Tony O’Neil has had a passion for boats and broadcasting for as long as he can remember, and now he runs LV18 in Harwich, a fitting reminder of how marine safety and music went hand in hand off the Essex coast
![One Man & His Lightship](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/10252/242941/59d3794e6d9cc/One-Man-His-Lightship.jpg)
MOST MORNINGS from March to October, at 11am, Tony O’Neil opens a steel gate and walks the 15m gangway on to LV18, the last manned lightship of the Trinity House Fleet. He would not want to be anywhere else.
‘Being on here enables me to meet lots of people, which is a great joy to me. I am a people person,’ says Tony, as he makes himself comfortable at the ship’s bow in a moment of warm sunshine.
For the curator of the LV18 museum, and trustee of the Pharos Trust that owns it, the short walk from his home across Harwich Quay is the symbolic end of a 13-year journey to restore the vessel, turn it into a tourist attraction and bring it to a permanent berth. His own belief that you can do anything if you set your mind to it is something he admires in others.
‘This light vessel being here is a very good example of an almost unachievable project, that can be delivered by one or a very few people if you have got the staying power, and you really do believe what you are doing is right,’ Tony adds.
Tony grew up in Walton on the Naze enjoying, ‘an Arthur Ransome childhood bimbling about in the Backwaters on boats’. At an early age, he became fascinated with wireless and broadcasting. His father worked in wireless and was part of the pioneering days of radar and early warning systems, both in the RAF during the war and afterwards with Marconi. It was inevitable that when ‘pirates’ came to the Suffolk and Essex coast, Tony became hooked.
‘I lived and breathed offshore radio,’ he recounts. ‘I thought all little boys had pirate radio stations at the bottom of their gardens. I certainly did. And it wasn’t long before I went out and met up with them.’
Denne historien er fra October 2017-utgaven av Essex Life.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 2017-utgaven av Essex Life.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![The rise of maskne](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10252/539806/5f8eea3b74f95/crp_The-rise-of-maskne.jpg)
The rise of maskne
With the term ‘maskne’ becoming an increasingly common search online and on social media, Krystal Prince explains what it is and how you can control mask-induced acne
![The forgotten lady](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10252/539806/5f8ee4f29cb7e/crp_The-forgotten-lady.jpg)
The forgotten lady
Charlotte Christie shares the life story of Anne Knight, an Essex pioneer for the abolition of slavery and women’s suffrage who’s achievements have almost been air-brushed from history
![Stride out in the Sampfords](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10252/539806/5f8ee1abd46f5/crp_Stride-out-in-the-Sampfords.jpg)
Stride out in the Sampfords
This charming, circular winter walk takes you on a tour from the village of Great Sampford to its neighbour, Little Sampford, and back again
![MUCH TO TALK ABOUT](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10252/539806/5f8ee816a7c9d/crp_MUCH-TO-TALKABOUT.jpg)
MUCH TO TALK ABOUT
As a presenter on Sky Music and the host of two TV talk shows of her own on Gidea Park-based Sky channel Spotlight TV, Hayley Palmer is never short of words. Nicky Adams asks her how she came to be in front of the camera
![LIFE and SOUL](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10252/539806/5f8edcff21042/crp_LIFE-and-SOUL.jpg)
LIFE and SOUL
Radio 1 broadcaster and producer Charlie Hedges began her career as Britain’s youngest breakfast show host and is now one of the world’s most successful female DJs. Denise Marshall caught up with the Essex-based queen of the air waves
![Lest we forget](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10252/539806/5f8edeb89888f/crp_Lest-we-forget.jpg)
Lest we forget
Remembrance Sunday will have a special poignance this month as 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. Stephen Roberts profiles how much the county of Essex contributed to the war effort and how much it cost
![Lakeside Magic](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10252/539806/5f8ee0a0a18f8/crp_Lakeside-Magic.jpg)
Lakeside Magic
The Lake House, nestled in Mill End on the outskirts of the village of Bradwell on Sea, has been owned by the same family for 60 years and was once a thriving four-buoy water-ski lake.
![Keep on running](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10252/539806/5f8edba961078/crp_Keep-on-running.jpg)
Keep on running
BBC presenter and director David Whiteley shares his insightful view on stories from across the county of Essex
![Cheers!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10252/539806/5f8ee95b8a192/crp_Cheers.jpg)
Cheers!
Starting to get that festive vibe? Why not plan ahead by selecting not only the drinks you want to serve this Christmas, but also ticking off a few presents too?
![A doggy day out on… Saffron Walden](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/10252/539806/5f8ee2e749993/crp_A-doggy-day-out-on-Saffron-Walden.jpg)
A doggy day out on… Saffron Walden
Join Ernie, the county’s most famous Westie, as he steps back in time on a trip to this medieval market town