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Click on the above image to hear the music and other material

from this classic children's adventure (Zipped Real Audio format)

Click here to read an interview with Mik Parsons who co-wrote the music for Portland Bill.

Portland Bill was another wonderful children's adventure very much in the style of Postman Pat, Gran, The Herbs, and The Clangers. It concerned the day to day life of Portland Bill (Head lighthouse man of the Lighthouse Guillemot Rock). He is helped by the other lighthouse men Ross and Cromarty. The nearest village to the lighthouse was on the mainland and it was called McGuillycuddy. Here the boys are able to pick up supplies and interact with a whole load of characters. The adventures were by John Grace and were produced in 1983. I think they were shown midst 12:00-12:30 p.m. slot for kiddies before the afternoon news. Some people remember Portland Bill being shown alongside Cockleshell Bay at Friday lunchtimes on Granada Television. If anyone has any more information or corrections etc.. then please email me at the address at the bottom of the page. I would love to have more information on John Grace or Norman Rossington or indeed any of the other people involved in the making of this superb little adventure series.

"Oh come with me,

to the golden sea while the weathers calm and still,

and we'll have some fun and laughter,

with the adventures of Portland Bill"

This is my lighthouse - on Guillemot Rock

The real Portland Bill Lighthouse

Character Guide

• Portland Bill - Light house keeper in charge of Guillemot Rock and responsible for the day to day running of said light house. He plays the Bagpipes loudly and is often seen rowing his boat called The Puffin whilst out checking the lobster pots. He is an experienced lighthouse keeper whose favourite expression is "By King Neptune."

• Ross - Ross is the youngest member of the lighthouse crew. He is sometimes a little absent minded but is honest and a good friend of Bills. He loves idling the time away fishing. He can play the drums.

• Cromarty - Cromarty is older than Ross and second in command and is a very good friend of both Bill and Ross. He always tries to do things quick and easy and often causes more trouble by trying to invent things (see below images). He likes the 60-70s and has clothes from that era. He plays the electric guitar (see above picture - that's him with the headband and shades, a real cool lighthouse dude).

• Dogger - is Bill's dog and often goes with him to the mainland (below right). He hates music especially when played badly by Cromarty and Co. Whenever he visits the mainland he always heads to Edward Stone's shop.

• Finisterre- owns a croft on the mainland. Both him and Cromarty tried to form a band in which Cromarty played the electric guitar and Finisterre played an acoustic guitar.

• Inspector Ronaldsway - He is in charge of inspecting the lighthouses and drilling the men to make sure they are doing their job. He pilots a boat called the Kipper and often turns up without warning. He is particular about tidiness and report writing. He is partial to cups of tea and loves home made jam tarts. He is not a nasty inspector but likes everything ship shape and proper fashion.

• Edward Stones - Owner of Edward Stones Emporium shop. He owns and runs the village shop in the village of McGuillycuddy. He has many jobs since it it is such a small village. He doubles as village policeman, water board inspector, postman etc. He changes his roles changing the hat he is wearing (middle picture below shows Edward Stone on his bike, the front of which has a series of different hats). He has all the supplies that the lighthouse and the villagers need. His shop has the only telephone link to the mainland.

• Mrs. Lundy - owns cottage on mainland. She is often seen in the shop and interacting with the other characters. She is very generous especially when Cromarty's metal detector found a long lost broach. She gave him a load of food supplies to take back to the lighthouse.

• Grandma Tiree - makes oat cakes for the boys on the light house. These are delivered by Edward.

• Young Gail - comes from the village and may be part of a farm as she was seen in one episode chasing an escaped bull.
• Fastnet- is the village fisherman often seen in front of Stone's shop preparing and mending his fishing nets.

Click below to enter Portland Bill Episode guide