Music @ Dunnet Head Lighthouse

**The Pepsi Challenge** · 11-Dec-08, 15:09

A positive piece in today's Scotsman about said topic.

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/ente...icleid=4781813

**Kodiak** · 11-Dec-08, 17:07

From the Scotsman Newspaper - The first time I saw the insides of the Dunnet Head Lighthouse complex I was 15 years old. That was December 1992 – three years after all British lighthouses had been automated

This report by Barry Gordon is not entirely accurate. It would have been simple to check on the NLB Web Page. He says he visited Dunnet Head Lighthouse in 1992 which was three years after all Lighthouses were Automated. This would mean that all Lighthouses were Automated by 1989.

WRONG !! In 1989 I was working on Stroma as a Lighthouse Keeper and it was not until 1990 it was decided to speed up the Automation Policy. I was made redundant in 1991 due to Automation but Lighthouses were still manned for some years after this.

The Last few Lighthouses were made Automatic on the 31 March 1998 some 9 years after what this Reporter claims. One of the Last Lights to go automatic was "Cape Wrath Lighthouse" where I was stationed for four and a half years in the 70's & 80's.

http://www.nlb.org.uk/ourlights/history/capewrath.htm

K

**Tighsonas4** · 11-Dec-08, 18:00

Originally Posted by Kodiak

This report by Barry Gordon is not entirely accurate. It would have been simple to check on the NLB Web Page. He says he visited Dunnet Head Lighthouse in 1992 which was three years after all Lighthouses were Automated. This would mean that all Lighthouses were Automated by 1989.

WRONG !! In 1989 I was working on Stroma as a Lighthouse Keeper and it was not until 1990 it was decided to speed up the Automation Policy. I was made redundant in 1991 due to Automation but Lighthouses were still manned for some years after this.

The Last few Lighthouses were made Automatic on the 31 March 1998 some 9 years after what this Reporter claims. One of the Last Lights to go automatic was "Cape Wrath Lighthouse" where I was stationed for four and a half years in the 70's & 80's.

http://www.nlb.org.uk/ourlights/history/capewrath.htm

K

was the shore station in golspie at that time??? tony

**Kodiak** · 11-Dec-08, 18:12

Yes it was in Golspie, I lived in Ross Street, but all the other Keepers lived in Tower Street.

We used to get a Taxi out to the Kyle of Durness and then we took the Small Ferry Launch across the Kyle, John Muir was the Boatman. There waiting for us on the other side was the Lighthouse Land Rover and we would drive the eleven and half miles up to the lighthouse. It was in about 1981 that we had the helicopter put on for the relief and we thne drove up to Dounreay and met the Helicopter there and we flown out to the Lighthouse.

K

**webmannie** · 11-Dec-08, 18:57

Originally Posted by Kodiak

It was in about 1081 that we had the helicopter

Amazing even before Leonardo da Vinci created a design for a machine, Groundbreaking crowd that lighthouse board

**Tighsonas4** · 11-Dec-08, 19:00

hi kodiak
was the principal keeper donald something at that time???its surprising the facts they get wrong now
its says on that other site that pladda got a boat twice on sunday for the kirk
we spent 14 months on it and was only off once for holidays. the boatman came once a week weather permitting from kildonan
i did north rorthronaldsay. pladda and ushenish and in our time in oban had relieved on dubheartic more than enough

only did 6 years and gave it up[no shore stations] regards tony

**Kodiak** · 11-Dec-08, 19:41

When I first arrived at Cape Wrath it was Johhny Pearson and Ewen Stewart who were the Principal Keepers. In about 1982 Donald McLeod replaced Ewen Stewart and a Better man you could not have met.

When I was a Supernumerary I was at Girdle Ness, Pladda, Neist Point, Cantick Head, Rattray Head and Ailsa Craig.

As a Keeper I was at Cape Wrath, Stroma and Muckle Flugga.

Then as an Attendant Observer at Holburn Head.

In all I lasted out a total of 25 Years for the Lighthouse Board, 9 Years with the Coast Guard and 5 Years with the Met Office. This was all during the same time period and while I worked as a Keeper.

My wife was also one of the very few Female Keepers and we were the only Lighthouse Keepers who were not only Married but worked at two different Lighthouses. There were a few married Lightkeepers but all, except us, worked at the same Lighthouse.

K

**buffy** · 11-Dec-08, 20:30

Wow what an amazing article! It sounds like they're doing something really great out there.

**Tighsonas4** · 11-Dec-08, 20:32

i did my supernumery all at north ronaldsay and was posted as assissant keeper to pladda right away
i go to golspie quite a lot and it was there that i met donald
the wife and bairns were delighted in oban. the house was new built when we went there .of course i only had 4 months a year there regards tony

**fingalmacool** · 12-Dec-08, 00:58

Originally Posted by Kodiak

This report by Barry Gordon is not entirely accurate. It would have been simple to check on the NLB Web Page. He says he visited Dunnet Head Lighthouse in 1992 which was three years after all Lighthouses were Automated. This would mean that all Lighthouses were Automated by 1989.

WRONG !! In 1989 I was working on Stroma as a Lighthouse Keeper and it was not until 1990 it was decided to speed up the Automation Policy. I was made redundant in 1991 due to Automation but Lighthouses were still manned for some years after this.

The Last few Lighthouses were made Automatic on the 31 March 1998 some 9 years after what this Reporter claims. One of the Last Lights to go automatic was "Cape Wrath Lighthouse" where I was stationed for four and a half years in the 70's & 80's.

http://www.nlb.org.uk/ourlights/history/capewrath.htm

K

GONIE NO DO THAT,JUST GONIE NO?

Yuv taken that too far

**Kodiak** · 12-Dec-08, 12:59

Originally Posted by fingalmacool

GONIE NO DO THAT,JUST GONIE NO?

Yuv taken that too far

It might be splitting hairs to you that someone reporting that 70 Odd Lighthouses were closed in 1989 when they were not, also that he was 9 years out in time scale.

This to me is a bit more than splitting hairs and I believe that a writer for a Newspaper such as "The Scotsman" should research all details before he writes on a subject and not just write what he thinks he remembers from when he was 15 Years old.

**veekay** · 12-Dec-08, 13:30

Wow what an amazing article! It sounds like they're doing something really great out there.

A little bit of an understatement I think..

**trix** · 12-Dec-08, 14:11

Originally Posted by veekay

Wow what an amazing article! It sounds like they're doing something really great out there.

A little bit of an understatement I think..

absolutely!!!

**The Pepsi Challenge** · 16-Dec-08, 04:34

Thanks to those with the kind words.

As for those complaining about lighthouses and when they were automated - I got my information from two (supposedly) good resources. Sorry for the upset, it clearly struck a very, very bad nerve.

**buggyracer** · 16-Dec-08, 10:44

Originally Posted by The Pepsi Challenge

Thanks to those with the kind words.

As for those complaining about lighthouses and when they were automated - I got my information from two (supposedly) good resources. Sorry for the upset, it clearly struck a very, very bad nerve.

but it was in the paper???? it must be true

**Sporran** · 17-Dec-08, 07:18

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your article, Pepsi! Very interesting and well written.

**Saveman** · 17-Dec-08, 12:24

Excellent article TPC!

**Gleber2** · 17-Dec-08, 15:09

Aye, TPC, a good article which can only help the cause of quality live music in Caithness. Dunnet was automated in 1989 but our resident Org pedants are right about the rest.
Another point, Roddy frame has never played here. Roddy Hart has, however.
Thanks again for the publicity.
BTW, Did the piece get into the Record?