1 to 6: 36 Views of Coquet Island

View One: Ivor Rackham and his photo Moonrise Over Coquet Island

Local photographer, Ivor, captures this moment beautifully.

You can see more of Ivor’s work on his website here and Instagram here.

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View Two: Ali Rowland and her poem Bent Coppers

Amble-based writer Ali Rowland has drawn inspiration for this gentle and witty poem from an incident back in 1659 when Rowland Forster from Wark employed a couple of lads to try their hand at counterfeiting coins on the island.

Bent Coppers

Long ago two shadowy men made solid noises, 
on the isle of thieves and ne’er do wells, 
they were rowed over by order of the gentry,
who organised the crime round there. 

The task: to imitate coins with the pseudo-
handsome profile of some long-forgotten king.
Their own faces pock- and weather-marked, 
resembling melted kettles. 

Piecework, striking piece by tedious piece 
in the noisy peace of gulls and terns, 
and singing seals. Loud, secret bells carried 
on the landward breeze called the congregation 
to stay home, be deaf to counterfeit island. 

As cameo designers though, they 
did not do well, and their edges were all warped 
and frilled. The boss wasn’t happy, so 
finally expelled from monk-like exile,
they were returned, redundant; forgers, 
failed, and flawed. Not craftsmen or career-
criminals at all, but just a joke of history.

You can find Ali on Facebook here.

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View Three: Isabel Morrison and her song Coquet Lament

Here is Isabel’s introduction to her song:

In 1990 the Coquet Light was automated and on one sad December day the keepers left Coquet Island for the last time. 

Tony Rylance (brother-in-law of Paul Morrison) wrote the lyrics to the “Coquet Lament”, which portray the island talking to the keepers as they depart. “You have gone; but you will return like a bird across the sea…”.

I then wrote the music and in 1991, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Coquet Light being exhibited for the first time in 1841, the Coquet High School choir performed and recorded the song. 

The words Tony Rylance penned, although primarily written as a farewell, can be interpreted in several ways. As such, the song has been performed on different occasions over the years; it has been played at several funerals, at church concerts and, most recently, at a family wedding in Ripon Cathedral. 

And so the song lives on!

Isabel can be found on Facebook here.

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View Four: Sally Howarth and her Mirrored Blue Mannequins

Here’s what Sally has to say about her amazing blue mannequins looking out to Coquet Island:

THREE BLUE BLOKES TRIP OUT…to Low Hauxley Beach opposite Coquet Island

We all have similar traits to my blue mannequins - we all contain plastic, we can all be very blue, cold, non-responsive, a bit broken or sparkling, with a fascinating aura, draw a crowd, raise a smile, unique, hypnotising.

The ‘plastic-fantastic’ alienoid mannequins exposed for the first time to the beach, the island, natural beauty…what would they say? Smell? Feel? See? Sense?

Part of a series of Mannequin Trips Out. Shot by Sally Howarth. Email Sally at: mail@sallypod.plus.com

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View Five: Jim Donnelly and a Coquet Island haiku

Local writer and photographer Jim Donnelly has written a series of haiku in response to the island, which as he says: ‘sits permanently outside my bedroom window.’

Waves, distant rumble

Sea worn stones, tumbled and thrown

Sand, the last quiet

You can find more of Jim’s haiku at his website here.

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View Six: Barbara Cuthbert and her watercolours Coquet Quartet

Here’s what Barbara says about her quartet of watercolours, which emulate Hokusai’s approach by viewing the island from different places:

Having lived in Warkworth for 56 years, I appreciate the beauty of our Northumbrian coast. Wherever I go, I am opposite Coquet Island, thinking perhaps that this magic island floats! My paintings reflect this vision of the Magical Moving Island.

Email Barbara at babs.cuthbert@gmail.com

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It has been a pleasure to share these first six views. We hope you have enjoyed them. Another six will follow next weekend. If you haven’t already subscribed, please consider doing so (it’s free!) and share this fantastic collection with others.