February is often a stormy month in Orkney, and whilst this year we’ve all be inconvenienced by the cancellation of ferries, schools closures, and no buses on the roads, spare a thought for what our parents and grandparents had to deal with.

In 1949 the Lighthouse Keepers on Sule Skerry had been ‘marooned’ for 3 months. Normally the men would have a two months stint but severe storms during January prevented that from happening. An attempt to get the men off at the beginning of February had to be abandoned when the Pole Star, was forced back to Stromness due to heavy seas.

The Pole Star was able to return the next day, Sunday, and the three keepers: Gillespie, Rae and Learmonth were able to get ashore.

Sule Skerry is the most isolated Lighthouse in Britain and was built by David A and Charles Stevenson in 1895.

It is situated 40 miles west of Orkney and 35 miles north of the Scottish mainland.

The monthly relief of the lighthouse was carried out by Pole Star. On many occasions Sule Skerry had been cut off for days by heavy seas, preventing any landing.

From 1973 it was relieved fortnightly by helicopter. The Sule Skerry families lived in Stromness from 1895 until the station was automated in 1982.

It saw enemy action in World War 2 when it was attacked on 5th February 1942 by a twin engined enemy bomber, which dropped three HE bombs on the island about sixty yards north of the lighthouse. No one was injured and damage was minimal. Then on 18th November 1944 a floating mine drifted ashore and exploded.

The lighthouse is listed as a building of Architectural/Historical interest. You can find more about the Lighthouse here: CANMORE