A woman’s memories of the Apollo 11 mission have been recorded in a book celebrating 50 years since the Moon landing.

Dr Joyce Carter shared her experience along with thousand of others with the UK Space Agency and hers was one of 50 chosen to be recorded in the anniversary book.

Joyce, now 65 and living in Liverpool, lived in Douglas at the time of the mission and was on a trip with the Guides to the Calf of Man, where they watched the landings from the lighthouse.

She told the UKSA: ’We were staying in an old farmhouse which was a bird observatory.

’It had no electricity. We set off with the two wardens, to watch Manx shearwaters coming in after dark, but it was too stormy for the birds.

’The warden took us to the lighthouse which had opened in 1968.

’This had its own generator and surprisingly, a TV. We settled down in the lounge with the three lighthouse keepers.

’I recall walking back to the farmhouse in the early morning light, and saying to my friends, this is something to tell our grandchildren.’

Joyce told the Examiner that she had wanted to see the Moon landing, but thought that due to her trip with the Guides, she’d miss it.

She added: ’I thought I had no chance of seeing it, but we got to watch the full landing on a grainy black and white TV live. It was fantastic.

Unusual

’When I tell people I watched the Moon landing from a lighthouse, they are always amazed.

’My story is so unusual, it must have been part of the reason why it was chosen to be in the book.’

While she now lives in Liverpool, Joyce grew up in the island, attending St Thomas’ primary school before moving onto Douglas High School for Girls where she studied, among other subjects A-Level physics.

And in 1972, she left to go to Liverpool Medical School after which she qualified as a doctor.

Joyce added: ’Once my generation is gone, it is the end of people remembering the Moon landing and it becomes something different.

’So to be part of this book and have my memory of it recorded is great.’ See https://moonlandingmemories.com/