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Lightkeeper Jimmy Retires After 25 Years

POPULAR lighthouse keeper Jimmy Fyfe has retired after 25 years at the Mull Lighthouse.

Jimmy, who was born and bred in Kirkmaiden and attended the now closed Mull School is a popular and well-known figure in the area.

Since 1979 Jimmy has been responsible for the general maintenance and upkeep of the Lighthouse situated on the tip of the Mull of Galloway.

This is a Scotland’s southern most lighthouse, and for the past 25 years, his duties have included ensuring that the lighthouse is spic and span for the numbers of holidaymakers and locals who have paid their entrance fee and climbed the 117 steps to the top.

Steve Dailly from the Northern Lighthouse board, presented Jimmy with a certificate and plaque and paid tribute to all the hard work, dedication and loyalty that he has displayed over the past 25 years, by saying:

“Jim has been one of a team of dedicated lighthouse attendants who were the local ‘weel-kent’ faces of the Edinburgh-based Northern Lighthouse Board.

“ These men and women from Shetland to the Isle of Man cleaned, painted, helped maintain, took in stores and other equipment to their own houses and delivered this to the lighthouse stations. On some occasions, they even fixed faults all to help keep those at sea safer.

“ It was men like Jim who always did this with a marvellously keen wit and humour."