouse showing windows and railed gallery.
This trip happened because I had to get a small parcel to
London and a visit to Christie’s in South Kensington was
required. It was cheaper for me to hand courier this than
send by courier service from Plymouth. In fact the return
train journey worked out less than half price of the courier.
However, for those wishing to find something a little
different and lighthouse related, then perhaps this little
expedition may entice you to London. So, with a little
careful planning and knowing I would have some spare
time for exploring in London after my first stop, I sought out
some places that I wanted to visit again. Having already
visited Trinity House and St Catherine’s Dock with the
wooden lightship together with Trinity Buoy Wharf
previously, (By the way these are a must if you haven’t
done them, or a second visit as there is always something
else to see you missed the first time.)
With my tickets pre-booked in advance to make the most
savings I arranged my itinerary for the day to visit three
lighthouses. In fact, I planned five stops using the London
Underground, of which I have found fascinating since a
young boy. I always prefer to travel on the Underground,
especially on this occasion as it gave me maximum free
time. I had not been able to pre-book my Underground
tickets as I had conflicting prices on the internet so, I
decided to purchase on the day.
Having arrived in Paddington 15 minutes late due to line
maintenance the other side of Reading, I made my way to
the Underground; first stop South Kensington. Having done
my business here I then walked back down Old Brompton
Road to the corner where there is a Lamborghini Show
Room, ‘Owens’. Having pressed the bell for entry I was
allowed in. There were five on display, all different colours
and sporting an impressive 12 cylinder engine in the rear.
For those who don’t know, you can see the engine through
a glass panel. I took a few photographs and then I was on
my way to Moorgate, so back down the Underground. This
was to find 52 Moorgate, which is the ‘Habib Bank’ and
here on the corner of this building is a replica of Eddystone
Lighthouse (Douglas Tower), which happens to be my
favourite lighthouse having had the privilege of landing on
it twice. This was an exciting challenge as I had tried to find
this lighthouse before on various occasions and failed. It is
approximately six feet tall with the diameter of the base
being around eighteen inches and made of Portland stone.
The detail is excellent with a ladder up to the entrance of
Close-up showing a sailing
ship coming around the
lighthouse and the steps
leading up to the entrance
Eddystone Lighthouse in
Moorgate, London
The whole structure looks very impressive from street level
and I’m lead to believe the lantern once lit up. On the side
of the recessed alcove at the base are masts and rigging
with a sailing ship. Be careful not to miss this one as when
walking by it is on the corner just above Moorgate Place
alleyway. Do go through to the other side as this, I believe,
was the original front and known as Oceans Building. If you
look up you will see a lot more sculptures, all maritime
related items such as ships and heads possibly of Neptune
or Poseidon with crowns made out of sails. The building is
dated around the early 20th century and just above the
top floor is an open book, again made of Portland stone,
with Roman numerals MCMXXIII on the pages which
suggest the building was completed in 1928.
My next stop was King’s Cross. When you come up from the
Underground you are confronted with fantastic buildings
displaying brilliant architecture. Very outstanding and, right
opposite King’s Cross station entrance, is this remarkable
building, The Oysterhouse Lighthouse, which many have
said represents some American buildings of similar style
coming to a sharp point. I think the Americans copied us,
actually, but that’s another story. It is said that when the
building was constructed fresh oysters were sold there and
because of this it became famously known as the
Oysterhouse (oysters were the fast food of the day).
Suzanne Bullock has made reference to this particular
building in [the Association of Lightkeepers’] Lamp97 and
found some interesting facts. Lighthouses became popular
eatery signs; just look at some of the fast food outlets of
today. There is a lighthouse restaurant just outside
Southampton built like a lighthouse.
There have been many speculations of what it [the
Oysterhouse Lighthouse] used to be, such as a helter-skelter
4th Quarter 2013
Page 19
[fairground ride]; and a
camera obscura, although
there were no means of
making this open to the
public. Others have said it
was
just
architectural
license. Perhaps someone
may find the original
documents one day and
then we may find out.
Here way above street
level stands this unique
lighthouse.
The
actual
date of the building is
unknown
but
experts
suggest it was built around
1884. The building has
been granted Grade II
status which is marvelous
as this will now stand
The Oysterhouse opposite King’s
Cross Station undergoing a major forever. My visit here was a
refurbishment programme during little disappointing as the
2013
whole area is undergoing
major refurbishment, with
the square of King’s Cross and St Pancras mainline and
Underground stations, costing a mere £550 million. Looking
through the scaffolding you can make out the lighthouse. It
is complete with its wrought iron railings, porthole windows
and from the gallery you can look out to the busy King’s
Cross corner down below. The whole area is fantastic now;
the Oysterhouse will take a little longer. I will need to book
another visit.
While you are here it’s well
worth just looking around and
just looking up, as there are
many buildings with towers
trying to look like lighthouse
lanterns. Take a stroll down
Gray’s Inn Road and you will
come across a building front
trying to look like a lantern
room. No doubt many of you
will recognise what I’m saying
and be able to relate this to a
particular lighthouse you have
visited.
Now making your way back up
to King’s Cross you get a
magnificent view of St Pancras The Travelodge in Gray’s Inn
station and The St Pancras
Road showing the lantern
Renaissance Hotel (5 star), well
known for its Victorian Gothic architecture and opened in
1868. It is believed that it took over 60 million bricks to
complete this structure. The station is now the terminus for
Eurostar. At the southern end of the building stands a
marvelous bronze statue and there is one of the former
Poet
Laureate
Sir
John
Betjeman.
It
actually
commemorates the poet’s successful campaign to save
the station from demolition in the 1960s. At the base of the
large bronze are smaller statuettes relating to the building
and the tube. This is well worth a
visit.
My
next
stop
would
be
Walthamstow, to visit the Lighthouse
Methodist Church. This was to take
a little longer as I had to catch the
tube at King’s Cross and head east
on the Circle Line to Barking. There I
had to change to the Hammersmith
and City Line which would then
take
me
overground
to
Walthamstow
Queen’s
Road
station. Having arrived here in good
time I made my way down
Walthamstow
Lighthouse Church
Markhouse Road and around a few
corners. Then I eventually came
across my prize. This church with its lighthouse tower is in
excellent condition and I believe underwent a complete
refurbishment a few years back. Constructed around 1892
and completed the following year, it replaced an earlier
iron hall. It was built like a lighthouse at the request of
Captain King who unfortunately died the same year as
completion. There is a light in the lantern room which is
illuminated when there is a service to begin. The light was
decided instead of having bells ringing out, and this would
let the congregation know that the service would begin
shortly.
Having completed my successful excursion to visit three
London lighthouses it was time to return to Paddington.
Having returned all in good time I decided, as my train
would not be here for a while, I would relax, have a drink
and a meal and take in the day’s events. On leaving
London I felt I had achieved exactly what I had set out to
do. It was an excellent day and I was lucky to miss some of
the heavy showers that came down together with hail
stones.
Pete Humphrey (England)
A close-up of the tower at King’s Cross before work began street
level; on the corner was a shop selling oysters
Page 20
THE LIGHT ON TOP—PART 20
Sark Lighthouse: 15 June 1975 to 29 August 1980
settled down. The pubs had quite changed too.
I cannot recall who we relieved other than Bert Tromans,
the PK [Principal Keeper]. When I got to the lighthouse I
found that my other keeper was Geoff Gurden, a
Yorkshireman through and through and a man I was
eventually to rely upon with gratitude. He was a product of
a northern art college, and had a talent not only with the
brush but with his hands and voice. He now lived on the
island, having married Brenda, a girl working locally who
came from the Bristol area. She worked in the local chemist
-cum-book shop.
Sark lighthouse, 1975-80
Editor’s Note: “The Light on Top” was written by Harold
Taylor, a WLS member and retired Trinity House light keeper.
In this issue we continue with excerpts from Harold’s
memoirs. Subsequent issues of the Newsletter will include
additional excerpts as a series of articles. Many thanks to
Harold for graciously sharing his memoirs with us.
