One Month in a Lighthouse, out to sea 1990. Hanois Lighthouse, Guernsey, Channel Islands.

This was my first visit to the Hanois Lighthouse, Guernsey, Channel Islands, in 1990.
I think this was also my first lighthouse video. It was 28 days on board, where I try to show what life was like, inside a Tower rock Lighthouse, out to sea. This was in the days when we used video tape and screw on lenses for wider angle shots, but still, it is a record of a piece of our History, that is now gone forever.

[@adamlassiter5398]

You really have to respect a guy that wears a tie getting into a wetsuit. You don't see that everyday!

[@PeterHalil]

Ha Ha! we only wore our uniforms when we knew one of our Trinity bosses was in the vicinity, including ties. Cheers

[@oscarosullivan4513]

They look like drysuits

[@oscarosullivan4513]

@@PeterHalil kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqDYZIp3asSBZtE Seems that these keepers had the same idea

[@junesymonds8340]

Great video Peter, always a joy to watch. You obviously loved your job and took a pride,it showed. I love how you share not only living conditions, working conditions but the neighboring wildlife and birds too, making it so special. Thank you Peter, take care.

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you very much June for your kind comments. Yes, if I'm in a position to film all the extra bits that made my job "Special", the wildlife and all aspects of the weather, then I did. Some videos though are a bit rushed when just visiting for filming and under tight time constraints. I'm glad you like my videos, you take care and stay safe too.

[@stephendavies923]

As always, thank you Peter for having had the foresight to film, record, document and share these experiences. Great work much appreciated as always. All the very best to you and Happy Birthday for Thursday the 4th.

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you Stephen, much appreciated, cheers

[@adamlassiter5398]

Still loving the videos. Too bad ower fearless leader didn't get struck by lightning at the Vatican. At least enough to give him a lesson..Honestly I don't think it would do that dope any good. I love watching the old ways. Godspeed and hope to see you next Sunday.

[@jakemrs9718]

Thank you Peter for another awesome video really enjoyed it always look forward to your posts on Sundays 😁👍

[@PeterHalil]

Cheers Jake, glad you liked it, stay safe.👍

[@RockDodger]

Great video as always Peter.. Happy birthday for the 4th of next month. :)

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you, these Birthdays seem to be coming along quicker now! cheers

[@RockDodger]

@@PeterHalil Haha.. Yeah tell me about it.. I was thinking back to where i was back in 1990. I was 18 and had just started as a roofers labourer.. Was a good long summer as i recall. Ive now had my own roofing firm for 25 years.. Where has that time gone. lol. All the best mate

[@uksewingmachineservice7030]

Nice one mate not seen you for a while hope you are well don 🤠🇬🇧👍👍👍👍👍

[@PeterHalil]

Yes I'm still in the land of the living, hope you are well too. Thanks and stay safe Mate👍

[@Jerseywonder56]

Love Your.videos Peter and Happy Birthday for the 4th. x

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you Annie, much appreciated. Why does 1974 and John Denver come to mind? Cheers and stay safe

[@tvlicensingblog]

Love these videos Peter. Your collection must surely be running out by now. Thank you for having the forethought to record the role of a lighthouse keeper before automation made everyone redundant.

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you, and nearly at the end, cheers.

[@isladurrant2015]

Omg! Happy belated birthday 🎂... I am so engrossed in the engineering I forgot... wtf was wrong with the Germans ripping out circular bunks in a circular building? F-ing fascists! Lol x

[@PeterHalil]

Ha Ha, Thank you for the Birthday wishes, stay safe

[@deanridley8]

I would love to more lengthy ambient footage of your stays on the lighthouses. 10/10!

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you Dean, that might be an idea sometime. By ambient, do you mean weather etc or just longer edits of the life inside etc?

[@deanridley8]

@@PeterHalil Hi Peter. Both. I'd defo love the see more of the weather. There's something about watching the night watch and in general, the day to day living onboard a lighthouse out at sea that makes it therapeutic. It's my dream job that nolonger exists. Thanks for sharing this footage.

