David Burdett on Navigation

One of the early jobs which has stuck in my memory over time was the taking fuel and water and provisions to Longships Light House off Lands End.

The way of getting there was the Coxswain of the motor boat had certain marks, rocks – certain rock against the Mainland behind. He would drive in heading for the rocks and then at a certain point he would turn sharply to port to head towards the Light House.

At that stage I had the job of putting an anchor over the back, putting a rope round the cleat and then checking the progress of the boat in towards the landing.

The Light house Keepers would be on the landing with the ropes rigged and they would throw the ropes down to the crew members in the bow of the boat and we would tie it up.

Surrounded by rocks and having come from a deep sea …I used to go to Australia, New Zealand, North America, South America seeing nothing but ocean for weeks on end, to go to a job where you were never out of sight of land and you were working in conditions like that, it was interesting. Because I found it interesting and very enjoyable, and that was working for Trinity House which was based here in East Cowes.

Lots of officers lived on the Island and crew members of course, so it was a sad day when Trinity House automated so much of their equipment, well all of it now