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Journal Winter 2018 Northern Lighthouse Board Serving the Mariner since 1786 Journal Winter 2018 Lighthouse Keeper’s Celebration at 84 George Street ‘A Song for Lighthouse Bill’ Northern Lighthouse Board Journal Winter 2018 Journal WINTER 2018 | ISSUE NUMBER 113 Contents 1 Welcome from Mike Bullock 3 5 Message from the Chairman Graham Crerar 4-5 Health, Safety and Environmental Update 6-7 Operations Update 14-15 24-25 8-9 14-1512-13 16-17 16-17 Business Services Update 10-12 Celebration of the Lighthouse Keeper 14-15 Rethinking the Rating 16-17 Heritage Trust Update 18-19 20-21 18-20 In Conversation with Tony Merriman 24-25 20-21 18-19 Erraid Residency 22-23 RLS Discovery in Samoa 24-25 Museum of Scottish Lighthouses Update 26-27 Ministers’ visits 22-23 10-12 29 Doors Open Day 26-27 30 20-21 10-11 © If you’d like to reproduce any Outreach articles or photographs in the Journal, please contact the editor 31-33 [email protected] Spotlight on our People - Engineers or write to: Fiona Holmes 84, George Street, 34-36 Edinburgh EH2 3DA. Appointments/Leavers/Retirements 28 Disclaimer: Published articles are not necessarily the views of the editor or NLB. Cover: Mull of Galloway Lighthouse. Photo credit: Ian Cowe More than Lighthouses – www.nlb.org.uk future is a key part of NLB’s long The most memorable VIP event term strategy and over the next of the year was without doubt year we aim to add further modern the gathering of former Keepers Apprenticeships within the Business at 84 George Street to mark the Services team. 20th anniversary of Automation. Our Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, The formula was very simple, once again sailed with PHAROS we provided the venue and for a few days during the summer, refreshments and our visitors did visiting stations on and around the rest. We were delighted that Islay. Very kindly HRH agreed to be a good number of partners and interviewed by Matt Allwright (of widows were also able to attend. Rogue Trader’s fame) for BBC’s One It was fabulous to see old friends Show. The interview was filmed together again and to hear the many as PHAROS made passage from reminiscences. Welcome Greenock and the BBC subsequently In late September, for the second went ashore at Ailsa Craig to film year running, we participated in from Mike HRH visiting the lighthouse. Edinburgh’s ‘Doors Open’ days. Although yet to be fully confirmed, The response was remarkable with we understand the interview will around 1200 visitors and many Bullock be broadcast sometime in February commented that they had no idea 2019. We will use Twitter and about the breadth of the services CHIEF EXECUTIVE Facebook to let everyone know the we provide or our importance to final date. the economy. Have a look at the photographs on pages 5 and 29. You To increase public awareness of the might spot some familiar faces. vital services we provide we have he NLB team know all too also been trying to get greater press In August we said farewell to well that our individual day to coverage of our work and have Commissioner Alistair Mackenzie day tasks and responsibilities T had a quite a number of articles who retired after nine years on keep us so busy that there is rarely published in local papers as well as the Board, including two years as the opportunity to stop and reflect the Scotsman, but having a ‘Prime the Chairman. As well as being a on our successes. For me, penning Time’ slot on the BBC is an exciting Master Mariner, Alistair brought a my article for the Journal always prospect. great deal of hard edged commercial offers a moment to look back at our experience which was fundamental collective achievements. Indeed We were also fortunate in August in helping shape NLB to meet the the Journal itself is a testament to to welcome the new UK Maritime challenges ahead. Although we will the dedication, skill and ingenuity Minister, Nusrat Ghani MP to our still see him from time to time in of our people. This edition is no Oban base. The visit included a his role as Chairman of Aberdeen different and although the featured visit to POLE STAR to witness buoy Harbour Board, I would like to articles can only record part of the operations (and actually going on record my sincere thanks for his story of the last six months, they do deck to help remove seaweed and support and leadership. showcase some of the remarkable barnacles!), meeting Technicians at highlights. Lismore Lighthouse as well as a tour of the base. Direct engagement with “Finally, as 2018 draws to a Two years ago we recruited our politicians and senior Government close I would like to thank first Apprentices for a number of officials is absolutely invaluable to decades. We started the programme each and every member of ensure decision makers have a clear with two Deck Ratings and followed the NLB team for their hard first hand appreciation of what we this