[@PeterHalil]

@@deanridley8 Check this webcam site out for the Needles Lighthouse. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5K9c5Vuj5yVe9U&ab_channel=IsleofWight

[@rb6662]

ThIs is so well edited, did you enter a competition? How far from France? Are you an EU citizen?

[@PeterHalil]

No I didn't enter a competition, it is closer to France than Britain, and allegedly, we left the EU some time ago, but the EU haven't done with spanking us yet Ha! take care

[@sarkybugger5009]

Flip flops on the Helipad. How 90s is that? P.S. I'm wearing flip flops, as I type. ;o) P.P.S. Happy birthday for Thursday!

[@PeterHalil]

Ha Ha, yes, I think there are even shots of me in moccasins, Thanks for the birthday wishes, take care

[@Urgleflogue]

Ooh, another brilliant video, I love these the most! Thanks Peter, keep safe! :)

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you, glad you like them, stay safe

[@tommyhanlon8012]

A Very Very Happy Birthday to You Peter Halil, ... I'm Glad You Were Born, .... Enjoy your special day.

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you Tommy, I'm glad too, cheers Mate.

[@bernardstander7642]

Awesome one this, thanks for sharing. Lol about the toilet paper

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you Bernard, In my 23 years, that same scene about the toilet roll, played out twice, strange but true Lol. Take care

[@scooter2kool173]

These videos are gold. Get paid in the day to work in a house like that I’m in.

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you, yes it was one of those hidden jobs that not many people thought about. cheers

[@NapierNimbus]

Wonderful documentary. Very good and most interesting, a valuable record.

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you, stay safe

[@adamlassiter5398]

Respect!

[@dougtagg9162]

Thank you for the video of the Hanois lighthouse.

[@junesymonds8340]

Happy Birthday Peter, hope you have wonderful day.🍺🎁

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you June, much appreciated, take care

[@sirronnitram8937]

You mentioned the Germans stripped out the bedroom during their occupation of the islands. Did they keep the lighthouse, and any others in the island, operating during their time there?

[@PeterHalil]

I've no idea with that one, I suspect no once the Germans took over everywhere.

[@sirronnitram8937]

All the frame work for the helipad, that surrounds the light must have reduced the light output from the tower. Oh, and happy birthday on Thursday

[@PeterHalil]

You would assume that, but that is the way that our tower rock lighthouses out to sea went, cheers

[@isladurrant2015]

Fantastic and thank you x

[@uncleambient]

Another really interesting video Peter, thank you. You had my dream job :)

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you and even though the dream job has gone, the lighthouses still need technicians to stay on board to service them. Cheers and stay safe

[@wolfee101]

Happy birthday Peter thanks for the films keep smiling

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you very much, and I will try to keep smiling, cheers, stay safe

[@bender7565]

Good Morning Peter! I don't have time to watch right now, the dogs want to go for a walk. I had seen your 1st Hanois vid a couple years ago or has it been longer. It introduced me to you and your incredible vids. I have watched it more than once, I am excited to see this one a little later. Thanks for everything.

[@PeterHalil]

Cheers, It was probably my 1st attempt at videoing lighthouse life.

[@davidbutler4363]

Best vlog ever Peter😁👍👏

[@lomion79]

Utterly engrossing

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you, much appreciated, stay safe

[@o.g.j.m.strouken3792]

Incredible rare footage. Fascinating!! Thank you Peter Halil to bring this heritage to the future. Now we will always remember and never forget how life was on those lighthouses!

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you, always appreciated. Glad my videos found you, thanks again. Stay safe

[@Seiskid]

Thank you for putting this up. It was really interesting to watch. This many years later its a good thing that you took the time to record this, and its great that the tapes survived.

