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This is the story of the man stationed at Withernsea Lighthouse from 4th August 1983 to 15th August 1985.
Apparently what had delayed my transfer to Withernsea Lighthouse for a little while was that the departing P.K. did not want to leave, wrote former lighthouse keeper Harold Taylor, recalling the commencement of his tour of duty there on 4th August 1983.
It had all come about by virtue of his wife. It seems almost coincidental with the decision to move me, Mrs. Nicholls had written in a letter to Trinity House complaining that her husband who was one of the most senior keepers was being overlooked for a decent shore station.
The decision was made to return him to St. Catherine's at which he had been before going to Withernsea, which had closed down as a working station. You might say that to show his resentment for this move he took it out on us.
For when we got to the premises they had done nothing about packing or getting ready for the move. Colin came out of the building smoking his pipe and got me in conversation, and except for returning to the house for a cup of tea did nothing towards the move all day. The house was left in a filthy state.
More aggravating to me was the fact that at St. Catherine's I had had to install a new T.V. aerial and a booster costing in the region of £70 because of the poor reception due to being below the cliff. I had discussed this on the phone with Colin and he had made the arrangement that he would leave the stair carpet to compensate.
Unfortunately the stair carpet was a worn out wreck which we did not discover till afterwards and we immediately dumped it. It was full of holes, smelt vile and when taken up was thick with dirt underneath. Of course he would not have needed stair carpet at St. Catherine's.
The move was managed in the first place by depositing all the items we did not need for the house into the base of the tower, then putting some of our furniture into the garage so as to empty the lorry and get Colin's stuff in.
Once they started loading we started cleaning the filth out of the upper rooms which Colin nor any of his family made any attempt to do. At least we knew that it was then clean and for what we found later I doubt we could have had any confidence in their sense of clean.
Eventually the job was completed and they and the lorry left and we were able to carry on the process of getting straight. The house was in a poor state, fortunately many of the men who worked for the D.L.F. on this coast lived in the town although they were strictly being, based at Harwich.
The pitiful state of the accommodation was not only passed on by me but also by some of the workmen returning who reported direct to the Clerk of the Works, Lew Seabourne, he was compassionate and got a lot of work carried out to make our life more comfortable.
Although we lived in considerable discomfort whilst it was being carried out, I think we were fortunate in this respect. Because of the dirty conditions I refused to occupy the house that night and claimed an extra nights subsistence for us both.
I recall for instance when they supplied us with a new fitted kitchen, apparently the Nicholls would not have workmen in the house otherwise these improvements could have been carried out before. The house was covered in dog hairs, and when the old kitchen furniture was removed mouse nests build of the stuff was found.
Alterations had been carried out years before; with the removal of a sink from the kitchen, which was now the dining room. We became aware that there was a leaking water pipe in a recess in the wall, which the Nicholls must have ignored despite the wall being wet down to the floor.
This led to another considerable disturbance as they had to dig down something like 5 feet in the hall way to get at the pipe. With the front door wide open for this and the back door wide open for those replacing the kitchen during the winter months it was like hell on earth although not so hot.
During this working period and no comfort or kitchen I managed to get some meals out paid for. The central heating system was the weirdest I have ever come across and although it seemed reasonably adequate for heat was useless for hot water. Yet there was a good sized gas appliance in one of the out houses, come workshop.
There was also attached to the station a Supernumerary's quarters. This I used as a garden shed, but some workmen would come expecting to use it for accommodation although we had been told that they were not to do so.
In exceptions we did let it be used but only for people while they arranged their own accommodation. I recall that one workman must have left the station with the key of the front door, and my wife could not secure it.
I had reported on trouble with other locks. The result was that someone turned up and fitted new Yale locks to the three outside doors. The visits by the E.B.s took place just the same and one of these had objected to me storing some unused furniture and other effects in the base of the tower.
I subsequently moved this stuff to the Supernumerary's Quarters, thereby filling the bedroom and making the place unusable. Apart from Trinity staff visiting, we also had visits by technicians from various sources, but mainly connected with the gas and oil operations going on in the North Sea. They required to fit transponders upon the gallery, these were reflection aerials which enabled them to pin-point accurately for their well platforms and drilling operations.
As the result of, or coincidental to the change in the tax situation on travel and subsistence, and probably the modernisation programme that was taking place, Trinity House, called in the firm of Accountants, Cooper & Lybrand. Their report was circulated throughout the service for all to peruse and return. It was a damning accusation against Trinity for incompetence and waste.
I recall that one of their main criticisms was the fact that from as far back as can be recalled there had never been an Accountant as Secretary. Trinity were reluctant to make this change although eventually they did bring in one as Assistant. and after a considerable amount of time as full.
One exposure was that nearly all Out Station workers doubled their pay by 'excessive' Subsistence allowances. In describing this it showed that some were drawing more in this fashion than a P.K. was in wages. We were all aware that District Superintendents boosted their income with visiting stations on expenses paid, but I do not think we appreciated to what extent.
Shortly after this, one skipper without a ship, who for convenience had been named Inspector of Marks visited the station when I was home. He was pleasant chap, Capt. Inman who I had not made contact with before.
During our talk he told me how they had all felt the effect of the change of taxation over travel and subsistence, a thing that peeved me no end. This being because to suit Trinity's convenience they placed me in one place and required me to travel to another to carry out their work.
I would not have minded if I had chosen to live away from my work and in consequence was forced to travel. It amounted to me having to pay 30% to the taxman for the benefit of going to work. I had been arguing this point for some time and only going round in circles, because Trinity was unhelpful as was the Union.
I was able to retain all of my Subsistence Allowance provided I produced proper receipts. This hampered some as they lived at home or stayed with friends etc. I was prepared at my discomfort and inconvenience to prevent the taxman having as much as possible.
It aggrieved me when Inman told me that the Income Tax people had sent a bloke specially to instruct them how to avoid paying tax on their claims. One of these points was always to make sure that they booked their journey from a Trinity depot to wherever they were going and back to it.
Up to then they had been in the habit of booking from home, which in some cases might have been cheaper. On the basis of what he told me I was even more adamant to do my best to claim all I could and fight my corner without backing from the quarters I should expect.
Added to my previous argument about the circumstances of my travel I now added the claim that I was travelling from service station to service station, which by coincidence I had a home each end of. As I seemed to persevere with my arguments and get nearer a settlement, so the papers would be passed on to another Inspector and the whole argument would start again.
At one point I nearly settled the squabble when they wanted me to go to North Wales to attend a tribunal. Whilst I agreed, I pointed out that if they settled up what they had taken from me illegally it would cost less than my travel and subsistence for the Tribunal. Then the round of letters started again.
I had retired and the argument was still carrying on. About two years later when I was in bed following some part time night work I had taken on during my retirement, I received a telephone call from a tax office, offering to meet me on my claim.
Whether it was because I had not recovered from awakening, or whether I misinterpreted what the arrangement was I do not know, but eventually I received a cheque for about half my claim against them. I was not satisfied but I could not see that I could do any more.
During this sojourn at Withernsea of course I had to go away for duty on station to which they had appointed me which was the Inner Dowsing Light Tower.
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