Middle Watch was inspired by a chance conversation with a friend over coffee. Her life is one of those filled with constant dramas and some of this material gave me the idea for the commencement of this tale. But all authors will tell you that characters begin to take on a life of their own and Bridie O’Neill tells her own story. Perhaps there’s some of mine in it too. In the Sixties I was once a civil servant working for the National Assistance Board at Archway and there really was a wonderful waitress called Queenie serving in De Marco’s!
Visiting the many beautiful and historic lighthouses of England was a most pleasurable task. My thanks to the staff of these who helped with questions, particularly at Flamborough where I was given a most interesting tour. Lighthouses have a great fascination for us all; beacons of light and safety in isolated and stormy spots. It is good to acknowledge the heroic work done by the men who manned them until the late 20th century before remote control of the lantern was introduced.
The characters are all fictional and my use of well known lighthouses also coloured by imagination, so if there are any errors in the telling they are my own. However, I hope that nothing will detract from your enjoyment of the story.
Many thanks also to Trinity House who allowed the use of a beautiful photograph of Flamborough Lighthouse as the book cover. Their website www.trinityhouse.co.uk is worth visiting if you are a lighthouse lover. I hope this story will encourage more people to visit these wonderful places, part of our national heritage.
Thanks to Anna Rossi and Mary Cade for their helpful feedback. A huge thanks as always, to my dear daughter, Thalia Proctor, for her marvellous and professional editing and all her encouragement. And to my patient husband, John, who supplied a feverish writer with frequent cups of tea and coffee (and cake).