Maintenance work at a north-east museum has uncovered decades-old signatures left by former lighthouse keepers.
Jimmy Shanks, John Boath and Bill Gault all left their mark in cement on the paths that run round Fraserburgh’s Museum of Scottish Lighthouses.
All three have a strong connection with the life-saving towers dotted along Scotland’s coastline and they also had spells in Kinnaird Head.
Mr Shanks was the principal keeper at Fraserburgh during the 1980s, while Mr Boath was his assistant and went on to be the keeper at the Bell Rock lighthouse.
Mr Gault was the last keeper before Scotland’s lighthouses were automated and for 20 years he worked at Fair Isle South.
He took part in a small ceremony with Princess Anne to mark the move to automation in 1998.
Their names were exposed as teams from Historic Environment Scotland (HES) repaired the area around the museum.
Michael Strachan, collections manager at the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses, said they all played their part in keeping mariners safe during their careers.
He said: “These two areas of cement were laid by the keepers as patch repairs in the late 1970s and 1980s.
“We can see Jimmy Shanks has left his name on one – he was principal keeper here at Kinnaird Head 1980-86. He last visited us with his family in 2014, but sadly passed away in 2016.
“On the other part we can see John Boath’s name. He went on to become the last principal keeper of the Bell Rock.
“The other is Bill Gault, who was a keeper at the very last manned lighthouse in Scotland when it switched to automatic in 1998.
“Sadly 40 years later the cement is starting to degrade, so we do not know how much longer it will survive.”
A spokesman for HES confirmed their conservation team was repairing the concrete pathway at the lighthouse.