My arrival on Sark was not as momentous as for some. I
had been there before, but there were a lot of changes
that had taken place. There was now a bus of sorts to take
people up the hill instead of horse and cart. People joined
the carts after reaching the top. There was even a cafe on
the approach to Creux Harbour. I recognised some of the
islanders like John Pierre. There were however a lot of new
people who had arrived in the intervening years and
Visitors on the island transport
I renewed several acquaintances my first turn off and
made new. Some of those I had known in the past were
able to recall me after a good nudge, but most were not.
The Mermaid pub was still owned by the same fellow; Pat
Taylor, who now had a grown family. His establishment had
expanded also. The Beau Regarde pub was still owned by
the same family, but was open now on a more regular
basis. The Bel Air was run by a Guernsey brewery with a
manager. The others such as the Sablonnerie, the Stocks
and the Dixcart now seemed to rely mainly on residential
trade. The Stocks were in the process of being taken over
by new owners.
When the relief arrived Bert had a new hand, he was Peter
Bridle who had been a lightship man and transferred. He
had married into the family of one of the local pubs at East
Cowes.
I do not recall whether my replacement crew joined on the
next relief or not, but one replacement was Paul Lee. The
three of us got on famously. Geoff and I had got into the
habit of playing Scrabble after lunch and at changeover of
the midnight watch each day. Paul could not spell, but he
had some idea of what he wanted to do, and as we did
not stick rigidly to the rules we were prepared to help him
out. He admitted that he neglected school, and it became
apparent that not only was his spelling bad, but he could
not string many words together. I think he realised his
handicap and later thanked both of us for helping him and
he put his mind to educating himself after he left our
company. He became a very able writer of material for his
interest in birds and nature generally. He gave us a run for
our money in Scrabble, with a little help, whilst Geoff and I
were more or less equal.
Between us we were a good and accommodating trio.
Paul had little interest in drink, and a great desire to birdwatch. We discovered that there was an active bird-ringer
on the island, Philip Guille, and he soon became enmeshed
in this hobby as Paul was anxious to gain a licence. So
except for days when it was my day off and I needed
shopping, Paul had all the days to himself, as we knew that
except for special occasions he would not go out at night.
Geoff of course being a family man with his wife on the
island, we allowed to have the evenings off even if he
should be on duty. He always did his morning duties, but
Page 21
4th Quarter 2013
The lens at night
The lens
was sometimes sent home in the afternoon if the weather
was not suitable for either of us others to go out. It did not
need three people to sit around and do nothing.
My own activities were adequately satisfied. I had my usual
days off which sometimes led to me being late for lunch. I
normally tried to make it but there was a persuasive set of
local friends which prevented this at times. Then two
evenings a week I went out to organised card activities.
One in the village hall was whist, the other in a cafe. During
the winter this one became a euchre game. When the
cafe changed hands it was not so homey so we removed
to one of the family's home. It was not so convenient but it
worked quite well. Through going to the local church I also
got invited out to musical Sunday evenings with some of
the more elite of the expatriates, whereas the other
activities were mixed, but mainly islanders.
I gained another interest, or shall we say an occupation. I
became quite friendly with the owners of the Beau
Regarde tavern. I cannot quite recall how it came about.
The real owner was Ma Falles; her eldest son who was my
age was mentally deficient due to a fall or kick from a
horse. There was a daughter Reg (Regina) older than me
who ran the pub, whilst Stan was a younger son who ran a
small business which was based at the pub. During a visit
one day a brother-in-law who lived in the other end of the
building which was run as a guesthouse, arrived with some
lengths of timber and I got dragged into a conversation
about renewing the weatherboard to the doors of some
chalets. These were used to house summer workers and
friends staying overnight
The result of this was that I was asked to do the job. In going
there to do so I usually went to the bar first or even entered
the premises via the bar. Thus I learned that before the
lunch time rush had finished the girl who did the bar work
was too drunk to carry on, and so Reg took over. She was
responsible for running the kitchen and feeding the tours
that visited during the afternoon. Finding that she had a
tame keeper on tap, she began to use me as the barman,
while she went up to bed before the afternoon rush began.
Thus, I did not get a lot of my intended work done. I did not
care as I enjoyed meeting the people who came in, local
or visitor. That summer was good for me and I got into a
good working relationship with the whole of the family and
friends. Mrs. Falles was in her nineties, and the following
year moved into a nursing home in Guernsey where she
eventually died.
There was a tragedy before that however, for Reg went to
bed one afternoon and never woke up. She was a well
qualified woman, having been an accountant with a
London firm. She was forced to give that up to support her
mother, running the pub. Stan had only recently returned to
the island.
Poor old Ma Falles felt the loss of her daughter badly, and
again I would spend a lot of the time I should have been
working, talking to her in the sitting room which led off
between the bar and the kitchen. It gave some of her
carers a break to do other things and I could also keep an
eye on the bar. It was unfortunate in several ways as Stan
was now effectively in charge and he was irresponsible
despite being the official guardian of William the elder son.
It was a great cross for Ma to bear and in many ways the
business went downhill, mainly because Stan engaged a
disreputable gang of toe-rags as staff. They took him and
the premises for a ride and encouraged all types of
degenerates and hippies.
I met with Pete in the Mermaid bar one evening. The
reason for me being in the pub at the same time as him,
when we were not on the same rota, was by way of
convenience. If I remained in Guernsey overnight I would
have to pay lodgings. I would be on my own. If I were able
to get across to the island I would have a free bed on the
floor of the lighthouse store. I would have a convivial
evening with people I knew and I would be on hand so
that the keeper going ashore could get away on the first
boat, giving him a better chance of getting home,
otherwise he would not get to the airport until about 2 p.m.
The savings also provided one with a little money to finance
the month, and was also an opportunity to discuss with the
keeper one was relieving any problems they might have
Page 22
encountered during the previous month.
I have often been asked what makes a good keeper. This is
very difficult and complex. I think a person who is self-reliant
is 50% of the need. Another is to be fairly conversant and
intelligent enough to either know how things work, or
deduce how they do; to be content in one’s own
company and not craving someone else’s ear to bend. I
have likened the recruiting of keepers to plastering mud on
a wall. Some sticks and most fall off. Unfortunately not all
that sticks is really compatible. There is usually one element
missing and that is the one to be amiable to your
companions and be as helpful whilst being so. Probably less
than a quarter of all keepers who stayed in the job met
those requirements. Perhaps some will say I did not.
However, my main aim in carrying out my job was to do it
efficiently and eliminate any of the unnecessary and
prehistoric procedures that I encountered, making the job
easier and simpler to carry out for myself and those around
me.
One was always due for shocks. I returned after a good
night out, to be met by Geoff, who said that the central
heating had broken down. Any attempts by him had failed
to restore it. I made my own try and after undoing some
couplings found that I was getting water out of the supply
pipe. I therefore left investigation till the following morning.
If I describe the set-up perhaps it will help you understand
what had happened. The oil store was on the lower stage
of the lighthouse, and beneath my bedroom. On shelving
around two sides of this room were seven square vertical
tanks holding about 200 gallons of fuel each. All these tanks
except one were coupled together to feed the central
heating boiler; the other fed direct to the stand-by lighting
engine. There were individual taps from each tank that fed
into this fuel line.
To fill these tanks when the lighthouse was built in 1922, they
had hit on the ingenious idea of taking a pipeline down
from the top of the island straight into the oil store. Instead
of carrying the oil can by can down the 200 steps to
facilitate this, there was a sump at the top of the steps in
which the oil was poured. It then travelled down this pipe
underground at first until it met the flight of steps where the
pipe now became the hand rail. On entering the oil room
the pipe was above the tanks, but a draw off pipe was
situated over each tank with a stop valve.
When I checked all the tanks the following day I found that
they all had water in them up to near the draw off level,
but the tank which was open and directly into the fuel line
had water in up to tap level. My first task was to drain all the
water out of the boiler pipeline.
Having cleared the line I now had to clear the water in the
tanks which I did using the same method that I had used at
the Hanois, by means of suction and siphon. When this was
accomplished all was reconnected and supply to the
boiler restored and put into successful operation. The next
was to deduce how the situation had occurred. My
reasoning decided that the exposed iron pipe down the
steps due to fluctuations of temperatures probably
accrued condensation within them, which gravitated
downhill and either led straight into the tanks or was flushed
into them every time that oil was poured down.
