It was blowing force 6 and teeming with rain the day Carlton TV chose to visit Prawle Point. Their objective - to make a short film to be screened for the programme "Country Lives" depicting life as a watchkeeper. They particularly wanted a woman and, as I live on the doorstep, I suppose I was a natural choice. The team - John Oven (director), Julian (cameraman) and David (sound) - dripped over my doorstep at around 9.30am and filled my small living room with their equipment. Coffee was the first order of the day before they set up for the first shot - watchkeeper looking out of window at the weather - half an hour later, clad in heavy waterproofs, we headed for the lookout. It took three "takes" to get me plodding up the slippery slope complete with stick and water bottle in appalling conditions to achieve watchkeeper arrives at lookout shot. The kettle went on immediately whilst the crew stripped off their dripping coats and dried off their precious equipment. Here the serious stuff began - recording the weather, keeping the log, peering out to sea through the binoculars, taking bearings and chart work - all accompanied by energetic cleaning of steamed up windows and copious amounts of coffee. There was little going on out at sea with the south easterly wind now up to 7 gusting gale force 8 and, according to Brixham, possibly 9 later! A question and answer session followed by a few outside shots as soon as a window in the weather appeared and it was all over. It had taken six hours and yards of film, most of which ended up on the cutting room floor, to make a three minute documentary!

Joan Gross