THE LAMPLIGHTER
My Father revealed to me, shortly before his sudden and unexpected Death, that he had been writing to the Local Press, using the name Lamplighter.
Beach Buoy.
WRITING'S TO THE HARTLEPOOL MAIL , BY MY FATHER
24 JULY 1980
WHO IS PAYING FOR BUTTRESS ON THE BEACH?
DEBATES AND ARGUMENTS HAVE BEEN GOING ON RECENTLY ABOUT THE
INCREASES IN COUNCIL RENTS AND RATES AND REASONS GIVEN FOR THE NECESSITY.
THEREFORE COULD SOME COUNCIL OFFICALS PLEASE EXPLAIN BY MEANS OF THE
LETTERS PAGE HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT BUILDING THE TWO-TIER MESH BUTTRESS
IN FRONT OF THE HARTLEPOOL YACHT CLUBHOUSE WHICH IS A VERY PRIVATE CLUB.
BEFORE THEY SAY IT, THE NORTHERN END OF THIS BUTTRESS IS IN FRONT OF
A PIECE OF BEACH THAT OVER THE YEARS HAS BUILT ITSELF UPTO A HEALTHY HEIGHT BY
MEANS OF WAVE ACTION, THEREFORE, THE REMAINING SECTION CAN ONLY BE TO PROTECT
THE CLUBHOUSE. ARE THE COUNCIL RECEIVING ANY REIMBURSEMENT?
ALSO WHEN ARE THE COUNCIL GOING TO START CHARGING ALL THOSE PRIVATE
COMPANIES WHOSE VEHICLES DO CONSTANT DAMAGE TO THE PAVEMENTS, TREES, GRASS
VERGES AND SO ON? IT IS CAUSED BY THE DRIVERS PARKING UP AT NIGHT NEAR THEIR
HOMES. OBVIOUS CONSTANT DAMAGE IS BEING CAUSED BY THE SAME PEOPLE IN THE USUAL
VEHICLES.
INCIDENTALLY, MOST OF THESE VEHICLES DON'T PARK OUTSIDE THE DRIVER'S
HOUSE; THE CAR IS IN THE WAY AND OTHER PEOPLE USUALLY HAVE THE INCONVENIENCE OF
AN EARLY MORNING CHORUS OF ENGINES REVVING INTO LIFE AND AN EVENING OF READING
THE ADVERTS ON THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLES
T LAMPIGHTER
HARTLEPOOL.
My Father and I always went to the beach mentioned on a weekend.
I remember the Buttress being built...I didn't know my Father's
feelings about it at the time.
The buttress was made up of wire cages filled with old house bricks.
Beach Buoy.
27 OCT 1980
PLEASURE TO STROLL ON HARTLEPOOL'S CLEAN BEACHES
WHAT A CRY FROM MR G PITMAN REGUARDING THE 500 TONS OF SEA COAL ON
THE BEACH (MAIL OCTOBER 22) WHAT UTTER RUBBISH ABOUT THE COAL DIRTYING THE
BEACHES.
EXCEPT FOR THE RUBBISH AND FILTH DESPOSITED BY THE SEA COAL LORRIES,
OLD TYRES, GARAGE RUBBISH, OILDRUMS AND REMAINS OF ALL NIGHT FIRES, ALL OF
WHICH CAN STILL BE SEEN, THE BEACH HAS NEVER LOOKED BETTER.
THE BEACHES WERE CLEAN BEFORE THE SEA COAL WAGONS STARTED THEIR
PLUNDER. WHAT A PLEASURE TO STROLL ON TRAFFIC FREE BEACHES.
LET'S GO BACK TO THE ODD
PRE-WAR BIKE AND BARROW AND THE BEACHES LEFT FREE FOR THE LOVERS OF CLEAR
SANDS AND NO MORE DISTASTEFUL TELEVISION REPORTS BESMIRCHING THE TOWN.
