Once a community hub for the deep-sea men of Hull, The Fishermen's Mission building is now facing the bulldozers

With signs of vandalism and neglect, it gives little clue of the importance it used to have for the local fishing community, apart from the fine mural above the door.

But in its heyday The Fishermen’s Mission – also known as the Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen – in Goulton Street, Hull, was an important community hub caring for local fishing families.

News of its demolition this spring to make way for a new development has brought memories flooding back.

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In the days before mobile phones it was the job of the superintendent at the mission to break the bad news to families as disasters unfolded at sea.

Marrs fish factory women Friday lunchtime on Gillett Street in 1979 Picture: Dr Alec GillMarrs fish factory women Friday lunchtime on Gillett Street in 1979 Picture: Dr Alec Gill
Marrs fish factory women Friday lunchtime on Gillett Street in 1979 Picture: Dr Alec Gill

Ena Saltiel, wife of the late David Saltiel, who was superintendent from 1969 to 1980 and again from 1989 to 1999, recalled: “In the early days, Radio Humberside was very good and would hold the news for a couple of hours, whatever was needed, so the industry and my husband could get to the family before they heard it on the radio.

“My husband would take one of the more senior assistants and they would go with someone from the fishing owner’s company.

"They would go to each family individually. They would keep them up to date with as much information as they could.

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“Sometimes there wasn’t much more to tell and then afterwards when everything was over and the memorial services had been done they would keep in touch with the families and the children would have outings and all sorts of things.

Supt Sal Van Beem outside the former Fishermen's Mission in Hull  Picture: James HardistySupt Sal Van Beem outside the former Fishermen's Mission in Hull  Picture: James Hardisty
Supt Sal Van Beem outside the former Fishermen's Mission in Hull Picture: James Hardisty

“They knew they could come to the mission and get help.”

The mission was built in 1952 and extended in the mid-1960s when there was no A63 to interrupt the view across the timber yard and docks towards the Humber.

Mrs Saltiel recalls it being very busy, with accommodation for 48 men.

At Christmas they would take children, whose fathers had been lost at sea, to the panto, before tea and a visit from Santa.

A trawling trip aboard the Cordella Picture: Dr Alec GillA trawling trip aboard the Cordella Picture: Dr Alec Gill
A trawling trip aboard the Cordella Picture: Dr Alec Gill
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She said: “It was like a hotel for fishermen. It was a very tight-knit community. We had lots of laughs – they are such generous people with hearts of gold, although it was very tough at times and the families had some terrible tragedies.”

Local historian and photographer Dr Alec Gill knew the area when there were “no tin sheds”, terrace houses and the streets were busy.

In 1980 he captured memorable photographs on a trip aboard the Cordella H177 in November 1980 on behalf of the RNMDSF.

He said: “People would come here for spiritual comfort, even if they weren’t regular churchgoers. The mission was always there for the people”.

Supt Sal van Beem and Dr Alec Gill outside the former Fishermen's Mission in Hull Picture: James HardistySupt Sal van Beem and Dr Alec Gill outside the former Fishermen's Mission in Hull Picture: James Hardisty
Supt Sal van Beem and Dr Alec Gill outside the former Fishermen's Mission in Hull Picture: James Hardisty
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Hull Council is looking at ways to save the mural over the door of the building, which was a training facility, after the mission closed.

It may be incorporated into plans for the North End Shipyard, a dry dock that will become the new home of the country’s last sidewinder trawler, Arctic Corsair.

Deputy council leader Daren Hale said the aim was “to ensure the entrance remains part of Hull’s maritime story”.

The Mission is “only a small charity but still very much here”, says current superintendent Sal van Beem.

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Although most clients are now retired, the charity supports working fishermen.

“People always say there are no fishermen in Hull.

"There aren’t many but especially now, we have accessed thousands of pounds of grants for fishermen who haven’t been able to work because of Covid – either they have been ill or had nowhere to sell their catch to, " she said.

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