This is part 2 of the Needles Lighthouse at Christmas video. In it you will be given a full tour of the Lighthouse by Gerry Douglas- Sherwood, Principal Keeper.
Absolutely fantastic to watch! From the days when things were done properly and people cared. . These films you made are going to be a big part of history. . Excellent work..
Fantastic videos, it's strange as this kind of filming we take for granted in the current day but during the 90's it was quite rare, a fantastic record of a way of life that is made all so real by these films.
Inside the vertical submarine where so much technology is packed. Its a learning experience that so many renovations go on through time. I used to think of lighthouses as nothing more then a light without considering complexities. Thank you Peter.
No Idea how I got on a you tube rabbit hole about light houses but I ended up watching this. I can’t say I’m a avid fan but I’ve always loved Light houses and seen the Isle of Wight one from afar on holiday and wondered what it looked like inside and now I know! Such incredible feats of engineering being built when they were and still standing!
Thank you very much. I just wish that I could have done more but there were several lights that were happy to welcome me aboard to film but then vanished so that I couldn't film them. Still, can't get everything my own way Ha! Take care
@@PeterHalil it is lovely you recorded what you did and immortalize the great work the Lighthouse keepers did before they were assigned to the pages of history.
Learned so much from this video. Answered many questions I had, absolutely top drawer job filming and explaining the works. Thank you so much. Learned that the various color plates would direct beams of red, green, or white out to specific headings at sea. As you approached from sea, the color you witnessed would correspond to certain features and guide your navigation! I learned about the lamp table with a spare. And the emergency cluster of battery driven lamps to be used if neither main lamps were operable. How to prepare the weather report, including determining the eye of the wind by finding the dead air spot on the galley, and estimating the force, and how to estimate visibility using the three sighting targets from the control room. And finally how to prepare, use and dispose of waste using the old toilet bucket. The last bit, going out on the galley to chuck the waste into the sea...better know how to determine the eye of the wind, lest it come back to haunt you so to speak. Pity the hapless soul who might be below during the casting! One of the best episodes to be sure.
Hi Geoffrey, The one big No No back in the bucket & Chuck it days, was not Knowing where the others were before you chucked it! Glad you enjoy the videos, stay safe and take care.
Brilliantly presented, such knowledge and easy manner and excellently filmed, never taking away from the experience of the lighthouse, only enhancing it. Absolutely fascinating. I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying these videos! Thank you for all your hard work! 🤗
Super fascinating. My parents were avid sea sailors, so as children we sailed from the Netherlands to various locations including via the Solent to Cowes and beyond. All in the 1980s. Sailing along the Needles was really something. A majestic scene to behold. And yes, so I have seen your work in progress. It goes without saying that those lighthouses along the coast were unimaginably fascinating as a child, at sea, at night, sometimes with the foghorn on. Really fun to see what life was like inside. I never knew it was such teamwork. Thanks for these videos!
Thank you very much, so glad you have found my channel. Also, so glad it has triggered so many great memories. I hope you still have many more sea adventures to come, thanks again and stay safe.
Fascinating stuff. He's a knowledgeable and kind sounding man. There's a programme called Last Lighthouse Keepers on You Tube and he's on that as well. An absolute natural at talking to camera. Yet another great film - thank you and happy Christmas!
Yes Gerry was one of those rare Keepers that didn't mind being filmed, full of knowledge about his station, and yes great to be around. Glad you liked the video, Merry Christmas.
Another gem! Thanks Peter! It was not a comfy life, having to do shifts, sleep near the foghorn and do your business in a bucket, but it looks so peaceful and easy going when one looks at it through the lens of time... Take care! :)
HaHa!, hi, I never had the joys of using a bucket on a Lighthouse, as for the shifts & noise, it was part and parcel of the life we chose. Most Lighthouse keepers seemed to enjoy it all, I certainly did, to be honest, it was magical, cheers, take care.
Loved all of the insights of a job as a Lighthouse Keeper. Very, very interestingly put together. Lovely tour of the lighthouse, thank you. Your original form of sanitation was also known as 'bucket & chuck it!'.
I love the calm, collected professionalism of these gentlemen, and having been born and raised on the Island, used to dream of being a lighthouse keeper at the Needles (might have had something to do with my obsession with the children's book "Tim to the lighthouse").
Thank you very much for your kind comments and your memories. Yes it was a great job/way of life, while it lasted, now gone forever. There are lots of days when I really miss it. Cheers and stay safe.
