I am delighted to showcase some wonderful images on the website of two former Northern Lighthouse Board Tender Vessels. Sent to me from Robert McLuckie a keen photographer of ships and vessels around Scotland. The images all taken by Robert in 1985 first show the NLV Fingal in various locations in Oban Bay and at the stores depot.
Pharos is shown at the Leith/Granton Harbour where the former NLB stores are located. Robert informed me at the time he was fortunate to be invited to have a tour of Pharos. I hope you enjoy these images in the collection as much as I do. Thank you Robert for sharing the images and your memories. To see the images click the button below.

(If you or anyone you know would like any lighthouse or light-vessel images shared on this website along with any stories please contact me). 

An update of the Following The Lights YouTube Channel features a 15 minute tour of the east coast of Scotland village of St Abbs Head and the lighthouse.

​Stay home, stay safe, have a virtual holiday and boat trip watching this video.
View the video here​

Using my time during the current Coronavirus lock down, I decided to put it to good use.

Designing and drawing a new batch of limited edition greetings cards.

All hand drawn here in Scotland. The intention is to have these printed and given to various places to sell at a later stage to raise funds. These have been created not for profit but to support the local communities that Following The Lights continues to do.

If you want to know more about these cards or have requests please contact me using the social media links. Thank you.

In meantime, stay safe, stay home.

North Carr Lightship lighting up the sky once more to say thanks to all keyworkers.
Read the story here

I have been asked on numerous occasions, "where can I buy your beautiful lighthouse cushion covers"! I seen them on display at a lighthouse. (St Abbs Head Cottages) or I seen them at the Northern Lighthouse Board training room.

Now is your opportunity to purchase one, I have added a link to the website for anyone interested in buying a cushion cover.

During February 2020, I was delighted to be invited to visited the former keepers cottages at Langness on the Isle of Man.

During the visit storm Cira was whipping up and added to the atmosphere of this dramatic location. I could for a moment, imagine what it must have been like for the keepers living and working here in some of the worst winter weather!

I put together a 31 page e-book of photographs from my visit, I hope you enjoy looking at them and get a feel for this, beautiful accommodation.

The cottages are now used as holiday accommodation and are available for rent.

I would like to thank the owner and manager for their kindness during my visit and allowing me the opportunity to visit.

Thank you.

An update to the webpage Lighthouses, Keepers and Vessels now includes an e-flip book.
You can enjoy some of the old black and white photographs, zoom in or have full screen to enjoy some of the details.

Following The Lights can confirm a new exciting exhibition coming later this year in collaboration with North Ayrshire Heritage Centre. Running simultaneously at Saltcoats Heritage Centre and Millport Garrison House Museum on the Isle of Cumbrae the exhibitions will feature never before seen rare colour video footage of the first ever lighthouse built by Robert Stevenson filmed in the 1950s Little Cumbrae Island filmed before automation. Also at Millport visitors will be able to marvel at the original Fresnel lens used at the Little Cumbrae Lighthouse.

Along with this video footage visitors will also have the opportunity to take a video tour around Scotland's Last Lightship North Carr as seen after it was retired from service and learn about the vessels future and current project NC100.

The original door plates from the Trinity House Light Vessel LV72 will be on display, this vessel was part of the WW2 landings and helped saved the Canadian Troops from Juno beach which the vessel had as code name during the war. 

This will be an enhanced exhibition and will include original art work from the collection not seen in public. This will complement the artefacts on display and will ensure an exciting visitor experience.

To celebrate the work of the lighthouse keepers a dance was composed while staying at St Abbs Head lighthouse cottage. While sitting at the window watching the sea and the lighthouse tower, I was inspired to write out the steps that the men would have taken as part of their shift. The steps make up a new Scottish Country Dance named after Brian Johnston of Shetland, retained light keeper. Here is the link to the dance feel free to download, share with friends and family and enjoy dancing!
Brian Johnson Lighthouse Keeper https://bit.ly/2NHVA0U

If you have not yet had a visit to St Abbs Visitor Centre then there are now only a few weeks left for the season.

The Following The Lights Exhibition will end on Saturday 12 October. 

Visit now before you miss out! 

Thank you to everyone who has already visited and supported the local lifeboat service and visitor centre with donations and purchases from the unique following the lights collection of books, canvases and video/lecture evening. 

