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Harold Taylor continues his memoirs:-
It was then apparent that the weights had shifted on their rod, causing the cluster to go down at an angle, and I suppose at some juncture fouling a ridge in the weight tube. There is something like 4 cwt of lead comprising these weights so it was no mean feat to make alterations. The wire is attached by a shackle to a steel rod at the bottom of which there is a metal plate almost the same diameter of the tube.
On this plate and round the tube are placed a number of weights sufficient to turn the clock at a controlled speed. On one side of these weights is a wide groove cut to the centre, to fit around the rod. The bottom and top of each weight is notched to interlock with the weight below it, so really how or why they had shifted is a bit of a mystery.
The top weight was about 4 inches out of position. It was useless hoping to shift a few weights at the top hoping that during its passage down the tube it would not foul again, so we had to start at the top. Each weigh was wider than the width of the door way so to move them we had to raise them up to free them from the rod, then roll them out of the door. I cannot remember now if all the weight were visible at this doorway, as they would have been at the bottom, but it was certainly a difficult job as each weight probably was in excess of 28 lbs, and there was something like 14 to be removed. Each was about 3 inches thick and 12 or 14 inches in diameter. The clock was running so the rod with the weights was constantly sinking.
It meant that one had to be on the handle of the clock to wind the weights up to a manageable height. It was a slow and tedious task, but eventually completed and the wooden blockage replaced. It seems this extra floor had been put in partly to prevent over winding of the clock mechanism.
There was a contraption on these clocks that could be adjusted by the keepers and if set right would give you a series of three bell rings to indicate when the clock was fully wound, a similar process would also give rings as the weight got to the bottom of the tube. This of course was intended for the keepers keeping watch in the lantern to received an alarm as the weight reached the bottom.
As keepers did not keep a lantern watch now; as was the intention, all this bell ringing had gone into dis-use and keepers usually went by the number of turns on the clock. I suppose some people mis-counted and hence the clock winding came to an abrupt stop on occasions.
This of course could put strain on the wire and its fastening and weaken the wire, so in their wisdom someone had installed the false floor which would give a softer jolt to the wire on it becoming over wound. It also cut off about 15 minutes of running time on the clock. But they had probably taken this into consideration, as at present the running time was about 1hr 15 mins.
This meant you did about 3 wind ups per watch. If you were nimble that meant you had to hang about, or you could do it very leisurely and do exactly three per watch. It is only a guess but perhaps, with the wood removed maybe at a push they could manage on two winds.
I discussed this set of circumstances with several older mechanics over the next few years, but none could ever recall coming across a similar situation.
Bob and I went ashore on leave at the same time and replacements for some of the crew that had transferred relieved us but we had little time to be introduced on the brief change over that took place on the beach. I did not know until we got aboard the ship that Bob was a notoriously acknowledged bad sailor.
In fact after the launch was picked up and we landed on the boat deck, he just collapsed into a heap, and the Skipper, Capt. Lawrence came along to have a look at him and asked me if he was all right, I could answer little more than he was breathing. This had its fortunate side, because the Skipper was so worried about him that he wanted the man off the ship as soon as possible.
He therefore landed us in Fishguard early in the morning before going on to perform the other three reliefs.
Whether Bob had ever landed at Fishguard before I do not know, but certainly he was none the wiser about how to get about than I. Eventually we got to the railway station at Milford Haven, via the local taxi from Goodwick, which incidentally we found was where the keepers heading for St. Anne's reported.
Our journey home was quite good, we parted company at Cardiff, as we set out for different extremities of the country. We met up again on a our return from leave at Crewe, he coming in from Newcastle and myself up from London.
We met one of our new companions once we got back to the lighthouse. L.O. Williams, a legend in his own lifetime. A Welshman, from Holyhead, who had been little out of the district. He was not a popular man, and a miserable creature at best. He did not like Bob's laxity, at the same time he was all for doing as little a possible as long as it suited his purpose.