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you for the kind words, glad you liked it, take care and stay safe

[@MrDadnLuke]

Thanks from New Zealand for sharing Peter. A rare opportunity to view inside Hanois prior automation. Truely unique. I gather the smaller lense & lantern replaced the original 1st order one? Also I read somewhere the Germans used this lighthouse for coast watching during the occupation & it was fortified after the Casquets commando raid

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you Paul, I don't know what happened to the original lens, hopefully it got preserved or used elsewhere. The Germans certainly occupied this and Casquets during WW2, cheers, Take care

[@johnbeach7985]

It is a priceless record, indeed, Peter. Thank you again.

[@tonipeters4543]

Thanks for a wonderful insight Peter. I for one am grateful you recorded as much as you did, may I ask what the camera was?

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you for that, I started with a Sanyo VM-HI00P camcorder, which was really basic, then went onto a Sony CCD-V800E, both of which were HI8 tape machines.

[@BlueShankPEI]

As usual very interesting stuff. And also happy birthday Peter if you should happen to see this on Nov 4th.

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you, and yes I saw this on the 4th, cheers

[@pioneerz450]

There's something special about being on the last outpost. A job I could see myself doing. However, most were automated before I was even born.

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you, and you've also managed to make me feel really old! LOl Cheers and stay safe.

[@liamkatt6434]

Another great video thank you. Robbie and Barry must have been an amazing crew to work with. Their meals made me feel hungry!

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you very much, much appreciated. The right crew always was a big plus, they were great to be with. Cheers and stay safe.

[@davidbutler4363]

A most interesting vlog Peter,well done 😁👍👏👏👏

[@PeterHalil]

Cheers Mate, appreciated👍

[@midnightteapot5633]

When you were on this duty did you ever communicate with the French lighthouses off the Brittany coast or at least pick their radio messages , Ar-Men lighthouse for example .

[@markmall]

At the start of the film you were watching Irish TV, I heard Gay Byrne welcome Bill Wyman on to The Late Late Show !, How did you receive Irish Tv ?

[@PeterHalil]

Hi Mark, We weren't watching Irish TV station, it happened to be on the local TV that we picked up. Cheers.

[@StevE-db5ph]

Recognise “Gay Byrne & The late late show” on the TV at the start of the video😁 did you pick up Irish tv there? Enjoyed the video, thanks

[@PeterHalil]

Hi, thanks for the comments, we picked up English tv channels down there, don't know if they were re broadcast from Guernsey or not, cheers

[@craiground1545]

Cheers Peter for all your superb videos! I sometimes wish I had been a light keeper! I’ve visited many lighthouses, mostly in Scotland including Fair Isle north and south lights and I was lucky enough to get to go up Fair Isle south a few years ago, as stunning inside as out! As a birdwatcher fascinated by bird migration I loved the footage of the Goldcrest attracted to the Hanois light, did you see any other species of bird at the lights at night during your time offshore? Your footage is an incredible record of bird migration offshore. I found several sadly dead goldcrests in the courtyard of The Longstone light in November a few years back that had probably hit the lantern glass at night. The perils of migration!

[@PeterHalil]

Hi Craig, we saw lots of birds at our lighthouses, lots on dismal nights too. Recently I was at Flatholm filming one of the lights that I missed and filmed a Peregrine falcon on the lighthouse balcony. Thanks for your kind words and stay safe.

[@skyhill4279]

I can't believe that there's a guy work on a helicopter platform with flipflops on, what is he thinking! Great video as usual.

[@PeterHalil]

Oh, I didn't notice. Good job Health & Safety weren't around. cheers, stay safe.

[@gazwoods7026]

Awesome place and a great video to Peter, thank you for sharing to buddy 🇬🇧✊🏼

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you Gaz for your kind comments, take care mate stay safe

[@scottmann9208]

Great video! Any idea how far out to sea that foghorn could be heard?

[@PeterHalil]

Not really, as it changed with density of fog etc. It could be anywhere from a mile or so up to 5 miles approx, cheers

[@brianbee2869]

A wonderful video for a snowy day. So glad you documented the lighthouses with your camcorder back then and now have a way to share it. Thanks again.

