This week’s picture is of Beachy Head lighthouse, just 12 miles along the coast from my home. Thousands of people visit there every year to enjoy the wonderful view from the clifftop, me included.
Sadly there is a darker side to Beachy Head. On average one person ends their life there every two weeks. Many more are persuaded not to by the ever-present chaplains who patrol the clifftop 24/7.
What follows is a re-write of a story I posted in 2016.
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I come here often. For at the cliff’s jagged edge I can think, imagine and create.
There’s a scarf snared in a bush over there, fluttering in the breeze. Do you see it? Blue. I wonder whose it was. And look, there, a bunch of flowers tied to a little wooden cross. There’s a label. There are just two words on it.
‘John. Why?’ it says.
They are plastic flowers, so at least they will live on. Not John, though.
There are lots of little crosses here, so at least John’s not alone.
Look here, a dog lead and a little sparkley pink collar pinned to the ground. There’s a silver disc attached. Let’s see. ‘Poppy’, it says.
Poppy probably broke free and chased a seagull. Dogs do that up here. I guess the gull flew up whilst poor Poppy fell down. Poor Poppy.
Six hundred feet below, the rocky beach is peppered with broken dreams and littered with painful memories. But up here everything is perfect; for me at least.
Though not for Poppy; not for John.
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Thanks to Sadje for hosting What Do You See
Perfect, Keith.
Let’s not mention the fools who stand on the edge for a look or those who sit on a chalk overhang for a photo.
I love Beachy Head, and often go there to let the wind and mist blow through me. The chaplains have long ago stopped asking me if I’m okay.
Thanks, Misky. It beggars belief that people sit on the edge given the way the cliffs crumble with such regularity.
I love to walk along the Seven Sisters!
So amazing Keith, that the prompt photo is near your home…surendipity.
Thank you for your poignant take on the prompt. You included details that the photo does not at first glance relay. Your experience has added a deeper meaning to the prompt. Bravo.!
Thanks so much, Suzette, I could hardly believe my eyes when that picture popped up!
It’s sad that this beautiful place witnessed so many tragedies. But I guess it’s the same with many iconic bridges too.
A moving post Keith. Thanks for joining in.
Indeed it is. Beachy Head is officially the third most common place for suicides in the world.
Oh my! This place has a sad history.
Beachy Head lighthouse must be filled with sadness. I often wonder if such places are filled with lost souls who encourage people to jump in the hope of finding companionship in the limbo they’re trapped in.
You’ve created a lovely ode to those lost souls with your story today, Keith.
Sending nod to the heroism of those Chaplin’s as well.
Thank you for your thoughts, Mason, your kind words too.
You’re always welcome.
Beautifully written. There are places all over the world that attract those who can’t take it anymore. So sad.
Sadly so. Thanks, Dale.
Sadly. Actually, I recently watched a movie called “Find Me Falling” about a place in Cyprus that attracts jumpers. Harry Connick Jr plays in it and lives in the house next to said cliff. Of course, he tries to get peeps to step away…
Really! That’s sounds very much like these cliffs, there are a couple of cottages at one point very close to the edge, and they feature time and time again in TV dramas.
Well there ya go!! Now I wonder if it was filmed in Cyprus…
well done, and what a beautiful, bittersweet setting
Thank you, Beth.
Nice post Keith, and I’ve learned something about Beachy Head.
A place of beauty, but sadness too.
Oh wow, right by you, Keith. Good story, but sad, of course.
Thanks so much, Chris.
Sorry for poppy and john, though. Sad to hear such places are spots for people to end their lives.
It certainly is. Thanks, Kritika.
A beautiful, sad story. It’s a lovely place, I wouldn’t mind seeing it, but not too close to the edge, of course.
It is, it’s at the start of several beautiful linked white cliffs known as The Seven Sisters. Due to constant erosion, there are signs telling you to keep well clear of the edge.
One person every 14 days. So terribly sad.
Every time our younger son and his wife were on vacation, they would send pix and invariably there would be a pic of their legs dangling off a cliff. Needless to say it would freak me out. Thank goodness, now that they have their own child to think/worry about, they have stopped that nonsense!
Awesome write, dear Keith.
Thanks, Nancy.
There would be very many more were it not for the Chaplains persuading folk not to do it, literally hundreds a year are talked out of. A local paper reported that at a record numberof people, 44, were saved in one month a couple of years ago.
People ‘leg-dangling’ is common here too, they often sit there ignoring massives cracks in the chalk behind them. Rockfalls are all to common along this stretch of cliffs.
Thank goodness for the Chaplains on patrol!
Hi Keith – you’re right … both beautiful and dangerous … and people are warned not to dangle their legs over the edge, or go too close – often the top is an overhang … well written … cheers Hilary
Thanks, Hilary. Why they do it, I don’t understand. I recently saw two adults and a small child just doing that at Birling Gap.
I didn’t know the statistics were so high, it’s so sad but what a beautiful place to spend eternity. Great write.
Thanks so much. It would be far worse if the Chaplains weren’t the around the clock.
They do amazing work.
Just a couple of months ago someone told me about the suicides at the Beachy Head. An excellent write, Keith.