What I did to overcome this was to drain all oil out of the
first receiving tank, by using it up first, then taking the tank
out of service. Having done this, I then opened the valve
over the first tank so that any water percolating down
would drain into this first tank. When a supply of oil in future
was received the valve over the first tank would be closed
allowing only the other six to be filled. This proved my
theory, because over a short period of time quite a bit of
water gathered in the one tank. I passed this information on
to the Superintendent when he next visited and he
approved my recommendation that until a leak off pipe
was fitted this tank was to remain empty of fuel.
I have told of one of my past times on the island. Geoff had
quite a different one, but then he was engaged in many.
His main one was to help in the cycle hire shop owned by
John Jackson, a mainlander who had married a local girl
and set up several businesses. On his days off Geoff would
work there all day in the season, but only half day if he was
on duty, morning or afternoon. He also worked on restoring
the cycles during the winter in preparation for the following
summer. In this manner he was able to put a bit of work my
way. Many of these cycles were 3-speed, which were
always becoming damaged, but they did not have the
time to deal with them, so they were hired out jammed in a
single gear. I was asked one day if I knew anything about
these gears. Being game for anything I took on the job.
Soon after I went to Sark there was a project to build a
residential shack for visiting mechanics. Up till then they had
always slept in the storeroom at the base of the tower next
to the engine room. It was a very makeshift affair, but then
visiting staff did not stay long in theory. Being able to get to
and fro to the island, they were able to leave as soon as
they had finished their particular job. The fact that they
were reluctant to leave such a paradise was not taken into
consideration. So it was not unusual for these workmen to
assume the same habits that they did on a tower, not
opening their toolbox till they had been on station a week
and then wanting a holiday after they had done a day’s
work. No wonder out-station workers were unwelcome.
The idea conceived was to put a Portakabin on the cliff
side. One idea being to bring it in by helicopter, but as
there were rules about over flying the island, special
permission would be needed. DLF personnel from
Penzance arrived and excavated a shelf on which to place
it. When I came back from a leave the building was in situ.
Soon after it was in position there were complaints that it
was an eyesore. In my opinion there was not a lot of
justification in this as it was as good a construction as about
a quarter of the dwellings on the island. It only made
another square box on the cliff side, the lighthouse being
one and the house immediately above it the other. The
house belonged to John Valentine and was a square box
like structure built on top of a German gun emplacement,
4th Quarter 2013
which was now the water storage tank.
Eventually Trinity were required to bring the Portakabin
lower down the cliff, but I am sure I do not know what
improvement that made except John and his wife Ursula
would no longer be looking down on its roof. Again, the
question of how to do the job cropped up and helicopter
was the preferred option. I believe, however, it was taken
to pieces and re-erected.
Around this time I had been suggesting to Trinity a use for
some of our catchment water which we could not drink,
and was stored in the storage tanks in the old engine room.
We still had to use a lot of catchment water, because a
bore hole which had been provided at the top of the cliff
had missed the water and only drew up about 3 gallons
per day. This was insufficient for all our uses, although it
probably met all our cooking and drinking needs. We now
had a flush toilet, which was new since I had been there as
an SAK [Supernumerary Assistant Keeper]. We manually
pumped this up daily from the old catchment tank. In times
of drought it did not produce enough for the toilet. I had
suggested the erection of a tank on the roof above the
toilet that could be topped up from the disused engine
tank and the dirty water could be made good use of. Trinity
came up with a better idea eventually. They engaged a
local plumber to install water tanks where the cabin had
originally been erected. With a set of electrically controlled
floats and a single suction pipe fitted with non-return valves
they tapped both catchment tanks to give a supply of
water to the cabin and our toilet
A firm of plumbers had been called in when I had
complained of the inefficiency of our central heating. The
only response I had got from my own Superintendent was
for me to drain the system down. I knew enough about
plumbing that it was not as simple as that. I think what
turned the tables was when I asked him if I could use the
cabin for my quarters when there were no workmen on
station, as the cabin was warmer than my own room in the
winter. The plumbers were on the job for about a week as
the radiators were so silted up having been fed by
catchment water for so long. My room still did not get the
full benefit it should. I did have the oil room below me into
which the cold east wind blew.
I think it was during my first year on Sark that the
Superintendent instructed that the bank grass be trimmed.
The lighthouse property stretched from the lighthouse to just
below Valentine's house, so this was over a hundred feet of
steep slope. The steps bounded it to the north, but to the
south there was almost no limit by way of fencing.
I started the cutting and developed severe hay fever, so
much so that I lost my voice. I had always suffered from a
sneezing allergy, but since I had been in the service it had
virtually disappeared with the clear air of my surroundings. It
was not only grass that brought on the allergy. I suppose my
system was not used to the pollens of Sark and it reenacted my distress. It took me a long time to subdue it,
and many years since, I have not been as clear as I had
become.
Page 23
In the intervening years, Pete Bridle was replaced by Tony
Wibberley on Bert's watch. I met him on one of the reliefs
and introduced him to the girl who became his wife. She
worked at the Mermaid, and by the time I got back on
station they were engaged. She was a pleasant girl. In fact
she had invited me out when I first arrived, to show me
around the island.
Later Bert had another crew change, this was Dave Sleight,
a fellow I had had with me for a time on the Needles, a
steady and reliable bloke. Bert was very lucky to have such
a good crew. I was not so fortunate. Paul was taken away
from me, but I forget where he went. I think it might have
been the Royal Sovereign. He was replaced by Peter Bix.
Bix was not with us that long.
There was a period when I escaped the station. I am not
exactly sure when it was, but it was a pleasant excursion.
What had happened was that, since I was last there, they
had turned Alderney into a man-and-wife station. This
came about with electrification of the station and the
development of a new type of electric drive for the lens.
This resulted in withdrawal of the keepers from this cushy
station. Howard Allen and his wife who had previously been
at Anvil Point took over. They had a staff of local keepers
recruited from the island to assist them. There were three,
two older men, one a local man, the other an escapee
from Surrey where he had held a good job as head of his
department in local government. Due to a marital
indiscretion he had left home and settled locally where he
became well respected. The third member of the crew was
one of the lads who had been a delivery boy to the
lighthouse.
The PK was due for leave and someone had hit on the
brilliant idea to send me over. I could have extended my
leave by a couple of days as the relief was later, but I
decided upon having the best of both worlds and went to
Sark first to collect some working clothes and having a night
out. Also to collect my knitting gear and some cheaper
booze than I would get on Alderney. I then went back
through Guernsey and then on to the island, a day before I
took over. It so happened that the army was in residence
and that night they were holding a party at Fort Clonque.
The junior keeper saw that I got an invite.
The three weeks went very well and I had little to do myself,
due to the new set up. Other than my turn of watch the
three keepers did all the maintenance work. I was able to
complete some knitting orders whilst on watch. I was also
lucky to collect some new ones. I also surprised some of the
local priests by turning up for mass. The island seemed to
have changed quite a lot since I was last there, and I did
not feel at all at home. One strange piece of fortune
occurred however, and I do not know how it came about.
One day I had a call from the BBC who wanted to do an
article on the keeper of a lighthouse and his musical
choice. I acquiesced to this arrangement, but told them
that I was only there temporarily. They later contacted me
when I was back on my proper station and the item was
published in the Daily Mail on 13th August 1977. I returned
Page 24
to Sark to complete my month and deposit my knitting
material and do a few days work before going on leave.
In the meantime the
Superintendent had been
promoted
to
Chief
Superintendent but had
made
a
case
for
remaining at East Cowes
instead of moving to
Harwich. The skipper of
the local depot ship,
Captain Tarrant, became
Superintendent.
When I came back from
my
next
leave
I
discovered that Geoff
had resigned. Jackson
had taken over the local
bakery and provisions
shop to enlarge his
empire and offered Geoff
a full time job. In Geoff's
Sark lighthouse in 1958 showing the words he was made an
offer he could not refuse,
reed fog signal trumpets outside
the PK's bedroom window
although the end did not
reach the implied dream.