Thank you for posting this one, Peter. Definitely my favourite in the series. I have been within yards of this light in a tourist boat, so to have such a good poke around inside completes the story for me. The narration, with history from your fellow keepers, was the icing on the cake. Many thanks, again. Oh, and a Merry Crimbo to you and yours.
@@PeterHalil : Mr. Halil, can you tell me in your many years of service, In very bad weather, how a lighthouse held up. Could you hear the ocean from inside and how high the Waves got. Thank you
@@thebestisyettocome4114 I have seen from the shore waves striking the Tower, I have been on board a couple of others out to sea when battered by seas that have gone over the top. The Towers have stood the test of time, and give a bit of a shake when a big wave hits. Yes you hear the waves inside and your ears can pop with the air being compressed inside the Tower, a bit like going up or down in an aircraft.
Dear Peter, thank you very much for your videos, they are a real treasure for me. I somehow am addicted to lighthouses since my early childhood days when I got on my families nerves demanding to visit every lighthouse on every holiday we spent at the sea. I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year and I'm looking forward for alle your videos, which may will come. Best regards from Germany, Henning.
Hello Germany, Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year to you and your family too. So glad my videos have struck a chord with you, take care. Yes, more videos to come.
Another excellent video Pete, we ex keepers thank you. A very comprehensive walk through by Gerry (Temporary Principal Keeper) and it was nice to see Principal Keeper Ralph again, I have funny story about Ralph his promotion and a brief case, perhaps get round to put it on paper one day. Once again thank you. All the best for the new year.
Thank you, I did try to get those photos to include into this video, but no joy at the moment. If they do appear, I will do my best to include them in forthcoming videos of the needles.
@@PeterHalil Thank you, I found some exterior shots of the lighthouse prior to the heli-pad, it had such a lovely classic lantern top and agree with Gerry's comment. Also found one showing the "souzaphone" fog horns sticking out the top.
Outstanding 2-part series! I can tell these gents got along really well, and I loved that everyone participated in the video, and looked eager to do so. It’s so nice to see everyone’s dedication and passion for their work. I also tip my hat to Peter for documenting all these fascinating moments. Bravo!
Thank you very much Kevin, I really appreciate your comments, so glad you liked the videos, Hopefully the other 2 will read this too. More coming, cheers and stay safe
Great, wish I could have visited too. Their webcam is now back up and running. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WWBd88Yo0R0.html&ab_channel=IsleofWight
Peter, I too would like to say thanks for putting this together, very interesting, I am going to watch the automation of the needles lighthouse now. Perhaps you could make another short video to tell us what you are doing now, retired I guess? if so, do you miss the fog horn?
PARDON! Haha, Yes I'm retired but still editing these videos and trying to visit a few of the lights that I missed. I've still to video my interview about my lighthouse life and will probably talk about what I did after the Lighthouses. Thank you Toni for your kind words, glad you liked the video, cheers and stay safe.
This has been really interesting to watch as even when Lighthouses were open to the public, offshore ones like this would have been off limit so the only way we can see inside is from a keeper with a cam! So glad you preserved on film, a way of life which was about to come to an end with automation. That must have been a sad day for many keepers. I quite like the idea of the isolation......but the engine droning on and on would have driven me bonkers! I was surprised that it wasn't better sound proofed given the location of your kitchen/dining/leisure area and bedrooms. I met a former lighthouse keeper some years ago at the Lighthouse museum in Cornwall. I think at one time he'd worked on Bishops Rock but toward the last few years of his service Trinity House took him off offshore lighthouses and sent him to land based ones. Apparently the pay (on land based lighthouses) is slightly lower than offshore so it affected his final pension.
Thank you for your kind words, much appreciated. As for the noise, it is amazing how much you can put into the background I guess. Sometimes though for some peace and quiet, they were switched off during the day for a couple of hours. Cheers and stay safe.
