Off the south-west coast of England lies a small piece of granite that bears the name, Lundy Island. It is situated in the Atlantic at the mouth of the Bristol Channel.
A few weeks ago I saw a man wearing an aqua colored T shirt today that had emblazoned on its back, ‘LUNDY ISLAND’ with ‘BRISTOL CHANNEL’ beneath it in smaller letters. I was immediately reminded about the time during World War Two when I spent eighteen months on a farm near Westward Ho! on the North Devon coast.
I was fortunate enough to miss the London Blitz during those months and I spent an idyllic time on that farm. At the tender age of ten I was thirsting for knowledge and I was able to explore many parts of the surrounding area. I was into adventure books like Robin Hood and Treasure Island and vividly recall that this last tale began in Devon. Lundy became my own ‘Treasure Island’ and I longed to travel across the sea and climb its steep slopes.
Wartime England was a bad time for a holiday visit to the beaches. Most were heavily mined and cordoned off with barbed wire to prevent invasion forces from landing. However, North Devon was around the corner from the vulnerable English Channel and we were allowed on the vast sands of Westward Ho!
On a clear day the shape of Lundy Island could be made out, standing as it does some few miles west of the Devon coast. Often I would gaze at it wondering what went on there. There were days when the sun shone brightly and its glint reflected strongly from the ocean, yet Lundy Island would be obscured in sea mist. Even so, I liked to stare in its direction hoping to catch a glimpse, but it rarely seemed to show itself on days like this.
Only one boat a day visited the island at that time, and travel was restricted beca...
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...tion for rock climbers. The cliffs rise to over four hundred feet and can be imagined as being very steep due to the small size of Lundy.
I have often thought about visiting the island, but will I find it just as I imagined it over sixty years ago, or will my illusions be dashed by the sight of typical commercial structures? Hopefully not, as the island is now owned by Britain’s National Trust.
I have seen Lundy Island twice since my sojourn in Devon. I was on holiday in 1966 and again in 2000, but there was no time in my busy itinerary to see the island of my dreams. I could only stand on the shore and relive memories that had faded over the years. I doubt if I’ll ever visit. Let the mystery remain. I have known the disappointment of visiting places that have not lived up to my expectations too many times. Besides, I am too far old to fight off cutthroat pirates!
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