Keeping Watch

In this special end-of-season episode, we bring you two very different — but equally captivating — lighthouse stories.
Tony Mills – From the Tower to the Pulpit
Ed and Mel talk with Tony Mills, a former Trinity House lighthouse keeper who served in the early 1970s on stations including:
The Lizard

Longships

Round Island

South Bishop

Tony shares vivid memories of boat and helicopter reliefs, terrifying storms, and late-night fog signals — plus a few unexpected mishaps. He recalls polished brass handrails, paraffin-powered fridges, and makeshift washing routines. And just when you think you've heard it all… he casually reveals his later calling as a priest.
A warm, humorous, and heartfelt interview full of rich anecdotes and the realities of rock lighthouse life.
Annie Spencer – The Lighthouse Explorer
Next, Ed catches up with Annie Spencer, founder of the Lighthouse Explorers YouTube channel and social media presence. Annie shares how her love of lighthouses grew during lockdown — and how it now fuels an ever-expanding community.
You'll hear about:
Her life on a canal boat

The joy of organising lighthouse day trips (with 60+ people joining so far!)

Using TikTok and YouTube to make lighthouse heritage accessible

Her dream of reaching Iceland's remotest lights

Why lighthouses offer more than just great views

Annie's passion is infectious, and her grassroots project is proof that lighthouses still capture the public imagination in new ways.
Plus: Lighthouse News
Mel shares another message-in-a-bottle discovery — this time from Cape Bruny, Tasmania — and news of a Shetland lighthouse cottage up for sale (ideal for hardy renovators with a love of wild weather).
Episode Highlights
A rare glimpse of 1970s lighthouse life from a former Trinity House keeper

Boat landings, storm damage, and why Tony once got hit with a foghorn blast

Annie's journey from lockdown explorer to community organiser

The power of social media in preserving and sharing lighthouse history

Favourite lighthouses, spooky basements, and seagull-proof fridges

Links & Mentions
Lighthouse Explorers: lighthouseexplorers.com

Annie's YouTube: Lighthouse Explorers

Instagram: @lighthouse_explorers

ALK Membership: alk.org.uk

Subscribe & Share
That's the end of Season 3 — thank you for listening!
We'll be back soon with Season 4.
Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts, and if you've enjoyed the show, please tell a friend or leave us a review.
For comments or to get involved: [email protected]

In this week's episode of Keeping Watch, Ed and Mel discuss a lighthouse Banksy in Marseilles, before Mel interviews Scottish photographer Conor Gault, who is on a mission to photograph every living Scottish lighthouse keeper and the lighthouses where they served.
Conor's heartfelt project is rooted in his family history, his Grandfather having served as a keeper himself. He talks about the artistic process of capturing his images on large-format film, and the emotional stories behind the photos. 
You can see Conor's photographs and find out more about the project at his website:
https://www.conorgault.com
Key moments
01:05 Interview with Conor Gault 
01:41 Banksy's Lighthouse Artwork
06:18 Conor Gault's Photography Journey
07:35 The Lighthouse Project
12:48 Memories and Portraits
19:20 Tributes and Future Plans
22:49 Heartwarming Farewell Stories
24:14 Lighthouse Conditions and Photography
25:55 Visiting Lighthouses with Keepers
27:42 Connecting with Lighthouse Keepers
29:11 The Future of the Lighthouse Project
30:35 Making Art Accessible to Communities
33:19 Expanding the Project Beyond Scotland
39:17 Challenges and Funding
42:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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]. 
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

In this episode of Keeping Watch, hosts Ed Peppitt and Melanie Charles bring you up to date with a roundup of lighthouse news. We welcome special guest Jeremy D'Entremont, a renowned author, historian, and host of the US Lighthouse Society's 'Lighthearted' podcast. They discuss various lighthouse-related topics, including Jeremy's extensive career, Scottish lighthouse keeper projects, lighthouse history, and personal stories from lighthouse keepers around the world.
 
This informative episode also explores Jeremy's passion for lighthouses, key moments from his podcast, and the enduring importance of preserving lighthouse history.
 
Key moments
 
01:05 Meet Jeremy D'Entremont
01:38 Lighthouse News Roundup
01:54 Gerald Butler's Wedding Announcement
03:00 Lighthouse Honeymoon Destinations
05:10 Photography Project by Connor Gault
08:14 Interview with Jeremy D'Entremont
14:23 Jeremy's Lighthouse Journey
16:08 Writing and Podcasting Adventures
30:43 Meeting the Light Keeper
31:31 Interview with Barry Porter
32:04 Rescue from Boone Island Lighthouse
33:47 Interview with Eric J. Dolin
35:10 Lighthouse Tours and Travels
39:24 Challenges in Lighthouse Preservation
49:06 Favorite Lighthouses and Future Plans
58:11 Conclusion and Podcast Promotion

 

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]. 
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

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]. 
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

This week's episode of Keeping Watch, hosted by Ed Peppitt and Melanie Charles, features a captivating discussion with Mark Lewis, the ALK Education Officer, on lighthouses and the paranormal. Mark shares his exploration of ghost stories, folklore, and scientific explanations related to paranormal phenomena in lighthouses around the world.
Ed and Mel also talk about last weekend's ALK Digital Archive weekend at Bidston Hill Lighthouse.
Key moments
01:05 Lighthouses and the Paranormal
01:25 Weekend at Bidston Observatory
04:53 Digital Archiving Adventures
07:46 Lighthouse News: Long Ships Fog Signal
08:59 Interview with Mark Lewis: Folklore and Paranormal
26:45 Investigating Paranormal Phenomena in Lighthouses
27:36 Ruling Out Natural Explanations
29:14 Suggestibility and Memory in Paranormal Experiences
33:38 Scientific Theories on Paranormal Activity
39:43 Mercury Poisoning and Lighthouse Keepers
41:59 Famous Lighthouse Mysteries and Folklore
45:08 The Romantic Movement and Lighthouse Stories
47:25 Fiction Morphing into Fact
49:31 Favorite Paranormal Stories and Future Projects
53:03 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes
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]. 
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