INCIDENTALLY TALKING OF DAMAGE TO THE BEACHES, IF BY HIS OWN
STATEMENT 500 TONS OF COAL HAS LAID THERE SINCE THEY WERE WARNED OFF , IT WORKS
OUT THAT IN ONE YEAR, BASING THE WEIGHT OF SEA COAL TO THAT OF WET SAND ENOUGH
COAL TO FILL THE PLAYING AREA OF WEMBLEY STADIUM FOR A DEPTH OF SEVEN FEET SIX
INCHES IS REMOVED YEARLY , SO IF YOU WONDER WHY YOU SEE ROCKS AND MARKS YOU
HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE, MR PITMAN HAS DEFEATED HIS OWN ARGUMENT.
LET US HAVE PEACE, NO MORE BEACH BULLYING, NIGHT NOISES, AND
DEPOSITED RUBBISH.
THE LAMPLIGHTER,
HARTLEPOOL.
Another Beach Issue for Dad, the sea coal wagons, could be annoying
some of the time.
I love the fact he worked out the area 500 tons would fill.
Beach Buoy.
6 OCT 1981.
LAMENT TO THE 'FOY CABIN'
THEY HAVE KNOCKED DOWN THE CABIN
WHERE THE MEN USED TO STAY
WHO TIED UP THE BOATS
THAT CAME FROM THE BAY
A HARDY CREED OF GREAT RENOWN
ALL WELL KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE TOWN
WEATHERBEATEN, ALWAYS ON HAND
TO MOOR UP THE SHIPS FROM MANY A LAND
ITS GOING TO BE LANDSCAPED
SO WE CAN ALL FLOCK
AND SIT AMIDST THE FLOWERS
BY THE EMPTY DOCK
THE LAMPLIGHTER
HARTLEPOOL
My Grandfather was a Foy boatman
he would have used the cabin mentioned above.
It must have been so sad for Dad to see the cabin go?
Beach Buoy.
8 MARCH 1982
WHEN THE HEUGH BREAKS
THE HEUGH IS BROKEN, WAVES ABOUND
ROLLING OVER OLD TOWN SOUND
CHRIST CHURCH TOWER BEACON LIT
SHOPPING AT BINNS IN DIVING KIT
CRAB POTS SHOT ALONG YORK ROAD
SHIPS AT ELWICK WAITING TO LOAD
PEOPLE COMING FROM FAR AND NEAR
TO GAZE UPON; THIS NEW FORMED MERE
STILL HOW NICE TO BE IN REACH
OF THE GOLDEN SANDS ON WOLVISTON BEACH
SO DOCKS' BOARD PEOPLE SHOW SOME SENSE
AND REPAIR OUR ESSENTIAL SEA DEFENCE
IF YOU DON'T LIKE OUR PIER AND PROM
PLEASE GO BACK TO WHERE YOU BELONG
THE LAMPLIGHTER
HARTLEPOOL
Dad has written a Poem on what could happen if the Heugh Pier on Hartlepool Headland was
left to the mercy of the North Sea.I seem to remember at the time there was talk about it falling into disrepair? A lot of the places he mentions are well inland.
Beach Buoy.
14 12 12
I carried on the tradition of writing to the Local Press when he died.
Here is one .
MY DAD.
My Dad was the world's best Dad,
And when he died we all were sad,
But the good times linger on,
If we think of them, then he hasn't gone.
A rough childhood made a man of him,
He thought things out, would't act on a whim.
He worked his way from bottom to top,
Maybe that was his trouble- he couldn't stop.
He was good at making model boats,
Was interested in anything that floats,
He was a craftsman through and through,
There wasn't anything he couldn't do.
We spent hours walking on the beach,
And as we walked, he tried to teach,
He talked about old ships and treasure,
And wonderful things beyond all measure.
He'd say to me "Keep that, it's old.",
I always did as I was told,
Now I can sit and look around,
Smile and see the things we found.
He made sure his worries, stayed his own,
Would always listen if we would moan,
In his way keeping the world at bay,
I'll do that for my kids one day.
Well now he's gone; he won't be back,
And life without him seems so black,
I just can't think how I will cope,
But we'll walk on the beach again I hope?
BEACH BUOY.
This is not a new post.
Just reposting it as it's been a while... in many ways.x
