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Serving the Mariner since 1786 Journal Summer 2019 ARoyal Royal Mission Appointment for PHAROS Northern Lighthouse Board Journal Summer 2019 Journal Contents SUMMER 2019 | ISSUE NUMBER 114 1 Welcome from Mike Bullock 3 Message from the Chair Mike Brew 22-23 4-5 Health, Safety and Environmental Update 6-7 Operations Update 8-9 Business Services Update 10-11 Healthy Living Award 14-1512-13 16-17 10-11 20 12-15 Long-Service and Special Recognition Awards 26-27 16-17 Heritage Trust Update 12-15 18 Scotland’s Outstanding Lighthouses 19 18-20 Historic Portolan 20 First Lighthouse Visit 21 ICE200 and the Bell Rock 12-15 12-15 22-23 In my Father and Grandfather’s Footsteps 24 Museum of Scottish Lighthouses 26-27 20-21 Scapa 100 26-27 28-29 © If you’d like to reproduce any First Light in the Hebrides articles or photographs in the 20 Journal, please contact the editor [email protected] 30-31 Royal Mission for PHAROS or write to: Fiona Holmes 84, George Street, Edinburgh EH2 3DA. 32 32 Outreach 28 Disclaimer: Published articles are not necessarily the views of the 34 editor or NLB. NLB at the Scottish Parliament Cover: Uplifting the Queen’s Rolls-Royce Photo credit: Ruth Armstrong 35-36 Appointments/Leavers/Retirements More than Lighthouses – www.nlb.org.uk break when the BBC’s One Show I was absolutely delighted (and very screened the long awaited interview relieved!) that the ship got a very with our Patron, HRH The Princess clear thumbs up from Captain Nial Royal, filmed onboard PHAROS and MacFarlane (pictured below with at Ailsa Craig. The item attracted a Bob Downie, Chief Executive of The lot of very positive comments on Royal Yacht Britannia), who social media and even generated an commanded FINGAL during her article in Hello! magazine online. operational days. We have also had other great I can’t think of a better or more valuable endorsement. In TV coverage including BBC recognition of the ship’s place in Countryfile Winter Diaries NLB’s history, the Commissioners showing PHAROS undertak- have granted permission for our ing buoy work, Blue Planet Blue Ensign to be flown from the Welcome stern. with our former keeper Ian Duff, RLK Ruairidh Macrae At the end of March, Graham Crerar from Mike with BBC Scotland’s stepped down as NLB’s Chair after Landward at the Butt of two years in post and I would like Bullock to thank him publicly for his tireless Lewis and coverage by BBC work on our behalf. I’d also like to Alba on the new buoys being welcome Captain Mike Brew our CHIEF EXECUTIVE deployed in Oban bay. NLB Commissioner for the Isle of Man into his new role as Chair, and even featured on the cookery Commissioner Alastair Beveridge as veryday NLB’s people are show James Martin’s Great Vice-Chair. working across Scotland and the Isle of Man, often in BRITISH Adventure at North E Just before the Journal went to extreme conditions, to deliver our Ronaldsay with RLK Billy press we heard the sad news about mission to provide a vital safety Muir. the loss of Graham Adamson. service to Mariners. Much of what Graham was a great man and will be we do would seem extraordinary to We have also done a thorough sorely missed by everyone, not least somebody not familiar with our role, revamp of our website which is his shipmates from POLE STAR and however to us it is just another day much easier to navigate and has a PHAROS. at the office/stores/workshop/ship/ fresh bright and modern look - if you lighthouse/beacon/inspection visit. haven’t seen it for yourself log on to Although the sun is shining and www.nlb.org.uk tourists are returning to the streets That said, every now and then, of Edinburgh in their droves, something happens that makes One of the exciting events early indicating that summer must be me stop and reflect on the in the new year was the return of here, just to be on the safe side, we professionalism and skill of our FINGAL back into service, albeit have introduced a very nice compact people. This couldn’t be more true as a very beautiful boutique hotel. NLB umbrella into the range of items than when a few months ago one of Everyone from NLB who has either available from the online shop. PHAROS’ crew took very seriously ill visited for a look around or has as the ship was anchoring off actually stayed onboard is full of Granton late on a Friday night. praise, but the true test came