People often ask me, where the ideas for my blogs come from? The truth is, most of them come to mind, whilst I am walking on Lundy. I find getting out and walking in the fresh air, is great for creativity.

Moving outside of home’s four walls allows the thoughts to expand. Lundy has a strange way of connecting thoughts; a path, a view or just open space. There is always something that acts as a catalyst and then suddenly memories, stories and associations begin to materialise.

Sometimes. my blogs are about searching for things that are tangible; the Punchbowl or The Elbow but on this day, my plan is to locate an object half-hidden in the landscape.

This particular story began with what I now call “the little soldier”. When you see the photograph and how he is hidden, you may be inclinded to agree.

Searching for the little “Soldier” on Lundy

Like me, many of you might already have seen photographs of it. Up until now, I had no idea where it actually was. But, recently I was given a tip-off, not an exact location, that would spoil the fun — just enough information to begin the search. Searching for something hidden, like the Lundy Letterboxes is part of the joy.

Upon finding the general location, I actually walked the wrong way first, this led me down a path that I had never taken before. I disturbed a small herd of young sika deer, who displayed their white rumps to me, as they stotted off to find another hiding place.

By the time I reached near to the end of the route, I was beginning to think that I was in the wrong location.

Eventually, there it was.

I felt an unexpected surge of delight, when I found it. I touched it, examined it closely. Its lined body hiding stories – Who made you? who put you here? and why? I had imagined something tiny — almost the size of an Action Man figure. Instead, this felt substantial. A proper little action hero standing watch over this part of the island. Similar but different to The Sentinels I recently wrote about.

Standing there, my thoughts unexpectedly turned to my son.

Only a couple of weeks earlier, my son, now approaching 28, casually mentioned that he had sat examinations to enter the Services, both the Navy and the Air Force. I was completely blindsided.

My son on Lundy

Still, in difficult economic times, when stable careers can feel increasingly hard to find, I found myself supportive of the idea. The careers that were open to us in the 1980’s, seem not to exist now.

Standing beside this small soldier on Lundy, the figure became something else in my mind too — a small tribute to a possible future path for my son. I know that it is somewhere I will visit again, especially if he is successful with his entrance exams.

Military Visits to Lundy

This then led me into think about all the occasions when the Services have crossed paths with my life on Lundy. One memory came back particularly clearly.

I was lying on Quarry Beach one summer afternoon, alone as you often are down there, half asleep in the warmth. Suddenly I heard lots of footsteps. Opening my eyes, I found myself looking up at around a dozen uniformed Navy personnel appearing over the rocks.

I found out later, that they had apparently come to undertake a beach clean! It felt surreal at the time — this sudden appearance of uniforms and military precision in one of the island’s quietest places.

The connections between Lundy and the Services run deeper than many visitors may realise. The wall in the Tavern carries plaques from various regiments who have spent time on the island, often helping with practical work. During my years here I’ve known visiting personnel assist with repairs to Christy’s Quay and with dry stone walling.

And then there was last year.

Watching the Italian Navy Arrive on Lundy

The Italian Navy arrived not to help, but to carry out military exercises. Watching them come ashore in landing craft was extraordinary — lines of personnel carrying backpacks and weapons, moving tactically up from the Jetty as though entering hostile ground.

Everyone who has climbed the Beach Road knows it is a challenge even without a military backpack and weapons.

Lundy – a Place Full of Stories

And that’s often how these blogs begin for me. A walk, a wrong turn and a small object hidden in the landscape. One thought connects to another, and the island starts revealing stories I hadn’t intended to think about at all.

Perhaps that’s one of the reasons I never tire of walking here.

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• What’s the most surprising thing you’ve stumbled across while walking on the island? I would love to hear.

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