Richard Jones started that same relief. He was compliant
until the second member of the new crew arrived. Mike
Berridge was a very uncooperative person. Having sent
Richard up to the Mermaid to show the fellow the way
down, I prepared lunch as per normal and awaited their
arrival. The first words of greeting I got from Mike, were “You
won’t get that from me”, whereupon Richard stated that
he would not go in for communal messing in future. This was
obviously something they had hatched up between them
on the way down. Mike was disruptive and uncooperative
in many ways, but not out of the line for proper duty. In the
circumstances I contacted Mike Tarrant to discuss the
situation. From him I received no support at all.
Things became very difficult, and during this period the new
water installation for the hut was taking place. When it was
completed and the Superintendent made a visit I
requested permission to use the cabin again. My argument
being that now that we were all cooking independently I
could never get to the stove when I was day off, and only
with difficulty when I was on duty. This was because the
other two were getting up at different times, having
cooked breakfasts, followed by cooked lunches and
cooked teas, with the result that the cooker was almost in
perpetual use. He saw my point and approved my request.
This made things a lot easier for me as the hut was a selfcontained unit with electric heaters, had a hot water
installation and its own cooking stove. I had my own
wireless and tape machine.
Despite the original ganging up of Mike and Richard
against me, they soon found out that they were not all that
compatible with each other. When I was in the building I
would hear one complaining against the other which, I
thought, was bloody good-oh! Serves you right! Mike’s pet
complaint was the smell of Richard's cooking wafting into
his room. In a way, it was his own fault. Circumstances had
occurred at the time of their occupancy when they had
been in different rooms. Mike discovered that traditionally
the senior hand had occupied opposite rooms. He insisted
that they change over. So he brought his discomfort upon
himself, which I thought was poetic justice. Another
complaint was that Richard cooked a meal on the middle
watch, and this also woke him by smell and noise.
It was soon after this that I got my marching orders, and I
was not really sorry. I had had five good years on Sark, and
stuck with this cussed crew it was a relief. My tales are not
over however. In fact the underlying reason for my removal
was in a way my own fault, but at the same time [I was]
looking after my fellow man.
Before the departure of Paul the telephone authorities
decided to modernise by putting in an automatic
exchange. This disclosed the same difficulties that Alderney
had experienced. With a lot of preliminary enquiries before
I got to Sark the Pleas had approached Trinity as to whether
they would assist with the 999 service in view that there
would no longer be a manned exchange. Trinity had
accepted the situation probably without any consultation
with the keepers, and established remuneration equal to
that received at Alderney, which at the time was £500. Two
years or more elapsed before the system was set up. I was
on station at the time of the inception and I was called to
the Seignuery for a meeting with the emergency
committee for the adoption of the scheme. When it came
to asking me to accept the scheme at the rate of £500, I
pointed out that the rate was not appropriate at the time.
During the time that had since elapsed, payment on
Alderney had increased to £800. The conditions in the
original agreement were that the remuneration was to be
the same as that island. This caused shock and
consternation. However the changeover was put into
effect, but in the meantime the Seignuery decided to take
this up with Trinity, who overrode that there should be any
increase in the agreed rate.
Soon after I went to Sark, I read of a successful claim by a
British worker in Spain, where he was able claim all his tax
repaid for income earned abroad. I thought that I filled this
same category, and made application. Dave Spurgeon
reckoned that he was capable of claiming back £8,000,
but I could not see how. However after protracted
correspondence the Inland Revenue Office [IRO] decided
to refund all overseas Trinity personnel. I arrived back from
one leave to be told by Bert that he had received a
cheque for £560. This was more than I had anticipated.
After Bert had left and I went up the island I met the wife of
Norman Wakeley, a Sarkie, who had a condition of
employment only to work in the Channel Islands. I asked if
she had heard anything on the subject, and quite
unenthusiastically she said that she had just received a
cheque. I remarked about the amount Bert had received,
and she quite disappointedly said no, not that much, only
4th Quarter 2013
£370. I stated I could not understand that, and she
withdrew the cheque from the envelope, turned pale and
exclaimed, “Oh, my God!” From that I decided that she
had misread the amount and it was probably £3,700. When
I later received mine, which was back-pay, followed by
another of a similar amount later, it paid for my wife and I
to travel to South Africa to see our son who was then
working there and had recently got married. The amount I
received was much larger than I anticipated, because the
IRO paid in full, including leave periods, whereas I had
expected the leave to be disregarded.
I passed the majority of my time whilst on the station with
knitting. I had gained a few orders locally and people were
always coming to me in the anticipation that they would
get a cheaper item from me than from the local shop. In
fact it cost me almost as much for my wool as the shop was
paying for a finished garment. I therefore concentrated on
doing the one-off items, knitting Coats-of-Arms into a
Guernsey. One ‘special’ I did was to knit a map of the
island into one, showing all the rocks and roads. I got a
second request for this which I got permission to do. I used
to borrow a knitting machine from John Carre's wife, with
which I did all the plain pieces. I had offered to purchase it,
as she could not use it. It meant I had to collect and return
it each relief. That was a bit of a chore. The church women
were sewing new kneelers for the church and one day they
approached me, telling me that they had obtained £50
from Trinity for a three-seater pew kneeler and would I sew
it? This I did and it remains in the church in a front pew. I
worked my initials into the side panels.
From my meetings at the Seignuery, I got to know Michael
Beaumont and his wife Diana quite well. I was already
Knitting coats-of-arms into jerseys.
regularly visiting her parents' house for a cup of tea. When I
left the island I think they were quite sorry to see me go as I
got on well with all around, and he probably felt that he
was in a way responsible for me going. They invited me up
for a going away meal. I am quite sure that this was the first
time a keeper was so treated by the Seignuer. Whether
there were others afterwards I do not know.
Page 25
I was fortunate in several ways on the island, especially at
Christmas time. Two of the pubs held grand draws. I
returned after Christmas leave one year to find I had won
the first prize of gallon of whisky. Of course everyone
thought I should share it with them; many had the
equivalent in beer. The following year I was on the island,
but did not go up for the draw, but was telephoned to say I
had won the gallon again. I have forgotten what the event
was, but shortly afterwards there was a big do (perhaps it
was 25 years of the Queen's accession) and I attended.
There was an auction being held for local charities. At this I
sponsored two bottles of whisky which raised over twenty
pounds. I am afraid I did not get credit for it. Pat Taylor
gave the bottles to the auctioneer from the cellar, and
although it was stated they were given by Mr. Taylor,
everyone got the wrong idea.
I had quoted that Richard and Mike did not see eye-to-eye
in the end. Other reasons were, when they went up for a
drink together, Richard would spend a long time over his
drink. As Mike said “How can you go out drinking with a
fellow who takes all afternoon to drink half a pint?” Another
amusing incident was when they were going ashore. They
both lived in the same area and needed to travel in the
same direction, but could not agree upon the means or
times they would achieve it. In the winter, planning this trip
home could be quite complicated, for the boat only
travelled officially on three days with one return trip, and a
very good chance that it may be cancelled due to the
weather. However there would be charters and it was a
constant enquiry as to whether there was one due. If it was,
it was a rapid scramble to get to the harbour, or the most
likely landing place depending on the weather. I recall
once it was touch and go till the last and it was Christmas
Eve or the day before. The sea was very rough and the
service boat had been cancelled. It was not till the last
minute that we knew a launch would be arriving at the far
end of the island prepared to take aboard any that were
prepared to make the hazardous journey. We got a tractor
to the nearest landing point then trudged across fields and
clambered down cliffs till we arrived at this old landing
place where we had to drop into the boat. I think it was
probably the roughest trip I have ever made in a small
boat, but the skipper Rueben Robbileau was a skilful fellow
who had coxed the lifeboat.
I do not remember the manner on that occasion that I
travelled back to England, I expect it was by air, but during
my stay on the island I had resorted to the boat in general.
There were several reasons for this. I have mentioned
before that there was a system where one could book up
in advance provisionally for the air trip, but only from the
island side. One had to pay for your return trip a month
before to confirm it. Despite my good relationship with the
Guernsey flight office, I was let down once and had
difficulty getting a flight. I had to resort to the ship, which by
now had started to sail from Portsmouth. This arrived at St
Peter Port about an hour before the first boat to Sark and
left me enough time to get a breakfast, and have a full day
on Sark without worries.