Thank you to everyone who attended St Abbs visitor centre to enjoy the cake and celebrations over the international Lighthouse Weekend. 

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Celebrate at St Abbs Visitor Centre with free cake and a tour of artefacts on display, try the lighthouse keeper uniform on and take a selfie!

Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 August 2019.

Look forward to seeing you there!

The new items are now on display at St Abbs Head Visitor Centre.

Thank you to everyone who turned up today to say hello and comment on how amazing the items were.

Thanks also to those of you who purchased a copy of Following The Lights helping the local St Abbs Head Lifeboat.

I have been informed that the glass slides are a particular interest to most people visiting, the availability and being able to use the original Stereoscopic viewers too.

I am delighted to bring these to you and offer a real hands on museum experience, being able to step back in time to early 1900s viewing very early 3D.

If this is of particular interest to you then look out for details of the next refresh coming in August to St Abbs Head Visitor Centre!

June 27 2019 will see the first refresh of artefacts at St Abbs Head.

I will also be around on the day to have your questions answered. Come along and say hello.

Some of the new items will include:

• a signed fomer UK Prime Minister Christmas card
• lighthouse keeper family postcards and birthday cards from early 1900
• letters and envelops sent to Alan Stevenson 1864
• Mull of Galloway lighthouse lens prism and other items
• early 1900 local St Abbs Head postcards showing the area then
• a unique salver presented to a former keeper 
• the last automated lighthouse postcard signed by all the keepers
• a letter sent from Whitby lighthouse by Grace Darlings nephew

Make a point of visiting between now and October to see this unique collection, not to be found anywhere else.

Following The Lights books and canvases are on sale with all proceeds going to the local  St Abbs Lifeboat.

Thank you for your support. 

The latest Following The Lights exhibition has been set up today (March 16, 2019) and will be supporting the local community at St Abbs Head Visitor Centre for the whole of the season along with the St Abbs Head RNLI, nice to hear about the filming in the local area for the new BBC Blue Planet live.

The exhibition will be starting on the 1 April 2019 at St Abbs Head Visitor Centre for the opening day of the season. This will be the longest exhibition so far a total of six months, running until October 2019. The exhibition will be complete with rotational items, changing every few weeks, new items have been added to the collection and have not been seen on public display. Come along to see the film location of the new Marvel Avengers movie! Take your selfie picture with the lighthouse keepers uniform and hat on, post to the social media pages, see the new exhibition items never before seen at any of the previous Following The Lights exhibitions, including rare items from the Clyde Lighthouse Trust (not in any museums) and the collection of Fresnel Lens including 3rd and 5th order! Short videos will allow you to learn some interesting facts about the local lighthouse, along with some hands on learning with stereoscopic cards displaying the Stevenson lighthouses and Edinburgh in the 1800s. Touch and hold the actual granite and blonde sandstone stone used in the building of two of the Scottish Stevenson lighthouses dating back to the 1800s when the stone was quarried and the stone masons worked their magic! This is sure to be the best way to spend the summer! With boat trips along the coast from the harbour to view the St Abbs Head lighthouse from the sea this is the location for your day out! Following The Lights books are available to purchase from the visitor centre shop, along with unique limited edition lighthouse canvas and greetings cards with all proceeds from sales going direct to support the local RNLI. Plan you dates in advance, please help spread the word and remember to keep Following The Lights!

Whilst on my visit to Dundee to setup at Discovery Point, I was delighted to see for the very first time the former lightship  The North Carr.

The North Carr is currently run by Tay Maritime Action (Taymara) and is looking for  information from former staff or family members, any historical items or documents relating to this wonderful peice of our maritime history.

If you can spare any time to help bring the ship back to life they would appreciate your time. Do you have electrical, engineering or painting experience this would all be of great help.

I was delighted to be given a special tour of the ship on the day and very impressed at the condition of the engines. Thank you to the team at Taymara for this opportiunity.

Anyone interested in the historical ship should visit the website www.taymara.org 

The team would be delighted to hear from you. Please help spread the word!

Discover Thomas Smith, Robert Stevenson, Thomas, Alan and David Stevenson, Robert Louis Stevenson, Lloyd Osborne and more with items from the Following The Lights Collection. The exhibtion starts on Friday 8 February and running until 28 March 2019.