This event is both an in-person and on-line event. No need to register – just come along or click this zoom link to join on-line.

Have you ever wondered who looks after the major lighthouses around England, Wales and the Channel Islands? How did they come to be there in the first place?

Incorporated by Royal Charter by Henry Vlll in 1514, Trinity House is today a vital part of Britain’s maritime community. In addition to owning and operating lighthouses, lightvessels, beacons and buoys to keep safe all mariners at sea around our shores, Trinity House is called in to mark – and clear if required – wrecks, help develop state of the art electronic navigation tools for vessels of all sizes to overcome the vulnerabilities of GPS, and to act as Nautical Assessors in Admiralty Court cases.

Add to that a sizeable maritime fraternity which regularly advises on current maritime issues and future opportunities, and a charitable side that donates in excess of £5m a year to worthy maritime causes, and you start to get a picture of Trinity House. Then add cadet schemes to train future Merchant Navy mariners and leisure seafarers, almshouses for the use of retired mariners, holidays in converted lighthouses and even public tours and private receptions offered in its stunning historical London HQ on Tower Hill.

About the Speaker

David Whitehead OBE is a former Director of the British Ports Association (1993 to 2016) and Director of Policy, British Ports Federation (1990 – 1993). David led the ports industry through a period of great change. He was heavily involved in the development of the Port Marine Safety Code and was a member of the Port Marine Safety Code Steering Group, which led on navigational safety policy for the entire maritime sector, for many years.  David was also Chairman of the European Seaports Organisation for four years where he was responsible for leading on ports policy, including marine and navigational issues, with the EU institutions.  In 2010, he was awarded the OBE for his services to the UK ports industry.

Captain Mike Hawthorne OBE RN has been a Younger Brother of Trinity House since 2021.  His 36 years in the Royal Navy included working with Diesel and Nuclear Submarines, Naval Intelligence, Naval Procurement and Crisis Management Fleet Command.  His roles included Navigation Training Officer, Command of HMS Tireless, Director Naval Intelligence Collection, Naval Operations and Command of Joint Forces Cyber Group.