Page 26
I subsequently found I could also do this provisional booking
with the boats, and I opted to book up a whole year in
advance, but it seemed again that I could only do it at the
Guernsey end. This had a bonus in disguise, for when I
made my first trip I approached the steward about a cabin
and found myself taken to one on the bridge. It was a
spare pilot’s cabin. There was a cup of tea and an early
call. Quite surprisingly the steward would not even take a
tip. This happened on all but one occasion when there was
a change of chief steward or purser. However a ship’s
officer saw me slumbering on the saloon coach and
pointed it out to the new purser and it never happened
again. I had fallen on my feet at last.
Harold Taylor (England)
This shows the mercury bath and part of the clock mechanism,
now driven by small electric motors (white).
The stairs and weight tube
Control panels for the Nautophone fog signal
The stairs and weight tube
Maseline harbour
Page 27
4th Quarter 2013
INTERNATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE HERITAGE WEEKEND
In 1993 International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend
was founded by the Ayr Amateur Radio Group with the aim
of radio operators transmitting from lighthouses around the
globe. This is coordinated and promoted via www.illw.net
and overseen by its owner Kevin Mulcahy.
In 2002 the Association of Lighthouse Keepers decided to
run an event to coincide with the amateur radio group; the
aims of which were to open as many lighthouses to the
public as possible, raise the profile of lighthouses, lightvessels and other navigational aids, promoting our maritime
heritage and of course that of the ALK.
Initially the ALK coordinated events were held only on a
Sunday, but gradually some visitor centres opened on Saturdays, and some over the weekend, so International Lighthouse Day became International Lighthouse Weekend.
There has, not surprisingly, been some confusion over these
two separate events, so at the ALK AGM in September
2013, it was agreed that the name International Lighthouse
Heritage Weekend be adopted for the ALK and be used for
future events. With increased and ongoing collaboration
from the radio amateurs it is hoped that in future more
overseas lighthouses will join in the event, and both organisations will benefit from the increased and shared publicity.
Both events will continue to run over the 3rd weekend in
August, so for 2014 this will be held on 16-17 August.
More details will follow in due course – watch the ALK website for details – www.alk.org.uk.
If you wish your lighthouse/lightship visitor centre to be included in the list of visitor centres open for the weekend,
please notify Joy Tubby - [email protected].
Joy Tubby (England)
BOOK REVIEW
A Light in the Wilderness
by David M Hird
David M Hird’s fascinating book is for lovers of lighthouses,
geology and wild places.
For those lucky enough to have visited Cape Wrath, the
most northerly and westerly lighthouse on the United Kingdom mainland, this book will bring back memories. For
those of us yet to step upon Cape Wrath it will only increase
the desire to visit the area.
Perhaps one of the best ways to review this book is to quote
the jacket cover:
“Meticulously researched and the first all encompassing and accurate account of the history and natural
history of Cape Wrath, this book covers the geology,
fauna and flora, climate, delicate ecology, the history
of human habitation and accounts of military activity in
the area. But above all it is a history of the building and
maintaining of the lighthouse, the road to the light and
how it became a tourist attraction. It tells of the work of
ordinary men and women in ensuring that access to
this wilderness continues.”
The story it tells is as exciting and gripping as any fiction and
it will interest all who love wild and remote areas.”
There is so much of interest in this book. A list of the keepers
of the light shows two keepers: Peter Ewing, 1847 and Donald A Sinclair, 1876, both remaining at Cape Wrath for over
10 years. The average time for a keeper is approximately 4
years. Cape Wrath must have held a real fascination for
those two men.
Chapter one begins with a short poem as follows:
There’s little on the peninsula of Cape Wrath
A lighthouse, buses, bullets and a wall
It’s a wilderness, a place of isolation
A thousand miles due east of bugger all.
Get the book and read on.
This has been one of the most amazing books I have read
in years and I am so looking forward to setting foot on
Cape Wrath in June 2014, when I can see this wonderful
place and lighthouse for myself.
David writes as if he
is talking to you
and you feel you
know Cape Wrath
with all the history
laid out on the
pages before you.
Lin Sunderland
(England)
Page 28
BOOK REVIEW
Belle Tout-The Little Lighthouse That Moved
by Elizabeth Wright
My Voice Publishing, Eastbourne, England; 2013.
Hardcover; 151 pp, illustrated; ISBN 978-1 909359 19 2.
The
historic Belle Tout Lighthouse, located high atop
Beachy Head’s white chalk cliffs in East Sussex, England, first
came into operation in October of 1834. The lighthouse was
deemed ineffective and replaced by the tower at Beachy
Head in 1902. However there is much more to be told
about the lovely little tower perched high on the cliffs. Belle
Tout survived abandonment, being reduced to ruin, and
nearly toppling from the crumbling cliffs to the beach below.
Elizabeth Wright has written the most comprehensive history
of Belle Tout Lighthouse to date. It is obvious a lot of time
and effort was put into the research and writing of this
book. Inside its pages can be found many never before
published drawings, photos and related legal documents
that help tell the story of the “little lighthouse that moved.”
Throughout the book readers will find personal accounts of
life at Belle Tout along with details about its many lives as
an aid to navigation, private home, TV series location and
bed and breakfast accommodation. Readers will learn
about the many struggles of past and current owners to
preserve this famous landmark for future generations.
Easy to read and a fascinating account of the famous Belle
Tout, this book would be a wonderful addition to anyone’s
collection.
Oxcars, Scotland
Fort Nikolai Range Frong, Russia
Photo by Ian Cowe
Photo by L. Myhre
4th Quarter 2013
Page 29
BOOK REVIEW
Everyday Heroes: The True Story of a Lighthouse
Family
by Seamond Ponsart Roberts with Jeremy
D’Entremont;
Coastlore Media, Portsmouth New Hampshire; 2013.
Paperback; 244 pp, illustrated; ISBN 978-148 2006506.
package dropped from the Flying Santa lands on a rock,
destroying the long-awaited treasure within. Join in on
young Seamond’s adventures and laugh at her antics. Let
her introduce you to a colorful cast of characters who
helped enrich her life. Meet her “lightship uncles.” Shed
tears with Seamond and her family as they leave their
island home when her father is reassigned to another
station. Travel with her through the years of her life and
watch her passage from a young, precocious child to that
of a young woman determined to make her dream of
joining the United States Coast Guard come true. Tag
along with Seamond when she returns to her beloved
Cuttyhunk with her own grown daughter, a bittersweet
journey filled with laughter and tears.
Everyday Heroes is a wonderful book rich with history and
the everyday trial and tribulations of life as lightkeepers. It
left this reader feeling nostalgic for a way of life I’ve never
experienced – a life both rich and somehow
uncomplicated by the hardships faced by those who lived
it. The author’s words will enthrall you and by the time you
reach the end of the book, you will have a new
appreciation for a lost way of life. But just as importantly,
you will feel you have a new friend in Seamond Ponsart
Roberts.
If you enjoy reading as much as I do, you will understand
what it means to have a book “grab you” right from its
opening pages. This book captured me before I’d even
finished the acknowledgements with the author’s simple
way of writing and her invitation to share her adventures as
if “we are old friends sitting on the porch telling each other
stories.” A pleasant conversation with a treasured friend is
exactly what reading this book is like.
However, before starting to read, I would invite you to jump
to the middle of the book where you will find several
photos, many from Seamond’s personal collection. Then let
her soothing voice transport you back in time as she first
shares with you her family history, and then her entrance
into the world and the life of a lighthouse keepers’ family in
1940s New England.
Next I would invite you to watch little Seamond play on the
rocks of her beloved island of Cuttyhunk and peer over her
shoulder as she leads you through the many adventures of
a young child growing up in the shadow of a lighthouse.
