In this week's episode of Keeping Watch, Ed and Mel discuss the community protests against the automation of St John's Point Lighthouse in Northern Ireland, and the recent cliff falls close to Belle Tout in Sussex.   This week's special guest, engineer and television presenter Rob Bell, joins Ed to talk about his fascination with lighthouses and the challenges of producing his three series of lighthouse programs.   They discuss the logistics and challenges of filming at remote locations, the allure and difficulty of capturing such engineering marvels, and Rob's personal reflections on the heritage of lighthouses. Rob concludes with a heartfelt appreciation for the lighthouse community and how they welcomed him so heartily when making his programmes.   Key moments   01:05 Lighthouse News Update 01:36 St. John's Point Lighthouse Controversy 06:38 Bell Toot Lighthouse Erosion Concerns 08:51 Interview with Rob Bell 11:23 Join the Association of Lighthouse Keepers 11:55 Rob Bell's Railway Walk Series 13:41 Behind the Scenes of Lighthouse Series 16:13 Challenges of Filming Lighthouses 18:51 Rob Bell's Favorite Lighthouses 31:35 Future Projects and Closing Remarks  

KEEPING WATCH is a fortnightly podcast for enthusiasts of lighthouses, lighthouse keepers, light vessels and other aids to maritime navigation. 

We’re 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]. 

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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