INTERVIEW
Lake , looking west , before the beach huts were removed
attack was the stress he suffered after the council ordered the removal of 25 of Hinks beach huts for health and safety reasons , following cliff falls further along the coast at Shanklin in the bad storms of 2001 . With no compensation offered , the action left the business with just 13 of its original 38 huts , leaving an obvious gap in income . “ It was certainly a bad day for us but you do survive these things ” he says .
Survival tactics
One of the ways the business has survived is to run the tea hut all year round , rather than just for the short summer season . The revetments that were put in at Lake have created a popular level walk that now attracts local families , walkers and cyclists as well as holidaymakers , and keeps the area alive 12 months of the year . “ What has also helped to extend the season is the coach parties we get , which bring people right up to Christmas and then again from early in the year ”. This means there ’ s enough work for Keith to spend five days a week at the tea hut , whilst John – along with his 13 year-old son Harleigh – take care of the maintenance work . With no wife or children of his own , Keith takes particular pride in young Harleigh , in whom he sees a reflection of
his younger self . “ I never married because with my way of life , it was always too easy for me ” he laughs . “ I used to pick up girls just for a fortnight and didn ’ t really want to be tied down !” Nowadays , though , he loves spending time with John and his young family . An avid angler , President and life member of the Sandown and Lake Angling Club , Keith enjoys taking Harleigh fishing most Saturday evenings , down at the pier , where they angle for dogfish , plaice , skate and mackerel .
The Lake Charm motor launch
He ’ s also more than happy to play childminder to John and Michelle ’ s eight year-old twin boys , and he goes on holiday with the family . Much as they love Sandown beach , he admits that they usually take off for somewhere a bit more exotic such as Lanzarote or Tunisia . But Keith is always glad to get back onto Island soil , and says : “ I think the bucket and spade holiday will come round again . In beautiful weather , I reckon there is no finer place to be – and I feel lucky to be a part of it ”.
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