Lighthouse mystery: What happened to the three keepers on Flannan Isles?
JUSTGIVING Lighthouse mystery: What happened to the three keepers on Flannan Isles?
The trio swam from the Flannan Isles to Uig on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis – each representing a lighthouse keeper who mysteriously disappeared from Eilean Mòr, the main island of the Flannans – more than 100 years ago. Built in 1899, the Stevenson-designed Flannan Isles Lighthouse was manned by keepers Thomas Marshall, James Ducat and William MacArthur. In December 1900, a year after the Flannan's light first shone, the grim discovery of their disappearance was made when replacement keeper Joseph Moore arrived at the lighthouse to find it empty, the clocks stopped, a half-eaten meal on the table, a chair toppled over, and one of the three oilskin waterproofs still hanging up inside the door.
JUSTGIVING The three men completed the gruelling 21 miles swim last night
The thing about swimming in the ocean is that you don't know what's out there Colin Macleod
The true fate of the three men remains to this day unknown, with theories ranging from a rogue wave washing them to sea, to the trio being captured by foreign invaders, or even abducted by aliens. But the incident also found its way into art. A section of Wilfrid Wilson Gibson's epic poem is quoted in an episode of Doctor Who – Horror of Fang Rock. The Genesis song The Mystery of Flannan Isle Lighthouse and an opera called The Lighthouse by former Master of the Queen’s Music, the late Sir Peter Maxwell Davies are also based on the incident. And the mystery is now being given the Hollywood treatment with filming of Keepers, starring Gerard Butler and Peter Mullan, currently taking place in Port Logan, Galloway.
JUSTGIVING The true fate of the three men remains to this day unknown
Charity open-water swimmers Colin Macleod, Ed Smith, and Stuart Baird, all from Lewis, began their attempt, named The Flannan Isles Mystery Swim. The team swam in relay formation, in 45 minute legs, to Uig on the Isle of Lewis. "The thing about swimming in the ocean is that you don't know what's out there. We're happy to put our lives on the line to raise money for the RNLI as they do it all the time," said team captain Mr Macleod. "The RNLI are made up of volunteers who daily put their lives at risk to rescue others. And living on an island, you really do appreciate the work that these men and women do." In 2012 experienced open-water swimmer Mr Macleod was part of the Big Minch Swim Team. The nine strong swim team raised £23,500 for the RNLI successfully swimming from Ullapool, north west Scotland, to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.
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