last year with two Electrical work and to wish all readers do. Apprentices, who in between time of the Journal - staff, former at college have been working with This leads me nicely to the news staff, families, friends, our Aid to Navigation maintenance that the Fleet Review, which neighbours, colleagues in team. Our Deck Rating Apprentices, examined the future vessel Transport Scotland and UK Jordan Wilson and Lewis Thomas, requirements of the three General Department for Transport recently successfully completed Lighthouse Authorities, has reached and of course those who use their training and this September we a conclusion. In brief, we’ve had and pay for our services – a welcomed their successors, Stuart confirmation that our requirement very enjoyable Christmas MacBrayne and Cameron MacMillan. to continue to operate two vessels and Hogmanay and of has been confirmed. Having had this The new Apprentices have already course a very happy 2019.” green light we are now in the early completed their first phase at City stages of planning the replacement of Glasgow College and have joined of POLE STAR who is nearing her PHAROS for sea experience. This twentieth year of service. MIKE BULLOCK commitment to investing in the 1 Northern Lighthouse Board Journal Winter 2018 OUR MISSION : “ To deliver a reliable, efficient and cost-effective Aids to Navigation service for the benefit and safety of all Mariners” COMMISIONERS OF NORTHERN LIGHTHOUSES (As at December 2018) Graham Crerar (Chairman) Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull Elected by the Commissioners Sheriff Principal of Glasgow and Strathkelvin Captain Michael Brew (Vice-Chairman) Hugh Shaw Elected by the Commissioners Elected by the Commissioners Rt Hon James Wolffe QC Captain Alastair Beveridge Lord Advocate Elected by the Commissioners Alison Di Rollo QC Rob Woodward Solicitor General of Scotland Appointed by the Department for Transport Sheriff Principal Ian R Abercrombie QC Elaine Wilkinson Sheriff Principal of Appointed by Transport Scotland South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway Councillor Frank Ross Sheriff Principal Marysia Lewis The Rt Hon The Lord Provost of Edinburgh Sheriff Principal of Tayside, Central and Fife Councillor Eva Bolander The Rt Hon The Lord Provost of Glasgow Sheriff Principal Duncan Murray WS Sheriff Principal of North Strathclyde Councillor Barney Crockett Lord Provost of Aberdeen Sheriff Principal Derek Pyle Sheriff Principal of Councillor Bill Lobban Grampian, Highlands and Islands Convenor of Highland Council Sheriff Principal Mhairi Stephen QC Councillor Len Scoullar Sheriff Principal of Lothian and Borders Provost of the Council of Argyll and Bute “In Salutem Omnium” For the Safety of All 2 More than Lighthouses – www.nlb.org.uk CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE Graham Crerar LB is rightly proud of its status measure and monitor, how this giving visitors a unique experience, as a General Lighthouse cooperation works at the level of and giving us the chance to tell NAuthority (GLA), a statutory our neighbours who own individual our story to those that wouldn’t body charged with ensuring that the properties is rather less precise. otherwise know who we are. coasts of Scotland and the Isle of Man have sufficient aids to naviga- Like a lot of things in life, it’s only tion to keep the mariner safe. But To some extent, helping when problems emerge that you while we care greatly about where become aware of how challenging our neighbours is what’s our responsibilities start and stop, the situation has become at some meant by our strategic most seafarers won’t think about remote and difficult to access whose ‘patch’ they are in; certainly objective of ‘helping the locations. However, I am also the vessels that pass around the wider development of the delighted to report that there are length or breadth of the British Isles many examples of excellence. Scottish economy’. Tourism, should never have to think about This summer, during both the ecological sustainability, whether it’s an NLB light or one Inspection Voyage and when maintained by Trinity House or Irish remote living, community accompanying the UK Maritime Lights. The overall systems of lights, enterprise, can all be Minister on board POLE STAR, we buoys and beacons has to work were fortunate to have come across advanced when we work well harmoniously and, to do that well, just such examples, where sharing with those around us. And requires hand-in-glove cooperation a lighthouse property with a family with our GLA neighbours - Trinity just as importantly can be set or a business appeared to work House and Irish Lights. equally well for both parties. And back when, often through no both NLB and our neighbours had fault other than neglect, it The nature of those relationships every incentive to keep it working - goes wrong.
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