Memoirs of a Lightkeeper’s Son   2nd edition

Billy Budge

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ISBN: 9781551097695

Memoirs of a Lightkeeper’s Son 2nd edition

  Author:   Billy Budge    
  Publisher:  Nimbus Publishing

William (Billy) G. Budge was born in 1948 in the small fishing village of Neil’s Harbour on the northern tip of Cape Breton. In 1955 his father accepted the position of lighthouse keeper on St. Paul Island, a rugged and forlorn mountain in the sea. Positioned at the entrance to the Gulf of St. Lawrence between Cape Breton and Newfoundland, this island is subject to violent gales, snowstorms and is often shrouded in fog. Early seafarers called it the “Graveyard of the Gulf” due to the vast numbers of ships and countless lives that were lost along its shores.

Billy moved to St. Paul Island with his parents and younger sister in September of 1955. For the next five years they lived at the southwest light station in almost total isolation. His family quickly learned to cope in a world without neighbours, electricity, schools, or any sports activities. They lived off the land – hunting ducks along the coast, berry picking, and jigging cod on the sea. Almost daily there were hardships to overcome and problems to be resolved. Life on the island was one of both tragedy and triumph. Billy tells his story of survival on that lonely rock. Sense the lush green of the island in summer in the midst of a crystal blue sea and feel the harshness of winter while buried under snow and surrounded by drift ice.

Share with Billy the excitement of unexpected guests, the arrival of a supply ship as well as the sadness of sickness and loss. Experience the many technical problems such as a fire in the lighthouse and learn how the entire family worked together to restore service.

Details and Specs
ISBN associated with this title: 9781551097695
Item NB0892
PublisherNimbus Publishing
PublisherNimbus Publishing
Published on April 13 2010
Language eng
Pages 186
Format Paperback
Dimensions9(in) x 6(in)
Shipping weight320(g)
Status ACTIVE TITLE
Billy Budge is married with three children and lives in Ingonish, Cape Breton. He worked for many years as a telephone technician for Maritime Tel and Tel, both in Halifax and Cape Breton, until retiring in 1998. Memoirs of a Lighthousekeeper's Son was shortlisted for the Evelyn Richardson Prise for non-fiction in 2003.