1st off, thank you to all the light house keepers, for helping keep our waters safe. 2nd i'd wish id never seen these vids. Not in a bad way, Feels strange to be my age now, and finally see something that i really would like to do, and by the time automation had happened i was only 14 years of age and wouldn't of wanted this as a Saturday job had it not of happened. Not a glamorous looking job that is for sure, and i'm sure pay wasn't a selling point for this career choice. But after watching most of your interviews to date. Well the comradeship sells it, the life style choice, often remote and in many cases isolated. Thats before you consider what a honourable position you hold in aiding safety to others. Sadly we live in an age were social media has made us all zombies threw much of the day. In one of your interviews the keeper said the tv has killed hobbies. Once more sadly progress has killed this wonderful world of light house keeping you have shared with us. for that i'm truly grateful. Perhaps life is easier and better now with the world shrunk and answers just a google away in your finger tips. Honestly would bet happier times were had when things were simpler Stuart P.s i do hope there's more interviews to come, and hopefully some memoirs from your good self. i see Gerry is still alive how about the other guy in part 1
Thank you for all those kind words. Yes sometimes progress sucks and sometimes people forget that simple honest things matter more than the latest smart phone. The other guy, Ralphy (Ralph) is still around, but I have only seen a couple of keepers since we were all made redundant, and that was at another keepers funeral. Yes a fair more videos to come, Lighthouses as well as interviews, some better than others. Hopefully, I will also do a self interview and maybe get my journals that I kept over the latter years made into a book, thanks again, stay safe.
What a fantastic in sight into what is a very understood role of a light house keeper. Would it be possible to have a video on the shift pattern and what was undertaken during your shifts. What was expected of a keeper when on watch etc, thanks for effort in these, great job.
Happy New Year, no I don't think it would be possible now to do a video on what you are asking, but..You did 28 days on duty followed by 28 days free from duty, 2 crews of 3 men on a lighthouse, alternating every month. 1st day 0400 am to 1200 mid day then back on duty 2000 8pm) till mid night. 2nd day, 1200 mid day till 2000 (8pm) then midnight till 0400 am...you are then off, free from duty from 4am till you are back on watch the next day at 4 am. On the morning watch (4am till 12 mid day) this was, put the light out at sunrise, then curtains up, then clean the lens. Sweep down the Tower, then wash floors etc. Most of the cleaning jobs were done on this watch. Pump up fuel for the duty engine and probably change engines. You would look after your engines, the light and fog horn. As well as keeping an eye out for the Mariners, you also kept a look out for any approaching fog. If the ship or helicopter came, then you would all work to bring on the fuel or water, water would also be pumped up daily. On your day off, you caught up on sleep, laundry and any hobbies you may have, mine was making videos.A fair amount of my videos are just walk throughs of empty lighthouses, because not all Keepers wanted to be movie stars. The longer videos that I've done are where the Keepers didn't mind being recorded. There are lots of other bits you did, like maintaining the batteries, and some places you collated the weather for the Met office.
Peter Halil thanks for your reply, much appreciated. I would never have thought I would have an interest in lighthouses but your videos and experience have really kicked started an interest. So much so I’m dragging the family out to Spern Point at the weekend followed by a trip to Flamborough Head on the East York’s Coast. Then maybe a trip down South later in the year. Thanks Again. 👍
@@danclegg2443 Your poor family Ha!, no seriously, glad you are enjoying my videos, coincidentally, I have earmarked Spurn Head for editing soon. It was derelict and empty when I filmed, but has been turned into a visitor centre? The spit is now tidal i believe.
Peter Halil yeah there is a website dedicated to the lighthouse and its opening times and they also have a “safari type” vehicle to get you to the destination. Looks interesting. Fingers crossed we get good weather. Ah well I hope to see the video in the coming months, good timing 👍
Hi Annie, thank you for that, you liking the videos and not me keeping you quiet! Ha. No I've never visited that particular Lighthouse as I don't think it was ever one of ours, but it's on my list if I'm ever over that way. Cheers and stay safe.
Did you have a background in videography prior to your time on the lighthouses, or perhaps an overly keen interest in it, or where you learning as you went so to speak? This is filmed as well as anything from the BBC at the time. Your care in shot composition, staging and cueing the talent to speak or repeat actions from different angles, forward and reverse shots for most transition segments/walking between rooms/keeping continuity, quite good audio considering all things; these videos are just so well done, with care to the emotion and atmosphere, the place, the time, and the men. In just getting your talent to cooperate peacefully with you, what skill! At one point, you filmed yourself form multiple angles, inside the fixture cleaning the bulbs; amazing dedication to craft for the time and your role there. I have to wonder, did you have a plan for the distribution of these videos back in the late 90s? Oh, and part two here reveals Gerry as a most knowledgeable and capable orator of the station's history, which is lovely to see. Ralph as well, a great joy in part one, explaining his duties quite well. Each man, of course, in moments, bringing a different facet of capacity, colour/ambiance and experience/knowledge to the time you all will have shared, marvelous to see that captured in these films. And of course fascinating to see what stations were and weren't equipped with particular equipment/sensors.
