The Centre comprises two
attractions, the Covesea lighthouse and the
FAA/RAF HeritageCentre both of which are
owned by CLCC Ltd which was formed and
wholly owned by the Lossiemouth community
with the specific intention of purchasing
the lighthouse and surrounding land after it
was decommissioned by the Northern
Lighthouse Board. Additional funds were
raised to purchase the adjoining land
including the original well and Steading,
complete with the Blacksmith shop, stable
and byre. CLCC has appointed a board of
directors which manage and administer the
company.We open the
centre every weekend from April until
October and also open by request atother
times when asked. The Saturday openings
coincide with trips up the lighthouse which
need to be booked in advance and are proving
very popular. The two attractions work
together with lighthouse visitors encouraged
to meet in the Centre prior to their trip up
to the top. The CHC also sells lighthouse
related merchandise as well as service
themed items.
Our reference library is
building up well and we have received and
supplied answers to quite a few queries over
the year. These have come mainly from
relatives of aircrew who were involved in
aircraft incidents and accidents and we have
a list of all such incidents from 1945 to
current date (the FAA Officers Assn website
is also a useful tool). Recent additions I
have created this season include HMS Fulmar
Squadron and Unit Folders which detail
stories and photos relating to the
individual units and four folders containing
Tugg cartoons together with his life story.
I am also working on the sports and social
side of Fulmar with articles on the
Mountaineering and sailing club and a
history of groups who played in the Fulmar
club and surrounding clubs (Two Red Shoes
etc). The Winkle Brown exhibition is more or
less complete with various artefacts (thanks
to Navy Wings) and a running video of his
life story.
We are waiting for BAE
Systems to send up a jig for a Tornado tail
fin which we have been allotted. Morayvia
have loaned us a Martin Baker ejection seat
and we recently acquired the HMS Eagle
flight deck which was used by the mobile
Recruiting Team. (Funny what you find in
some folks loft!!)
The outside landscaping is
still WIP, it has been backfilled with top
soil donated by a local building developer
and this has been seeded and is growing
nicely. This grassed area will hopefully be
used for outside catering events, and the
FAABA will be hosted during their reunion in
2020, with a BBQ and Hog Roast, and visit to
the centre and lighthouse tours also being
offered. The Centre hosted over 1,300
visitors during the last financial year and
donations have exceeded running costs. The
charity also own and receive an income from
the two lighthouse cottages which are
available for holiday rental. Reservations
are made through the National Trust for
Scotland (
https://www.nts.org.uk/Holidays ).
Dave Clark. |