Captain Dickens, an Elder Brother of Trinity House, here describes the history and function of the lighthouse authorities in catering for the needs of shipping around our coasts, and discusses the wide range of navigational aids now in use. The paper was presented at an Ordinary Meeting of the Institute held in London on 18 November 1970 with the President, Rear Admiral G. S. Ritchie, C.B., D.S.C., in the chair.

One of the first lights to be set up to aid mariners was the Pharos erected at the entrance to the port of Alexandria in 270 B.C. and said to have been visible at sea for 40 miles. With the development of maritime traffic, more and more lights have been established so that shipping can proceed in comparative safety around the various seaboards of the world. In the United Kingdom the early lights and beacons were either privately owned, attached to various monasteries or managed by the Trinity Houses, which were corporations of seafaring men.