Wow, thank you very much. No I didn't have any training and yes I taught myself on the hoof as it were. I more or less know what I like to see, I've never been a fan of the roller coaster type of videos some people seem to love. Basically, I didn't want people to feel like they've been caught up in some sort of bumpy ride. So, where possible I do lots of tripod shots to counter the walking tour type bits. I've had to learn how to do the basic editing, which I did with trial and error and the odd you tube tutorial if and when I get stuck. But on the whole, I keep the editing bit simple. Obviously I had no idea that things like you tube would come along and allow me to let a bigger audience see them, I had tried to get them into some sort of archives, to no avail. I've always loved nature etc, so I try to put all the extra arty bits into my videos, when I had the time on the Lighthouses. Some were just lightning visits, to get it done with only a couple of hours to do it. Finally, I had this burning desire not to let us Keepers vanish without a trace, and in my videos I try to tell our story. Thanks again for the wonderful comments, Take care and stay safe.
Thank you very much for posting these videos, these might be the most detailed ones about life in a lighthouse. Here I'd just like to know, how did these bulky equipments transfered to the upper levels of light house? Just through the steep stairs or if there is another way?
Thank you Chen, Everything you see in the Lighthouse has to come into the building via the spiral staircase, I would assume that engines etc would come in bits and be rebuilt inside. Originally everything came by boat and would be winched up onto the landing stage, then later when they used helicopters, it was transported onto the helipad on the roof, then man handled down into the lighthouse some how, but to be honest, most stuff came by boat.
no, the going up the winch one would have been the Bishop rock, but she may well have visited the Needles, but that is straight off the boat onto the landing.
It reminds me a little of the situation on Fastnet; where waves can reach around behind the tower, and catch someone.I suppose local knowledge would tell you when to dodge.
Hi, I never got to see them either, all I can suggest is to contact the Association of Lighthouse Keepers (As he was their archivist) alk.org.uk/, hope that helps
@@PeterHalil Thank you peter, have emailed Gerry directly threw the website, i do look forward to seeing a video from you looking back at your time as a keeper, sadly i hear the work on the royal sovereign has started, but im sure it was still flashing just a few weeks back,
Peter Halil sadly appears so. It’s only hear say. But now with longer day light hours. I’m not often on the sea front in the dark now, always wanted to see this one up close. And our fishing boat will not be ready for a few more months yet sadly.
Have you published a video detailing the duties when on watch? Is it just monitoring the equipment , weather forecasts os or do you keep an eye out for shipping traffic at any given lighthouse?
Yes, there was a fair bit of free time. There were all sorts of Hobbies on a Lighthouse. One Keeper I knew was doing an Open University Mathematics course, others fished, read, knitted, put ships in bottles or Lighthouse bulbs etc...and one even spent his time making movies and trying to record it all!, Have a nice Christmas.
We were given a subsidy yes, for being out on these Lighthouses, so that paid for your food. I kept journals towards the end in which I tried to log everything, including my food lists. The way that I did my food was basically, 28 breakfasts, 28 dinners and 28 tea or evening meals. Also did extras incase of not getting off on time. This was, what I would eat normally at home. So once you had broken it down like that, you then did vegetable shopping, meat shopping etc. Once onboard you seperated your meats and put them in the freezer. Vegetables etc stored in a window or in cardboard boxes somewhere. You also took several cans of veg etc for when your veg ran out of its shelf life. Cheers and take care.You were a careful shopper, if you forgot something, then you didn't get to eat that thing.
Hi Joel, The Needles wasn't my station, I was just sent there to fill in from time to time. What I recollect though was that the AGA cooker in the kitchen kept everything toastie but the bedroom on a light would probably have an oil filled electric radiator in it, but you couldn't always have them on when needed the most because of the load on the engine, cheers
How do people sleep with those engines running all the time? Did they ever get shut off? Sounds like they were off when you filmed the lighthouse tour at the beginning...
I grew up in Eastbourne so the lighthouse there at Beachy Head was always a feature of the town. I often wondered what it would be like to be inside.. I have walked out to it at low tide. You can climb the steps and get to the locked entrance door.
Thank you for that. I have served on board Beachy Head, but that was long before I started recording. Trinity House wouldn't allow me back in to record when I asked a few years ago, new rules apparently.@@alohakeithb
