A unique opportunity to discover the films and audio held in the archives of the Association of Lighthouse Keepers, including reel-to-reel and video footage.
The three-day event will be run under the auspices of the Association of Lighthouse Keepers (ALK), with support from Bidston Lighthouse (where the ALK Archives are held) and Bidston Observatory Artistic Research Centre (where the event will take place).
The goal of the weekend is to check the film footage currently held in the ALK Archive, reviewing the contents and condition of various reels of cine film, super-8, VHS cassettes, DVDs and perhaps slides. We hope that this event will improve the catalogue and set some priorities for preservation and digitising. There are likely to be two screening rooms most of the time and our Archivist would like ALK members to be involved in the selection, screening, handling, note-taking etc. during the event.
The event will begin on the afternoon of Friday 28th February. A buffet supper will be provided that evening with the screenings beginning at around 7pm. The screenings will continue through Saturday and Sunday and there is the possibility of visits to Bidston Lighthouse on the Saturday and Leasowe Lighthouse on the Sunday afternoon.
The charge for attending the event is £7.50 per person per day or £15 per person per night for those wishing to stay over at the Observatory, which contains superior Youth Hostel-style accommodation with shared rooms. Food will be provided at the following prices: £3 for breakfast, £5 for lunch, and £6 for dinner. Tea, coffee, soft drinks, cakes and biscuits will be included in the daily charge.
Booking
Pre-booking is essential, both for day visitors and residents.
There are limited accommodation spaces and, as a result, they will be allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
To sign up for the event or find out more call 0151 653 7816 (speak to Mandy or Stephen) or email archive@alk.org.uk
Provisional Programme
Friday
As some people will be travelling from far afield, Friday’s activities will be fairly informal.
2pm – 6pm Informal workshop. Set-up, equipment checking, practice screenings.
6pm – 9pm. Dinner. A buffet-style dinner will be available until 9pm, so that late arrivals need not go hungry.
7:30pm – 10:30pm. Screenings in room 1.
Saturday
Breakfast available (Observatory residents only).
10am – 1pm Cine-film Screenings in room 1
10am – 1pm Other Screenings in room 2
1pm – 2pm Lunch
2pm – 6pm Screenings in room 1
2pm – 3:30pm Optional tour of Bidston Lighthouse (including visit to the archives). There will be no charge for the tour, but donations towards the maintenance of the lighthouse will be gratefully accepted.
3:30pm – 6pm Screenings in room 2
6pm – 7pm Chill. A chance to relax and socialise.
7pm Dinner
8:30pm – 10:30pm Screenings in room 1
Sunday
Breakfast available (Observatory residents only).
10am – 1pm Cine-film Screenings in room 1
10am – 1pm Other Screenings in room 2
1pm – 2pm Lunch
2pm End of formal proceedings.
Those who don’t need to travel home straight away might consider:
- Helping pack up and return film and equipment to the Archives at Bidston Lighthouse next door. We will be grateful.
- Visiting Leasowe Lighthouse, which will be open from 12 noon until 4pm (last tour at 3:30pm, normal charges will apply). Leasowe Lighthouse is a short 10-15 minute drive away.
- Going for a walk on Bidston Hill (very pleasant if the weather is fair). Copies of the Bidston Hill Heritage Trail booklet will be available at both the Lighthouse and Observatory (recommended donation of 50p to the Friends of Bidston Hill).
- Visiting the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales in Liverpool. The aircraft carrier will arrive in Liverpool on Friday 28th February, and stay for a week. The Royal Navy says: “Exact timings for the ship’s arrival in Liverpool, and details of how to obtain tickets to visit the ship, will be announced in due course, dependent on weather conditions and operational commitments.”
Acknowledgments
The organisers would like to thank Tate Liverpool and Wirralcam for the loan of audiovisual equipment.