Hide in the cellar with Seamond and her family while Navy
bombs rain down on their island home disrupting a
beachside family celebration and narrowly missing the
lighthouse tower. Feel her disappointment when the
Editor’s Note: I also purchased a related children’s book
entitled “Love from the Sky: Seamond and the Flying Santa”
by Angeli Perrow and Heidi Farrow. It is a beautifully
illustrated true story about Seamond Ponsart Roberts and
makes a wonderful addition to my library of children’s
lighthouse books. I purchased one copy to share with my
grandchildren and donated the second copy to a local
library.
Page 30
MYSTERY OF LIGHTHOUSE PHOTO SOLVED
Editor’s Note: On page 7 of
the 3rd Quarter 2013 issue of
the Newsletter we published
a request for assistance in
identifying the lighthouse in
a photo sent to us by
Mauricio
Arruga,
who
located
the
World
Lighthouse Society via the
Internet. Several of our
members (including your
editor)
thought
the
lighthouse looked familiar,
but weren’t quite able to
solve the mystery. That is,
until WLS member Michel
Forand of Canada joined us
in the search. What follows is
a series of messages sent by
various members in their
quest to solve the mystery,
along
with
the
photo
originally sent to us by
Mauricio.
Dear Professor Rowlett,
We have had an enquiry to try to identify the lighthouse in
the attached link and hope that you may be able to assist.
http://ryane.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/
lighthouse.jpg
Kind regards
Peter Williams
Administration Officer
Dear Mauricio,
identical, to the Cape Elizabeth East tower. I considered
the possibility of its being a replica, but could not locate
one that looked like this tower.
I have now dug a little deeper, using the address (URL) of
the lighthouse image as a clue (http://ryane.com/wpcontent/uploads/2007/05/lighthouse.jpg), and I believe I
have found the source of the mystery. In a way, the photo
does show a replica, but not a physical one.
ryane.com is the address of a now-inactive blog
maintained by someone named Ryan Ellis. From his blog, I
gather that Ellis is a photographer and computer graphics
artist, possibly a computer games designer as well,
probably in his 20s. The year 2007 in the URL led me to this
page, showing the photo in question:
http://www.ryane.com/?p=124.
Note his statement about “this lighthouse I did a few years
ago”, which I take to mean “this lighthouse image I
created a few years ago.”
In other words, I now believe the very realistic image of the
lighthouse was created by Ellis, probably combining the
Cape Elizabeth East Tower for the top portion of the tower
and another, unknown lighthouse for the bottom portion,
and using the Maya graphics software to create the
seamless image of the tower.
The combination of the two portions is very cleverly done,
but the rest of the image is not quite so realistic. If you
magnify the photo, you can see that the rocks look like cutouts: Ellis probably used the computer program to draw or
superimpose them (and the sand) on the photo of the
composite lighthouse he created.
I wonder how many other computer-created “mystery
lighthouse” images are out there?
Regards,
Michel
Further to your enquiry about the identity of the lighthouse.
After extensive research I failed to identify the lighthouse
image and asked for assistance from the publisher of the
widely respected Lighthouse Directory who in turn asked
one of his contributors. I am forwarding his reply for your
interest.
Dear Peter,
Regards
Peter Williams
Administration Officer
I am very thankful for all efforts made by this Society in
order to respond my inquiry. As I mentioned previously, I
didn't expect all the attention given on the matter by all of
you. I'm very glad for ending the search with your help.
Hello Peter and Russ,
Please, forward my gratitude to Mr. Michel Forand, Mr. Russ
Rowlett and especially to Ms. Donna Suchomelly, and you,
of course.
My immediate reaction when I saw the photo was that the
tower was very similar, but upon closer inspection not fully
Best regards,
Mauricio Arruga
I also found the lighthouse posted very similar to Cape
Elizabeth Tower but a few details have intrigued me.
Page 31
4th Quarter 2013
PHOTO TOUR OF LV 50 LIGHTSHIP
Our House Yacht is now the oldest floating timber light
vessel remaining in Great Britain and only 1 of 3 still
identifiable as a light vessel within the UK. In 1908 there
were 54 light vessels on station mainly around the East
Coast, the Thames Approaches and along the South coast.
She was built in 1879 but the builder and location of her
construction are unknown because all records held by
Trinity House were destroyed in a fire following a bombing
raid in 1940. The only physical identification mark on her is
LV 50 engraved into one of the deck beams in what is now
the Club bar area.
LV 50 Lightship
Today, National Historic Ships UK register her as being of
National Importance. Her dimensions are 100 ft long (30.48
metres) her width is 21ft (6.4 metres) with a draft of 9 ft (2.74
metres). She weighs a little over 230 tons deadweight and
was never fitted with an engine, always being towed to
station.
Her hull construction is very similar to that of an 18th century
fighting ship, being double planked with 3” teak timbers on
4”oak frames set 2’ apart. This is sheathed with a metal
alloy called Muntz to just above the waterline to prevent
attack by shipworms. Her design was developed to ensure
maximum strength whilst moored in some of the most
dangerous waters around the United Kingdom.
LV 50 at Shambles with the
original mast and lantern lifting
gear.
LV 50 retains her original
mast and lifting pulleys for
the lantern. Above this
lifting gear would have
been placed a further
timber top-mast to which
was hoisted a black ball as
a top-mark to denote she
was at anchor.
She was stationed originally
for up to five years on the
Seven Stones reef off the
Isles of Scilly, considered to be the most dangerous reef in
Britain. She was then moved along the South Coast to be
stationed at a sandbank known as Shambles, off
Weymouth, then Warner off the Isle of Wight, Calshot Spit in
Southampton water, then finally Outer Gabbard in the
Thames Approaches North East of Felixstowe.
Her crew consisted of 11 men including the ship’s master.
Generally the crew served 4 weeks afloat then 2 weeks on
shore unless the weather was too rough for them to be
removed. Totally self-sufficient they had to remain on
station in the wildest of weather & roughest of seas to
ensure the safety of vessels passing by the hazard.
Her signal lantern was
hoisted and lowered to
the deck using the
lifting pulleys from a
winch behind the mast
on the main deck.
Every
morning
the
lantern was lowered,
cleaned and refilled
with shale oil. She was
never
fitted
with
Lantern lowered to the deck
electric
light
for
signaling. Here the lantern has been lowered into the deckhouse for cleaning & refilling. The lamp flash sequence
varied according to the station she was on. For example on
Calshot Spit it was simply a revolving plain flash. On Seven
Stones it was a triple group flash.
LV 50 was also fitted with a reed fog-horn powered by a
manual pump. In later years she was also fitted with a
submarine bell to be lowered into the water which gave a
greater signal range. All this equipment was removed by
the breakers with the exception of the lantern,
subsequently removed by us as it was in a poor state of
repair and to reduce the sway on the vessel when moored
to a jetty.
These vessels were normally on station for up to 3 years
before being towed to a depot for service & repair. At this
point they were often re-chained and anchors changed to
account for a new station sea bed. Normally in sand or silt
an
inverted
mushroom anchor
was used and in
the case of reefs
a Martin anchor
was utilized.
LV 50 in drydock.
50
was
subsequently
decommissioned
in the mid 1900’s
and moved to a
breaker’s yard in
Ipswich where she
Page 32
was rescued by us and towed to Blyth. Today she is our
much loved House Yacht and she has been transformed
inside to provide, a bar, a saloon and associated galley
able to serve an a la-carte menu to members who enjoy
many functions on board her during the year.
The upper deck is entered through the door on the Port
side into a small reception area with access down to the
lower deck area. At its rear is the galley fitted with an
electric cooking range and right at the stern is a small
storage cupboard with access to the rudder- stock. A
corridor on the starboard side leads to the forecastle past a
race office as well as toilets & showers. These were installed
Cast iron “knees” supporting the timber ribs and top deck. Also
note the heavy plates in the ceiling
Forward of this modified deck-house area were located the
towing bits and anchor windlass with chain exiting through
hawse pipes to the anchors resting against the stem
cheeks. In this area, you will also see an exposed part of the
timber bulwark showing the internal rib together with both a
metal rivet and a wooden locating peg. The timber is in
surprisingly good condition.
As you go downstairs, the saloon in the forward part of the
vessel has been split into two areas with an emergency exit
The anchor windlass
by the Club for the use of the members. Previously located
in this area was a deck-house, skylight to the lower deck
and the exhaust pipe for the crew’s cooking stove.
