Association of Lighthouse Keepers

Keepers

The process of lighthouse automation began in the late 1960s with the introduction of helicopter reliefs, but most lighthouses remained manned until the 1980s and 1990s.

On 31st March 1998 Fair Isle South Lighthouse in Shetland became the last Scottish lighthouse to be automated, the last keepers being Sandy Wright, Archie MacEachern, Alan Chamberlain, Angus Hutchison, Bill Gault, Jim Watt, Alan Crowe and Hector Lamont, attended by HRH The Princess Royal.

In England, the last lighthouse to be automated was North Foreland Lighthouse on 26th November 1998.  The last six Trinity House Keepers Dave Appleby, Colin Bale, Dermot Cronin, Tony Homewood, Barry Simmons and Tristan Sturley completed their service in a ceremony attended by the Master, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. 

North Foreland automation ceremony, November 1998
North Foreland automation ceremony, November 1998

The last Irish lighthouse to be automated was Baily Lighthouse, Howth, Dublin; the old CIL Training School (known to the keepers as the Howth Hilton) on 24th March 1997.

Although UK lighthouses are no longer manned, they are still looked after by a number of part time Attendants and Retained Lighthouse Keepers.

ALK DVD: Keeping Light Mini Videos

Lightvessels

The last lightvessel to be automated was LV23 CHANNEL on 10th June 1989. LV23 (the old Mersey Docks and Harbour Board ‘PLANET’) was replaced by LV19A (LightVessel 19 Automatic)
The last Lightsmen were: Charles Wood (Master), Peter Hocking (Senior Lightsman), William Sheridan (Senior Lightsman), Derek Parsons ( Lightsman), and Barry Todd (Temporary Lightsman).

Keepers Records

The Association of Lighthouse Keepers does not hold records of serving and retired Lighthouse Keepers.
However, the following links may be of use:

 

 

 

 

 

Lighthouse Service

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Books

 

 

 

 

 

Flashes of Memory: A Childhood among the Clyde Lighthouses Mary GillandersAcair Books (2020)
Archie’s Lights – the life and times of a Scottish Lightkeeper Archie MacEachernWhittles Publishing (2019)
Living By The Lighthouse Lorna HanwellLorna Hanwell (2018)
Last Keepers – Lighthouse Stories Tony BeddardAustin MacCauley Publishing (2018)
The Boy Who Built Lighthouses – Memoirs of a Travelling Lighthouse Keeper – Brendan ConwayBrendan Conway (2017)
The Lightkeeper – A Memoir – Gerald ButlerThe Liffey Press Ltd (2012)
The Keepers – A Historical Novel Based on Real Characters – Ken TretheweyJazz-Fusion Books (2012)
Hands That Made Lights Work – Gordon PartridgeAuthor House (2010)
Strangers to the Land – Ruth DicksonRuth Dickson (2009)
Star of The Four Kingdoms – Peter J HillPeter J Hill (2009)
RNLI Grace Darling Museum – Jane Bulmer, Malcolm Crampton and Jill FenwickRNLI Heritage House Group (2009)
An Illuminating Experience – Gordon MedlicottWhittles Publishing (2009)
On The Rocks – A Lightkeeper’s Tale – Lawrence TullochThe Shetland Times Ltd (2009)
From a Rock to a Hard Place – Dale VargasDale Vargas (2008)
Grace Darling – Hugh CunninghamHambleton Continuum (2007)
Last of the Line – Patricia GumbrellWhittles Publishing (2005)
Born on the edge of white water – Leonard V StockerPen Press Publishers Ltd (2004)
Stargazing – Memoirs of a Lighthouse Keeper – Peter HillCanongate (2003)
As Long as Water Flows – An Islay Lighthouse Boatman – Dougie MacDougallThe Celtic House (2002)
Twelve Light Years – Margaret AitkenBirlinn (2002)
No More Paraffin-Oilers – Ian CassellsWhittles Publishing (2000)
It was Fun While It Lasted – A J LaneWhittles Publishing (1998)
A Quiet Life – Martha RobertsonWhittles Publishing (1997)

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