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Beachy Head lighthouse keeps its stripes after fundraising target reached Beachy Head lighthouse keeps its stripes after fundraising target reached
(about 2 hours later)
The striking red and white stripes of a landmark lighthouse will not be left to fade after campaigners raised £27,000 to have it repainted.The striking red and white stripes of a landmark lighthouse will not be left to fade after campaigners raised £27,000 to have it repainted.
A £500 donation was enough to see the organisers of the Beachy Head lighthouse campaign in Eastbourne, East Sussex, go over their target following a year-long appeal. The organisers of the Beachy Head lighthouse campaign in Eastbourne, East Sussex, passed their target following a year-long appeal.
Repainting the 141ft tower will start next spring after a contract to carry out the work goes out to tender.Repainting the 141ft tower will start next spring after a contract to carry out the work goes out to tender.
The work will come at the end of a successful crusade backed by local residents, businesses, and well-known figures including Eddie Izzard, John Craven and Bill Bryson.
The fundraiser was launched in October last year after Trinity House, which oversees navigational aids around parts of Britain's coastline, said the lighthouse was no longer needed as a daymark, the reason for its eye-catching appearance.The fundraiser was launched in October last year after Trinity House, which oversees navigational aids around parts of Britain's coastline, said the lighthouse was no longer needed as a daymark, the reason for its eye-catching appearance.
Its distinctive red and white bands were to be left to fade to its natural granite grey colour because of the cost of repainting it until locals stepped in to raise the money needed to give it a fresh look. Its distinctive red and white bands were to be left to fade to grey because of the cost of repainting. The campaign to repaint it was backed by local residents, businesses and well-known figures including Eddie Izzard, John Craven and Bill Bryson.
Campaign co-ordinator Shirley Moth said: "We have been thrilled by the support the campaign has received. Once we started it, we realised how many people have great affection for the lighthouse. The campaign co-ordinator Shirley Moth said: "We have been thrilled by the support the campaign has received. Once we started it, we realised how many people have great affection for the lighthouse. It's a part of Sussex, and in the end we received support from all over the world, including donations from America and Canada. We have still got money coming in, which is just great."
"It's a part of Sussex, and in the end we received support from all over the world, including donations from America and Canada. We have still got money coming in, which is just great."
The lighthouse has sat more than 500ft below the summit of the chalk cliffs of Beachy Head since being brought into service in 1902. Designed under the direction of Sir Thomas Matthews, the then engineer-in-chief of Trinity House, it is made of 3,660 tonnes of fine Cornish granite.The lighthouse has sat more than 500ft below the summit of the chalk cliffs of Beachy Head since being brought into service in 1902. Designed under the direction of Sir Thomas Matthews, the then engineer-in-chief of Trinity House, it is made of 3,660 tonnes of fine Cornish granite.
It was automated and de-manned in June 1983 and is monitored remotely 24 hours a day by Trinity House's operations and planning centre at Harwich, Essex.It was automated and de-manned in June 1983 and is monitored remotely 24 hours a day by Trinity House's operations and planning centre at Harwich, Essex.
Trinity House has previously defended the decision not to repaint the lighthouse, saying it had a duty to ensure all its expenditure was justified.Trinity House has previously defended the decision not to repaint the lighthouse, saying it had a duty to ensure all its expenditure was justified.