With the coming of spring we all got set into gardening, and arranged with the farmer for a delivery of manure, of which Lewis or LO seemed to think he was due the lions share, as with everything. His assumption was we only got these things because he could talk to Will in Welsh, whereas we knew different, having been offered the things before he had arrived.
I also borrowed Will's tractor cart to get loaded up with seaweed. LO begrudged paying out for chicken feed, and reduced the feed when it was his turn, so we were never sure whether reduced production was due to erratic feeding, ageing birds or someone taking more than their share at collecting time.
The birds became quite a controversial issue.
The next relief the other new keeper arrived on station. He was another long serving member, likeable as far as it goes but sheer bloody idle. I believe he was next senior to LO so it was another bone of contention when he was to return. Pat Murphy was a Welshman also, despite what the name suggests.
I think his forebears probably came across to build the Breakwater at Holyhead for the railway company and the Irish ferry. His father was a P.K. and had recently retired. He was not liked by many, because he had joined Trinity to avoid war service, if that was possible. He had spent a lot of time on Bardsey in the past and had at one time been walking out with Jane, at least whilst on the island. He was therefore welcomed back into the clan more than any of us, and spent much time with the family. It did not worry Bob or I, but created a lot of jealousy within LO.
I think it must have been this first turn with LO that the electrification of the lighthouse began. Let me set out the circumstances. I have told you that the R.S.P.B had an Observatory on the island.
At many lighthouses in the passage of migrating birds, this Society had provided perches to be hung around the tower at lantern level for the birds to perch on instead of flying continuously into the light and causing their own possible death. For this task the Society paid the keepers a small remuneration. At Bardsey they had replaced this with a different idea. This was a searchlight or rather two. These were large paraffin lamps with about a 2 foot diameter reflector. These, the keepers were requested to put into operation on obscure nights when birds were seen to be attracted to the lights. These lights worked on the same principle as Tilley lights.
The new idea was that The R.S.P.B would provide an electric generator for this purpose. They would put lighting in the tower and on its roof, provide two searchlights, and equip the engine room and dwellings with electricity. Trinity would do all the work on a reciprocal arrangement. The young man who was to do the work was an idiot. He may have been highly qualified, but as a practical electrician he knew nothing, despite his claim to have worked on many T.V. productions.
He set about this work all rush and tear with no conceivable order. The work was to be carried out in Pyro cable, which was new to me at this time. It meant in many circumstances burying cable, but Peter Fant, as was the characters name found the ground harder and rockier than he liked so most of the time it was little more than a scratch below the surface, and very often visible.
Peter, did me a very great dis-service, by losing a letter containing money which he had been asked to post during one of his trips across to the mainland with Will. It contained the Union subscriptions for the district, a sum in excess of £4. Strictly speaking they had been given to him to give to Will, but presumably he did not do so, and dropped them some time whilst he was motor cycling around. He had arrived on the island from Aberdaron in the first instance, although his gear had arrived via the relief tender.
The Electrification was complete, and we were at liberty to use the machine. It was of Lister design I forget the number of the engine but it had the extra status of Startomatic. The principle of the system was that it was ever ready, all one had to do, was to depress any switch in the circuit and a circuit would be made by the D.C. battery side of the system that in turn would create a circuit that would automatically start the engine.
When this was running properly, the battery side was cut out and A.C. current generated in the system. Any light over 6o watts would start the system, which was very useful as it did not mean any one had to go to the engine room every time you needed light. Some where about the end of September, there was to be a grand opening of this new operation.
All the high officials for this event assembled, but the only name I can recall is Peter Conder. Suitable weather presented itself, mist and drizzle. I happened to be day off, and was up the island having supper at Will's.
When I left, despite the Fog Signal sounding I could not see any light lit, neither on the ground or in the houses, but during my walk back I noticed them go on and off several times.
Continued in part 5
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