North Berwick Rotary Club enjoyed a “fascinating” presentation by the son of the last ever lighthouse keeper on the Bass Rock.
Alex Crawford, a Rotarian and North Berwick native, gave the talk entitled ‘Son of a Lighthouse Keeper’, detailing what life was like growing up on one of North Berwick’s most iconic locations.
Mr Crawford’s father was an experienced lighthouse keeper, having served at Killantringan Lighthouse near Portpatrick and Corsewall Point near Kirkcolm, before working at the Bass Rock.
The lighthouse was built in 1902 by David Stevenson, the brother of author Robert Louis Stevenson.
In the speech, he recalled: “They were hard times – not just for the keepers but for the families too.”
Alex also spoke of trying to get to sleep in the middle of a howling gale – the windows rattling and perhaps the sound of a foghorn. He added: “The life was anything but easy.”
A Rotary spokesperson said it had been “a thoroughly entertaining talk about the ups and downs of the lighthouse service which was enjoyed by all”.
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