Below are letters to the local press from Beach Buoy's Father.
He used the name Lamplighter.
His Father only told him of the pen name not long before he died.
Beach Buoy went to the library and spent a couple of days searching the records for letters that had been written by his Father.
THE LAMPLIGHTER
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 ENGINESREVVING ITO 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 PREWAR 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 the old Wembley
Stadium.
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 sad for Dad to see the cabin go
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 was left to the mercy of the North Sea.
Beach Buoy
