Le Fer en Mer

Iron at Sea

If you are a fan of Plage Keller then you have probably spent an afternoon or two lazing around on one of their yellow sun loungers on the restaurants private Pontoon. If you haven’t then you really must as it is without doubt the Cap’s most beautiful private beach offering one of the most breathtaking views towards Nice and the mountains beyond.

Every March, at the beginning of the season, the Plage Keller Pontoon goes up, and every September it gets taken down again. But have you ever wondered who is in charge of it and what happens to it during the winter months. Contrary to what you might think it’s a job taken on by just one man and his assistant and that same Man has been doing it for decades. His name is  Ben and I caught up with him just as he was in the beginning stages of it’s construction for the 2018 season. I asked him a few quick questions before he disappeared back into the water with his batch of Iron beams ready for installation.

Ben, how long have you been in charge of the building of the Pontoon here at Plage Keller?

I have been working here at Plage Keller for many years. I can’t really remember exactly how long I have been doing it for. It was something my boss had already been in charge of when I started working with him. Unfortunately he passed away five years ago so since then I have taken over the work which we used to do together. He loved his work very much as do I.

Why do you not leave the Pontoon in place all year round?

We remove it every year because of sea, the wind and the waves. In the winter you will see many  things floating in the sea which can damage the pontoons. Often very large tree trunks are washed down into the sea by the rivers, the trunks can sometimes be six or seven metres long and if they come into contact with the pontoon they  completely destroy it. This is we have to take them down out of season. Basically the Pontoons just wouldn’t survive the winter if we left them in place. We are also legally obliged to remove all the Pontoons along the Bord du Mer, we do not have a choice.

How long does it take to put up the Pontoon?

It takes me probably around nine days to put it up. Sometimes it takes less time and sometimes it takes longer. It’s not me who is in charge of the time scale. The sea, she is in control of that. The sea is the boss!

Today the sea level is good and the weather is good so we are working but if the sea level is high we can’t work. I have to judge it on a day to day basis.

How many of you does it take to put up the Pontoon?

Usually, like today, I work with one other person but very occasionally there are three of us.

Do you do this just at Plage Keller?

No, I work for other establishments too. Along the Croisette in Cannes I put up and dismantle pontoons for the Hotel Martinez, the Hotel Carlton and also the Hotel Majestic.

Who stores all the metal posts during the winter?

Each beach stores their pontoons themselves. I just put them up and take them down.

Do you like your work here?

I love this work! I love the views, the sea. It’s a beautiful place to be. Look at my view today, it’s so amazing with the snow capped mountains in the background I have a very special office. I also love being in the sea here, although funnily enough apart from when I am doing this job I don’t really spend much time in the water.

What do you do during the rest of the year?

I am actually a metalworker by trade. During the winter I work in my workshop which is in Mougins. I make metal Gates mainly for private clients.  This, what I am doing today, is just a seasonal job. The rest of the time I am forging in my workshop making the gates you see at the entrances of houses. Sometimes I design and make the gates and sometimes I work from designs given to me. Some are very ornate and some are simple but as long as they are form metal I can make them.

So you love your work?

Yes! My work makes me very happy, it’s a real passion. I love to forge and I love spending time in my workshop. I am very lucky in the sense that I enjoy what I do. Not everyone can say that.

Did you go into this line of work straight from school?

Yes I did. After leaving school I completed an internship at a Metal works company and ever since then I have been working with metal.

What do you like to do when you are not working?

Most of the time I work in my workshop but when I am not metalworking I like to garden.

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