during Everyone played their part to a visit of a group of around 20 NLB absolute perfection, administering veterans in February. life saving first aid, alerting the Captain Nial MacFarlane with Bob Downie, authorities and getting their Chief Executive of The Royal Yacht Britannia colleague swiftly ashore and into the care of waiting paramedics. I know it’s what we train and prepare for but my goodness it is gratifying to be reminded how good our team really is. I’m pleased to report that our Luckily they also act as a very good colleague is making a good sunshade - either way they are the recovery. must have accessory of the year! I hope you all have a fabulous Regular Journal readers will be summer, whatever the weather. aware that we have been trying to increase the public’s understanding of what we do. We were barely back from the Christmas and Hogmanay MIKE BULLOCK 1 Northern Lighthouse Board Journal Summer 2019 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 June 2019) Captain Michael Brew (Chair) Sheriff Principal Craig Turnbull Nominated by the Lieutenant-Governor of Isle of Sheriff Principal of Glasgow and Strathkelvin Man and appointed by the Secretary of State Graham Crerar Captain Alastair Beveridge (Vice Chair) Elected by the Commissioners Elected by the Commissioners Hugh Shaw Rt Hon James Wolffe QC Elected by the Commissioners Lord Advocate Rob Woodward Alison Di Rollo QC Appointed by the Department for Transport Solicitor General of Scotland Elaine Wilkinson Sheriff Principal Ian R Abercrombie QC Appointed by Transport Scotland Sheriff Principal of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway Councillor Frank Ross The Rt Hon The Lord Provost of Edinburgh Sheriff Principal Marysia Lewis 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 CHAIR’S MESSAGE Mike Brew took over as Chair from On behalf of the Board I am very and Environment Committee, the Graham Crerar in April this year, grateful to those many colleagues Navigation Committee and the I having been a Commissioner for who have “gone the extra mile” to Heritage Trust. six years and Vice-Chair for the last ensure that where at all possible two years. normal business is maintained. My The Isle of Man is a Crown challenge is to see NLB build on Dependency and has never been Among the many issues covered by this progress, to make sure that we part of the UK. It has responsibility the Board of Commissioners during continue to provide a world-class for all aspects of its internal Graham’s two years in the role, were AtoN service to all our stakeholders, governance and operations and it the completion of the Fleet Review, particularly seafarers. intrigued me that the construction the implementation of the and maintenance of the Island’s five Organisational Review and the As ever there is no shortage of chal- major lighthouses and two buoys related changes to Programme and lenges facing the NLB. The was the responsibility of NLB and Project Management. These were Navigation Committee has begun funded via the General Lighthouse significant issues by any measure the 5-yearly AtoN review that after Fund. NLB’s records show that in and under Graham they were extensive consultation with stake- 1813, after pressure from Liverpool progressed successfully so that I find holders will be completed next year. shipowners, who were concerned at myself in the Chair at a time when The final year of the current 5-year the lack of AtoNs around the Isle of NLB is well set to address continuing RPI-X budget framework is 2020/21 Man, the government there challenges. For instance, changes in and consideration has started on tendered for a lighthouse service technology, environmental concerns, what might replace it. And the and NLB, with a good sense of cyber security and the inevitable project team for POLE STAR’S Scottish business acumen, was budget pressures. With the replacement has been appointed. significantly more competitive than development of modern satellite Trinity House. The rest, as they say is and electronic navigation systems From living in the Isle of Man, my history! By 1818 there were and their wide-spread use at sea, the early career in the Merchant Navy Stevenson designed lighthouses on role of physical Aids to Navigation and subsequently as a Harbour the Calf of Man and at the Point of (AtoN) has changed.
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