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you very much Brian, for your kind words. Glad you liked the videos. Take care and stay safe.

[@64jimboy]

I always love to see your videos. I'm surprised how well equipped the living areas are on some of these lighthouses. Thanks.

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you, I think on some, when they automated them, the kitchens were renewed, cheers.

[@leer9951]

Did you keep the compresed air cylinders charged at all times or did you charge them if you knew fog was forecast?

[@PeterHalil]

All the Lighthouses that I was on when fog arrived you started from scratch to build up the air.

[@johnforshaw3711]

Thank you so muchfor recording this for us. I always wondered what it was like to live this life.

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you for your kind comments John, glad you liked the video. Cheers & stay safe.

[@vwfan5523]

Another brilliant video diary that was so much ahead of its time. Was there a decline in comeradery amongst the crews? You said that there was no duty cook anymore. When did all the bread making die out? How to bake bread was a skill taught at Blackwall. Was that just for some sort of bread emergency? 😉

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you, It was just to teach us the very basics of cooking. I also think that the duty cook died out in the 1970's when it went down from 2 months at sea to just one month on followed by one month off, cheers

[@bernardwallace4165]

Very interesting videos. Now that lighthouses are automated, how often are they visited and what are the main jobs that need to be done?

[@PeterHalil]

The answer to that is I don't know. Hopefully, there will be somebody out there that still works for Trinity House that will be kind enough to answer that one. Cheers and stay safe.

[@thechod]

Peter is the mechanic the same one who rebuilt the engines at lizard with Robbie Coltrane?

[@PeterHalil]

No David, it isn't, two different guys. Cheers, I enjoyed watching that one on youtube too.

[@robbogsy3469]

Are you a Guernsey man? Great video to watch.I bet it’s abit scary sometimes there at night.

[@PeterHalil]

Hi, I'm not a Guernsey man at all, I was just doing spells of duty on board. I was never scared there, but then I never was there in any really severe weather. No I never got any spooky feeling there on watch at night either, cheers

[@henryknepp]

Are there any photos or video of the eddystone interior pre-automation available anywhere on the net?

[@PeterHalil]

I haven't found any but other Keepers had cameras and must have taken them. If not Trinity House or the Association of Lighthouse Keepers may be of help.

[@vwfan5523]

Happy Birthday today, the 4th November Peter 🎂

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you very much, cheers

[@johnmcdyer7297]

Absolutely brilliant thanks Peter

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you very much for your kind comments John, much appreciated. Take care and stay safe.

[@AnthonyJones-vk6xq]

Video number 3 in your excellent series Peter, really enjoying each one, the time you made this film i was in the Royal Air Force based in RAF GATOW in Berlin and the wall had fallen the year before, a few days after your birthday !!! Thankyou Peter.

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you very much, especially for triggering those memories. I started life in the Royal Navy, then my dream job, Lighthouses, then finished with being an MT Driver at RAF Valley, so have a high regard for the RAF. Glad you are enjoying the videos. There are lots that are just visits, as not all Keepers wanted to appear on camera. Cheers, take care.

[@AnthonyJones-vk6xq]

@@PeterHalil Small world Peter, Valley is just down the road from where i grew up, as a youngster i used to sit on the approach with my best friend in school whose father was a RAF navigator and we would watch the Hawks doing circuits, happy days. Years later i used to fly from Caernarfon Airport (Dinas Dinlle) where they had at the time a Bolkow Bo-105 for the air ambulance the same Trinty Lighthouse used to use ! Talking to valley ATC was something we did daily when coming in over the menai straights . Have a good weekend.

[@PeterHalil]

A very small World indeed, thanks Mate, you and yours stay safe.@@AnthonyJones-vk6xq

[@stevenr2463]

Very interesting, thank you!

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you, glad you liked it cheers

[@johndawes2397]

Great footage pete job well done .

