Welcome to Episode 4 of the second season of KEEPING WATCH - a fortnightly podcast for enthusiasts of lighthouses, lighthouse keepers, light vessels and other aids to maritime navigation. 

If you listened to Episode 3, you’ll remember we heard a lovely BBC Radio Kent interview from 1988 with Jim Bowling, who was then principal lighthouse keeper at North Foreland lighthouse.

We were able to listen thanks to Jim’s son Colin, who lent the recording to us. A few weeks ago I met up with Colin and his wife Lin in Ramsgate, and he shared his memories of his childhood and upbringing in various lighthouses - including a stint at St Mary’s lighthouse, near Whitley Bay, where he could only get to school at low tide. 

He also shared his own memories of his father - including when Jim and assistant keeper Arthur Holmes were paid a visit from a Page 3 glamour model for a Daily Star article about people who have to work over Christmas.  

Believe me, you’re in for a treat. I hope you enjoy it. 

The full interview on YouTube: Part 1: https://youtu.be/Z6WLXUbXwhE Part 2: https://youtu.be/_sizpJiv4Lo Part 3: https://youtu.be/3Xgw2NcXfVA

If you haven’t had the chance to listen to the radio interview with Jim Bowling, then do go back to Episode 3 and listen to it. 

It makes me wonder just how many other sons and daughters of keepers there are out there with stories of their own. If you know one, or are one yourself, then I’d love to hear from you. You can get in touch at [email protected]. 

We’re also keen to talk with other former light vessel and lighthouse keepers and crew - as well as others currently working in the lighthouse service. Again, you can email me at [email protected]. 

Please spread the word to friends and family who might be interested in listening. And do like, follow or subscribe to this podcast so that you are notified when each new episode is published. A comment or a splendid review on your podcast platform of choice would be very welcome and really helps us to get noticed. 

If you have an idea for a story you'd like us to cover, or an interesting person with a lighthouse connection we might interview, do please drop me a line. Or perhaps you are a fellow enthusiast and would like to contribute to the podcast either once or on a regular basis?

You can contact me at [email protected]. 

KEEPING WATCH is brought to you in association with the ALK - The Association of Lighthouse Keepers - a charitable trust in the UK dedicated to keeping lighthouse heritage alive. 

Visit the Association of Lighthouse Keepers: www.alk.org.uk