KEEPING WATCH is a podcast for anyone and everyone interested in lighthouses, lighthouse keepers, light vessel, and other aids to maritime navigation.
KEEPING WATCH is brought to you in association with the ALK - The Association of Lighthouse Keepers - a membership organisation and charitable trust in the UK dedicated to keeping lighthouse heritage alive.
In this special end-of-season episode, we bring you two very different — but equally captivating — lighthouse stories.
Tony Mills – From the Tower to the Pulpit
Ed and Mel talk with Tony Mills, a former Trinity House lighthouse keeper who served in the early 1970s on stations including:
The Lizard
Longships
Round Island
South Bishop
Tony shares vivid memories of boat and helicopter reliefs, terrifying storms, and late-night fog signals — plus a few unexpected mishaps. He recalls polished brass handrails, paraffin-powered fridges, and makeshift washing routines. And just when you think you’ve heard it all… he casually reveals his later calling as a priest.
A warm, humorous, and heartfelt interview full of rich anecdotes and the realities of rock lighthouse life.
Annie Spencer – The Lighthouse Explorer
Next, Ed catches up with Annie Spencer, founder of the Lighthouse Explorers YouTube channel and social media presence. Annie shares how her love of lighthouses grew during lockdown — and how it now fuels an ever-expanding community.
You’ll hear about:
Her life on a canal boat
The joy of organising lighthouse day trips (with 60+ people joining so far!)
Using TikTok and YouTube to make lighthouse heritage accessible
Her dream of reaching Iceland’s remotest lights
Why lighthouses offer more than just great views
Annie’s passion is infectious, and her grassroots project is proof that lighthouses still capture the public imagination in new ways.
Plus: Lighthouse News
Mel shares another message-in-a-bottle discovery — this time from Cape Bruny, Tasmania — and news of a Shetland lighthouse cottage up for sale (ideal for hardy renovators with a love of wild weather).
Episode Highlights
A rare glimpse of 1970s lighthouse life from a former Trinity House keeper
Boat landings, storm damage, and why Tony once got hit with a foghorn blast
Annie’s journey from lockdown explorer to community organiser
The power of social media in preserving and sharing lighthouse history
Favourite lighthouses, spooky basements, and seagull-proof fridges
Links & Mentions
Lighthouse Explorers: lighthouseexplorers.com
Annie’s YouTube: Lighthouse Explorers
Instagram: @lighthouse_explorers
ALK Membership: alk.org.uk
Subscribe & Share
That’s the end of Season 3 — thank you for listening!
We’ll be back soon with Season 4.
Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts, and if you’ve enjoyed the show, please tell a friend or leave us a review.
For comments or to get involved: alksoutheast@gmail.com
17 Jun 2025
Lighthouse Legacy through the lens: Photographer Connor Gault
Hosts Ed and Mel discuss a Banksy lighthouse before Mel interviews photographer Connor Gault about his project capturing Scottish lighthouse keepers, revealing the emotional stories behind his large-format film portraits in this interview.
19 May 2025
Exploring Lighthouse Legends: An Interview with Jeremy D'Entremont
In this episode of Keeping Watch, hosts Ed Peppitt and Melanie Charles bring you up to date with a roundup of lighthouse news. We welcome special guest Jeremy D'Entremont, a renowned author, historian, and host of the US Lighthouse Society's 'Lighthearted' podcast. They discuss various lighthouse-related topics, including Jeremy's extensive career, Scottish lighthouse keeper projects, lighthouse history, and personal stories from lighthouse keepers around the world.
This informative episode also explores Jeremy's passion for lighthouses, key moments from his podcast, and the enduring importance of preserving lighthouse history.
Key moments
01:05 Meet Jeremy D'Entremont
01:38 Lighthouse News Roundup
01:54 Gerald Butler's Wedding Announcement
03:00 Lighthouse Honeymoon Destinations
05:10 Photography Project by Connor Gault
08:14 Interview with Jeremy D'Entremont
14:23 Jeremy's Lighthouse Journey
16:08 Writing and Podcasting Adventures
30:43 Meeting the Light Keeper
31:31 Interview with Barry Porter
32:04 Rescue from Boone Island Lighthouse
33:47 Interview with Eric J. Dolin
35:10 Lighthouse Tours and Travels
39:24 Challenges in Lighthouse Preservation
49:06 Favorite Lighthouses and Future Plans
58:11 Conclusion and Podcast Promotion
KEEPING WATCH is a fortnightly podcast for enthusiasts of lighthouses, lighthouse keepers, light vessels and other aids to maritime navigation.
We’re keen to talk with other former light vessel and lighthouse keepers and crew - as well as others currently working in the lighthouse service. Again, you can email me at alksoutheast@gmail.com.
Please spread the word to friends and family who might be interested in listening. And do like, follow or subscribe to this podcast so that you are notified when each new episode is published. A comment or a splendid review on your podcast platform of choice would be very welcome and really helps us to get noticed.
If you have an idea for a story you'd like us to cover, or an interesting person with a lighthouse connection we might interview, do please drop me a line. Or perhaps you are a fellow enthusiast and would like to contribute to the podcast either once or on a regular basis?
You can contact me at alksoutheast@gmail.com (mailto:alksoutheast@gmail.com).
KEEPING WATCH is brought to you in association with the ALK - The Association of Lighthouse Keepers - a charitable trust in the UK dedicated to keeping lighthouse heritage alive.
Visit the Association of Lighthouse Keepers:
www.alk.org.uk (http://www.alk.org.uk)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
12 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 40 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
60
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
51
Contact Keeping Watch
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
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