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you John, take care

[@johndawes2397]

@@PeterHalil Cheers pete , i have not forgot the copies i promised you just ,that being in the prison service of late is taking up most of my time lately shortage of staff and all the trouble that go,s with it first week off in months lol , stay safe and well .

[@PeterHalil]

@@johndawes2397 Cheers John

[@Dave-id6sj]

Hi Peter, you can tell you used to be in the RN, you do all the things my dad used to do as he spent 21 years in. Sparrows bath in the morning, clean your teeth more often than not (not wanting an abscess or infection while deployed), engines get a polish to make them run better lol, make and mend your own kit, cook your own scran, swabbing and cleaning is second nature in close confines of a ship or lighthouse, can sleep anywhere, and watch and log keeping for good measure. Plus my old man was ships photographer, you are lights filmographer haha....all the best mate! PS my birthday is the 9th of November.

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you Dave Mate for that Sherlock Holmes dissection of me Ha! spot on cheers, and we are both Scorpios. 21 years was a fair bit of time served too, where did your Dad do his service? Take care and thanks again

[@Dave-id6sj]

@@PeterHalil Dad was on HMS Loch Fyne, HMS Phoebe, then with 40 Commando in Malaya, along with base hospitals in Plymouth, Devenport, Portsmouth etc. 1949 to 1971 was his service.

[@PeterHalil]

@@Dave-id6sj Thank you Dave, take care mate

[@Dave-id6sj]

@@PeterHalil my pleasure, and same to you.

[@m3rri3n36]

Never seen what it was like to work/live in a lighthouse, came by this by luck when checking KZbin for videos of my home island. Thank you Peter

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you, glad you found my channel, cheers and stay safe

[@waynewrath773]

Really enjoyed watching your videos. What I like most is they really capture the everyday life of working in a lighthouse. Getting to see the living conditions rather than just the machinery and technical stuff really make it come to life. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@PeterHalil]

Glad you liked it Wayne, I tried to capture as much as possible and tell us the Keepers story. Thanks for your kind comments and stay safe.

[@mjallenuk]

It's been a while but always worth coming back for another viewing. Cheers Peter for this wonderful slice of history.

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you matt, always appreciated, take care

[@robbiegoldsmith8727]

Hi Peter, Another great video of the Hanois. It was good to see Clive after all these years and also Dave and George. It was great working with Clive and Avery when I went back after a year away following Pauls accident. Have a great birthday tomorrow mate, I remember my 50th birthday out there. I hope you are keeping well.

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you Robbie, it's been a while. Hope you are still keeping healthy. I'm still going strong, well, I'm still going. So far the virus has been kept at bay, but the numbers are creeping up again in Wales, which shouldn't be surprising with the mass of tourists we've had this staycation year. Yes, it was great for me when I edit these movies to see all the old workmates still as young as I remember them. Thanks again and stay safe

[@robbiegoldsmith8727]

@@PeterHalil Happy Birthday Peter, I hope you have had a good one. I am still going strong like you and have not had any problems with the virus and get my booster jab on Saturday. We have quiet a few cases here on Guernsey now that we have opened up our borders. You too take care and stay safe.

[@PeterHalil]

@@robbiegoldsmith8727 Cheers Robbie, our booster jabs are due soon. Thanks for the birthday wishes, stay safe mate.

[@JuttaAndrieux]

Hi Robbie, I can remember your 50th birthday, too. At the time, you sent me a picture of it with a big cake and your mates. ☺

[@scottmann9208]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you Scott, cheers

[@sub_urban6519]

💯❤

[@PeterHalil]

Thank you, stay safe

[@sub_urban6519]

@@PeterHalil Thank you Peter, I haven't looked at you for a long time. It's always a pleasure to see the contemporary documents of a bygone era. Also the story behind it. As a German, I also find the story behind the occupied lighthouses in the unfortunately inglorious past of World War II interesting. Stay healthy and thank you.

[@PeterHalil]

@@sub_urban6519 Thank you very much, much appreciated. Glad you like my movies. Take care and stay safe too.