by Rebecca Hannant
Withernsea Lighthouse is calling for people across the region to send birthday cards to its former owner, Kim Kendall, who turns 100 years old next month.
Kim Kendall will be 100 on March 31, and Lindsey Jones, the attraction’s current manager, is calling for 100 people across the region to send birthday cards.
Kim, the older sister of Hollywood star Kay Kendall, was born at Stanley House in Hull Road, before leaving Withernsea to have a successful career in the film industry in America.
Kay starred in numerous films and was married to My Fair Lady star Rex Harrison, before she died of leukaemia in 1959, aged just 32.
Kim and Kay’s mother, Gladys, had also gone over to the US but wanted to live out her remaining years in Withernsea, so Kim organised for her to live at one of the local care homes.
Looking to return on regular occasions to see her mother, Kim bought the lighthouse and its associated cottages in the 1980s, using it as a place to stay when visiting.
Kim later discovered that there was considerable interest in the lighthouse as a tourist attraction, so planned to paint and repair parts of the building.
A board of trustees was formed, and they decided to open the lighthouse as a museum. The family donated a collection of Kay Kendall memorabilia to the museum, and local people were also invited to donate or loan pieces for the exhibitions.
Kim later handed the lighthouse and the cottages to the board of trustees – but she still likes to keep up to date with the building and its events and offers donations from time to time.
Now as she turns 100, Lindsey is calling for people across the region to send cards to the lighthouse, which will then be sent to the US.
Lindsey said: “She’s very, very with-it and on the ball, so when you do have a conversation with her, she’s quick-witted and has a good old chatter with you. She’s fully functional, but obviously not as mobile as she once was.”
Cards can be sent to the lighthouse in Hull Road between now and the middle of March.