The saloon is currently being used as the club room.
located at the forward bulkhead. The upper area of this
saloon was where the crew slept in hammocks. The lower
area contained their mess table and cooking range.
Stairs leading down to the saloon
You will notice the cast iron brackets or knees supporting
the timber ribs and top deck. Also notice within the deck
ceiling there are some metal plates. Although a timber
vessel, metal plates provided additional strength for the
anchor windlass, towing bits and some additional deck
gear. The anchor chains dropped through here from the
main deck and were stored in the bilge below the crew
sleeping area. The exposed chain was shackled to deck
4th Quarter 2013
Page 33
used to drive the rotation of the lantern when hoisted
allowing the other [passing] vessel to observe a flashing
sequence of lights.
The rear part of the vessel is now used as a bar for members
but originally contained the oil storage room and the
Master’s cabin.
Today we are embarking on a project to preserve the
vessel for future generations. This will mean some extensive
repair work to rotten timbers, deck & hull seam caulking
and replacement of the stem (bow) section. As part of this
we will undertake significant research both as to the
vessel’s history but also its design and construction.
The rear part of the saloon is now used as a bar.
support stanchions of which there were 4 in this sleeping
area.
Metal plate was used for protection when filling the lamp
with shale oil, preventing any risk of oil impregnation of
timbers, a major fire hazard. Remember, this vessel used oil
lamps to provide signaling.
The main-mast is also seen at the rear of the saloon and this
is taken right through onto the keel to provide strength. In
front of the mast was originally the clockwork mechanism
We are therefore keen to attract volunteers to become
Friends of LV 50 and help us in this task. There will be
significant opportunities to learn about the vessel’s history
and its use in the 19th & early 20th century. In particular, as
part of the planned preservation project (subject to
funding) you can be trained to help us measure, record,
photograph, document, archive and present the material
to other interested parties.
If you are interested in participating in this exciting venture
then please contact us by email: mikewade60@
btinternet.com
Mike Wade (England)
The Friends of LV 50 Lightship
St. Paul Island South Point, Canada
Photo by Dennis Jarvis
Le Four Lighthouse, France
Photo by Graham Rabbitts
Page 34
NEWS FROM THE LAKE PONCHARTRAIN BASIN FOUNDATION
Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation's New Canal Lighthouse
Museum on Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans is ready for visitors
Lake
Pontchartrain
Basin
Foundation’s
New
A Christmas light celebration at the New Canal Lighthouse
Canal
Lighthouse in New Orleans is now open to the public,
operating as a museum, education center and gift shop.
The lighthouse was destroyed by the hurricanes of 2005 and
was an icon to the city.
Lake Pontchartrain Basin
Foundation, a local non-profit environmental organization,
raised money for seven years and with the donations of
many, broke ground in 2012 to rebuild a replica of the 1890
structure. The goal was to create a venue where visitors
could come hear the history of the lighthouse (four have
stood on the site since 1839), the successes of Lake
Pontchartrain’s clean-up, and the challenges faced by
Louisiana’s coastal land loss. The only variation in
construction was to make it “hurricane proof” as it is located
outside of the city’s levee system. The building was raised 19
feet to protect against storm surge. The museum is housed
on the first level and much of the materials from the 1890
structure were used in the rebuild.
Runners prepare to start at the second annual walk/run at the
New Canal Lighthouse
Today, over 2,500 visitors have come through the New
Canal Lighthouse, toured the museum and participated in
one of the many activities. We have hosted a Walk/Run,
Fishing Camp, Parties, Christmas event, and daily museum
tours. Please come to New Orleans to visit the lighthouse,
hear the stories of the region and enjoy the recreation Lake
Pontchartrain and New Orleans has to offer.
To
visit
LPBF’s
New
Canal
Lighthouse
see
www.saveourlake.org or come out to the New Orleans
lakefront, (8001 Lakeshore Dive, New Orleans LA, 70122.)
Joann Burke (U.S.A.)
Lake Ponchartrain Basin Foundation
John C. Burrus School of Fish teaches children how to enjoy
Lake Pontchartrain
Page 35
4th Quarter 2013
OBITUARIES
Robert Scott; 21 May 1942 – 17 October 2013
Aged 71
Thibault Turenne; Deceased 12 November 2013
Aged 74
We recently received word of the death of WLS member The WLS also received word of the sudden death of
Robert Scott, from Luncarty, Scotland. Bob spent a large
part of his working life in the RAC where he rose in rank from
patrolman to superintendent with responsibility for the North
of Scotland, the Highlands and Islands. In the 1990s he
entered politics and was successfully elected to Perth and
Kinross District Council and served in that role until his
retirement in 2007. Bob distinguished himself in many ways
including meeting all the senior members of the Royal
Family and, acting as civic head, hosting the G8
Conference at Gleneagles Hotel in 2005 where he
welcomed world leaders such as then U.S. President
George Bush.
Bob’s interests were many. He served as vice chairman of
the local branch of the National Trust for Scotland, was a
Friend of the Far North Rail Line and an officer of St. John
Scotland. His interests in maps led him to become a
volunteer with the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. He
was also a life member of the Friends of Perth and Kinross
Archive and a member of the RSPB (the Royal Society for
Protection of Birds). Bob was also an elder of his local
church where he undertook the duties of presbytery elder
for more than ten years.
Bob had a lifelong fascination with lighthouses. Following his
retirement he took up pharology, the science of lighthouses
and made many friends in the lighthouse community.
Having visited every lighthouse in Britain and others further
afield, he quickly gained an encyclopedic knowledge of
lighthouses and was a popular lecturer on the subject.
member Thibault Turenne, who lived in Perros-Guirec,
France. Thibault was a great-grandson of M. Frederic
Barbier and a grandson of M. Paul Turenne, who together
with M. Fenestre founded the BBT (Barbier, Berbnard et
Turenne) company, responsible for the installation of Fresnel
lenses, lighthouses and light vessels all over the world.
Thibault studied at the Institut Supérieur d'Electronique de Paris, a
French institute located in Paris specializing in electronics,
telecommunication and computer science.
When Thibault retired from his work he started to collect
information on his family’s company. He already had in his
collection many photos, plans and contracts, but he was
eager to find more information and hoped to one day
publish a book. Thibault participated in an exposition on
lighthouses and assisted WLS member Thomas Tag with the
writing of an article on BBT lens making. In addition to being
a member of the WLS, Thibault also was a member of the
Société Nationale Pour le Patrimoine des Phares et Balises,
the French National Society for the Heritage Lighthouse
and Beacons.
Thibault is survived by his wife, Marie France, along with his
children and their families as well as all who had the
pleasure of knowing him.
Bob is survived by his younger sister, Anne Stewart, and the
many other family members, friends and former colleagues
who loved and respected him.
Recently Restored Roanoke River Light , U.S.A.
Photo by Charles Bash
Gibalta Light, Lisbon, Portugal
Photo by Karl Agre, M.D.
Page 36
STATEN ISLAND’S NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE MUSEUM TARGETS 7 AUGUST
2014 GRAND OPENING
The heavy snows and frigid temps of the recent polar
located just to the north of the terminal. Almost 160 feet
taller than the London Eye, the new wheel will tower 600
feet above the shoreline, giving its passengers spectacular
vortex that slammed the Northeast did nothing to cool the
views of New York harbor, the Manhattan skyline, the
enthusiasm of the Board of Trustees of the National
Verrazano Narrows Bridge, and beyond.
Lighthouse Museum (NLM) in Staten Island, New York.
