Why Wilgilsland?
Wilgils was the first known resident of a peninsula at the mouth of the Humber. He
was a hermit, who lived on the peninsula in the late 7th century. Like its successors
the peninsula was probably washed away by the sea. We have been living at Kilnsea,
near Spurn Head, East Yorkshire, since 2001, having been associated with the area
since the early 1980s. Kilnsea is a small hamlet of less than 30 households, boasting
an excellent pub, (the Crown and Anchor), but little else in the way of amenities.
Spurn Head (or Point) is a long curving peninsula at the end of which is a small
community of lifeboat crew and their families. It also has a disused lighthouse and
is the base for the Humber Pilots and the VTS (Vessel Traffic Service) which controls
shipping entering and leaving the Humber. Where we live, at the northern end, it
is only three-
A book has been written about Wilgils: The Saint of Spurn Point: Wilgils, father
of St. Willibrord, by Phil Mathison. To buy a copy at a cost of £6.99 post free,
contact Phil Mathison, 12 Wallingfen Lane, Newport, Brough, East Yorkshire HU15 2RF.
The ISBN number is 978-
P

Pete . I was born in Hull into a seafaring family and was brought up in Beverley
in the East Riding of Yorkshire. After completing full-
I have been interested in Lepidoptera since the late 1980s and operate a garden moth
trap. My moth records include those from our previous Cottingham garden trap (1989
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Since retiring I have become interested in modern poetry, particularly the work of the locally born (Easington) British and Canadian poet, Robin Skelton. I have also been writing poetry myself for the last few years (since 2002). Most of my poems are published on the website of Poem Hunter. I have also included a selection of my poems on this site and hope to change them at regular intervals.
Other interests include motorcycling (owner of a Kawasaki ZRX 400), Egyptology, art,
photography, Asmara and the country of Eritrea, local history (especially early 19th-
Jan. I was born in Smethwick, near Birmingham. My maiden name was Beal. I worked at Birmingham University Library, where I met Pete. After our marriage we lived in Bearwood, Smethwick, and had a son, William (Bill), and a daughter, Lorraine (Rainie). Subsequently we moved to East Yorkshire, where I became a student at Hull University studying history and gaining a Ph.D. I began teaching courses on the history of the East Riding for Hull University and for the Workers' Educational Association, and on the arts and family and community history for the Open University. I have written books and articles on local history, on a variety of topics, including Victorian Beverley, agricultural history, and aspects of the history of Spurn and Kilnsea.
When we moved to the coast I retired from teaching, but continued my research, which
in the last few years has concentrated upon Spurn and Kilnsea. My book on the area,
entitled The People Along the Sand: the Spurn peninsula and Kilnsea, a history, 1800
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I have gathered an extensive collection of photographs, maps, tapes of interviews and documents and continue to collect material both locally and via the internet. I am always willing to share it. A local group, the Spurn, Kilnsea and Easington Area Local Studies Group (SKEALS) has been formed to undertake further research. Its web page may be accessed by clicking on its name above.
In my spare time I enjoy this unique area, cycling, walking and working in our little
nature reserve, which is a two-
Since June 2005, I have been Clerk to Easington Parish Council (easingtonpc@btinternet.com). http://easingtonparish.com

