March 2024 meeting

Talk by Captain Karl Lumbers March 13th 2024.

“The Trinity House Story.”

Captain Karl Lumbers introduced himself as a “Younger Brother” of Trinity House which celebrated its 500th anniversary in 2014. Trinity House is the General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar. It provides marine navigation aids to assist the safe passage of mariners through these waters. The “Younger Brethren” give help and advice on Trinity House’s maritime and charitable activities. Karl was a Merchant Navy Captain and then worked in Marine Insurance.

Karl gave us an interesting summary of the history of Trinity House. Mariners from Deptford asked King Henry VIII to regulate piloting down the Thames and it was established in 1514 by Royal Charter. In 1566 Queen Elizabeth I granted Trinity House the power to build lighthouses for the protection of seafarers. In the 17th century Trinity House was put in charge of Henry’s shipyards in Woolwich. In 1588, Lord Howard, Admiral of the Fleet asked Trinity House to defend the country against the Spanish Armada and they provided 30 ships. In 1609, two lighthouses were built at Lowestoft to protect ships along the East Anglian coast. In 1759, John Smeaton built one of the Eddystone Lighthouses with the characteristic red and white bands, the one built by James Douglass in 1882 near Plymouth is still in operation today.

We learnt about the history of lighthouses. In 1609 candlepower was used. Early lights on lighthouses could weigh up to 7 tons and they rested on a bed of mercury. In 1858, electricity was introduced. Now lighthouses are powered by LED lights and solar energy. In 1998, lighthouses became automated, and they said goodbye to the last 6 lighthouse keepers. Today there are 66 lighthouses, 450 buoys, 22 beacons and 9 lightvessels.

Trinity House stands on Tower Hill but its HQ is in Harwich now. Princess Anne is the current Master of Trinity House; former Masters include Prince Philip and Samuel Pepys. The charitable activities of Trinity House include sponsoring cadets, providing sail training and funding almshouses. Future priorities are becoming greener, marking windfarms and modernising buoys, which are also used for weather forecasting.

This was a very informative and enlightening talk. Many thanks Captain Lumbers.

Clare

 

Announcements

23rd March  Sudbury on Show – we will have a stall and
hope to sign up several new members. 10am to 3pm in St Peter’s Arts Centre.

17th May  WIMPOLE HALL National Trust members free,
£17.10 for non-members.

19th June – early warning – a cruise on the Orwell River, from Ipswich to Harwich, on restored Thames Barge
“Victor”.
Tickets £32.50.
Transport to Ipswich to be decided later.

Our next meeting, 10th April, will be the AGM. Nominations for
the committee are invited. Membership remains at £1

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