Having recently reached their interim fundraising goal of On the south side of the ferry terminal, the National
$350,000, the Trustees are in the process of negotiating a Lighthouse Museum will be the anchor of a cultural plaza
lease, with the City of New York, for the museum’s new and commercial/residential development on the grounds of
home adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry terminal on the St. the former Headquarters of the U.S. Lighthouse Service. As a
George waterfront. The fundraising efforts continue part of its Lighthouse Point project, the developer, Triangle
however, as the NLM needs to raise another $300,000 to Equities Development, LLC plans to build new commercial
open its doors to the public.
and residential spaces on the site and also to renovate and
August 2014 Grand Opening Planned
The Grand Opening of the NLM is planned to take place on
August 7th, 2014, the anniversary of President George
Washington’s historic proclamation that gave birth to what
eventually became the U.S. Lighthouse Service. “We are
working hard to see that our museum is launched on the
anniversary of George Washington’s proclamation,”
explained NLM Executive Director Linda Dianto. “This will be
a great celebration for Staten Island and a real win for
lighthouse lovers all around the country. We now have
museum members in almost every state. This is truly a
National museum and, with our location next to the ferry
terminal, we expect to be visited by large numbers of
foreign tourists, as well.”
re-purpose several of its historic buildings to maintain the 19th
century feel of the St. George waterfront.
The NLM will offer more than just a one-stop cultural
experience to its guests. “In the past, tourists never even got
off the ferry. Now, we expect that our museum will serve as
a cultural gateway to all of Staten Island for tens of
thousands,” said Dianto. “We will be able to provide our
guests with information about other local museums and
cultural sites here on the island, and explain transportation
options to get them there.”
Museum’s Historic Site Served as a U.S. Lighthouse
Service General Depot
The initial home of the National Lighthouse Museum will be
Building 11, the former U.S. Lighthouse Service (USLS)
General Depot foundry that gave birth to many of the
mechanical components of lighthouses around the country.
It was on this site, from 1864 to 1939, that lighthouses and
their components were designed, tested and manufactured
and complex Fresnel lenses, imported from France, were
assembled. “This site is so rich in the history of lighthouses,”
said Dianto. “We are so very eager to give the public an
understanding of the importance of lighthouses and their
keepers to the commerce of the United States, and how this
particular site played such an important role in that effort.”
The National Lighthouse Museum plans to open its first building,
located on the left (with the black roof) on 7 August 2014.
Award winning museum designer Lee H. Skolnick
Architecture + Design Partnership is in the process of taking
its conceptual museum design to completion. The new
museum will feature displays of lights from around the
country, histories of lighthouses around the world and a
small theater area. Plans also include exhibits describing the
history of the USLS at the Staten Island site and displays that
will provide visitors with an overview of the maritime history
of New York harbor.
The National Lighthouse Museum is the key cultural element
in the tremendous ongoing renaissance of Staten Island’s
North Shore. Developers recently inked deals to build a
designer outlet mall, a hotel, and commercial space above
the existing ferry terminal parking lots. Design work is
underway for the world’s largest Ferris wheel, which will be
An important feature of the museum’s initial exhibits is the
“Wall of Lights” which will feature models of famous
lighthouses from around the world. Each of these scale
models will have been sponsored by a $1000 donation, with
the donor’s name engraved beneath the display. “The Wall
of Lights has been a very successful part of our fundraising
effort,” explained Museum Executive Director Dianto. 102
4th Quarter 2013
Page 37
models have been sponsored to date, but we still have 198
models that are available. The list of lights that are still
available is posted on www.lighthousemuseum.org.
Donations can be made directly on the website.
museum office or a multi-media display. And as previously
mentioned, gifts of as little as $1,000 can support the named
display of a model of a famous lighthouse on the museum’s
“Wall of Lights”.
The museum will also focus on the lives and duties of
lightkeepers around the world. Part of the museum’s mission
is to let our visitors understand the importance of the
lightkeepers and the conditions that they worked under
while maintaining these vital aids to navigation. One of the
museum’s leading benefactors, New York businessman John
Catsimatidis, the son of a Greek lightkeeper, was drawn to
the cause of the museum as a way to honor his father and
others who performed this difficult duty.
For a limited time, the museum is offering Lifetime Founding
Memberships as an important means to raise the cash
needed to open the doors in August. For a donation of only
$500 an individual will become a Lifetime NLM Member with
a special distinction. If donated before the 7 August 2014
Grand Opening, that member will be forever enshrined in
the museum as one of its Founding Members, with their
names displayed on a wall in the museum and on the NLM
website in perpetuity.
Critical Fundraising Efforts Continue
We encourage everyone to visit the NLM website and make
a generous donation. Now is the time to come onboard.
The National Lighthouse Museum still needs the assistance of For more information about naming opportunities, please
lighthouse enthusiasts everywhere to reach its financial goal contact NLM Executive Director Linda Dianto directly at 347of $650,000 by 7 August 2014. Many naming opportunities 463-1119.
still exist within the museum for donors of all levels. The
exterior of the museum, including exhibits consisting of John Arntzen, 2nd
actual aids to navigation, can be named for an individual, VP, Board of Trustees
group or company for $125,000. $30,000 can name a Fresnel National Lighthouse Museum
Light display. A gift of $20,000 can provide a named
Artist’s rendering of the proposed National Lighthouse Museum
Page 38
MEMBERSHIP
If you know anyone who might be interested in joining the WLS, a once only joining fee of £22 (28 Euro, US $40*) to cover
administration costs has been initiated, to cover both individual and organization memberships.
For members without Internet access, hard copies of the newsletter will be mailed for a yearly printing fee of £25 (30 Euro,
US $40*).
Payment can be made by GBP£ cheque made payable to “World Lighthouse Society”, UK banknotes, or Euros. PLEASE
NOTE: We cannot process any cheques other than GBP Sterling cheques, and we cannot accept MasterCard or Visa.
Membership applications and fees may be sent to:
Administrative Officer
The Anchorage
Craignure
Isle of Mull PA65 6AY Scotland
Email: [email protected]
* U.S.A. membership applications and fees (U.S. check or money order made payable to “Donna Suchomelly”) should be
sent to:
Donna Suchomelly
1 Ironstone Drive
Reading PA 19606 U.S.A.
Membership fees can also be paid via PayPal by contacting the Administrative Officer at the above address.
Membership Statistics as of 31 December 2013
Organizations: 21
Individuals: 271
Countries represented: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Canary Islands, Chile, Croatia, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
United States of America, Wales
WLS Flickr Group and Facebook Statistics as of 31 December 2013
Flickr Group Members: 1,772
Photos in Flickr Group: 19,445
Facebook Members: 385
NEWSLETTERS
Many thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue.
Images have been kindly provided by members of the WLS
unless specified otherwise and are protected by copyright.
Comments made by individuals in the Newsletter are not necessarily the views of the WLS.
Copy dates for the next 4 issues are:
1st Quarter 2014 – 31st March (for publication end of April)
2nd Quarter 2014 – 3oth June (for publication end of July)
3rd Quarter 2014 – 30th September (for publication end of October)
4th Quarter 2014 – 31st December (for publication end of January)
© 2013 World Lighthouse Society
Page 39
4th Quarter 2013
OFFICER & EXECUTIVE BOARD CONTACT INFORMATION
If you wish to contact the World Lighthouse Society please contact:
f
Chairman:
Jürgen Tronicke
Boskamp 65
D-2414 Gettorf
Germany
Tel: 0049 4346 6000 341
or
[email protected]
Vice Chairman:
Egbert Koch
Stauffenbergstr. 13
22587 Hamburg
Germany
Tel: 0049 40860442
Administrative Officer:
Peter Williams
32, Fairfax Road
London W4 1EW
United Kingdom
Webmaster:
Ian Wright
18 Heol Conwy
Abergele
Conwy
LL22 7UT
North Wales
Newsletter Editor:
All contributions to the newsletter
should be sent to:
Donna Suchomelly
1 Ironstone Drive
Reading, PA 19606, U.S.A.
Tel: 001 610 779 3260
Esbjörn Hillberg (Sweden)
Donso Backe 16
S-43082 Donso.
Sweden
Lord Hector MacKenzie (Scotland)
60 Oxhill Place
Keil Park, Dumbarton G82 4QU
Scotland
Gerry Douglas-Sherwood (England)
32 Queens Road
Bungay, Suffolk NR35 1RL
England
Rosalie Davis Gibb (England)
J6 Simpson Close
North Walsham
Norfolk NR28 0HZ
England
Kathy Brown (Canada)
5 Whimsical Lake Crescent
Halifax, NS B3P 2P9
Canada

4th Quarter 2013 - World Lighthouse Society

Transcription

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