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From the start of the society in 1990/91 our funds rose from an initial £393 to £1292 in 1995, when the Friends was temporarily disbanded. This money was spent on picnic tables, and furniture and equipment for the classrooms.

In 1996 fund raising started again in earnest with an income that year of £1919. By the lighthouse’s centenary year in 1989 a massive £10,188 was added to our account by the organization of several large scale events, and by designing and selling sweat shirts and t-shirts commemorating the event. Money was donated by the visitors to the island, the Halifax Building Society, Sainsbury’s, the Whitley Bay Pantomime Society and others.. We also made a substantial amount by serving light refreshments whenever volunteers and a room were available.

  Where Does the Money Go?
Our biggest expenditure was in 2001 when £8000 went towards the cost of a ramp to improve access to the island - a grant of £45,000 came from the Heritage Lottery Fund to supplement North Tyneside Council’s work. The entire cost of building the lighthouse and keeper’s cottages in 1889 was the same amount - £8000!

In the same year we funded the production of an educational brochure for schools and young people, to promote interest in and further knowledge of the island.

Over the years the Friends have provided plate glass cabinets in which to display two model ships, wall panels for educational displays, picnic tables and seats, planted up tubs and window boxes, willow screens, plants for the garden, tools for volunteers; and last year a specially designed window panel from an artist specialising in acrylics.

 
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St. Mary's Lighthouse, St. Mary's Island, Whitley Bay, NE26 4RS
Tel: 0191 200 8650 Email: info@friendsofstmarysisland.co.uk
Registered Charity No.1093840  Copyright ©