Designs wanted for riverside tribute to lost trawlermen

A competition will be held in the autumn to find “imaginative proposals” for the tribute, which will be near the Sailmakers Arms pub on St Andrews Quay following the signing of a 50-year lease for the site between Hull Council and owners Threadneedle Investments.

Fishing heritage group Stand has raised more than £150,000 towards the cost of the project, which will honour the estimated 6,000 trawlermen who died sailing out of Hull to put fish on the nation’s tables since the mid-19th century.

Stand chairman Charles Pinder said: “The history of Hull’s fishing industry is closely connected with St Andrews Quay, it is therefore appropriate that the site for the memorial will be near to where so many trawlermen cast off from dry land to sail to northern fishing grounds.

“The site offers panoramic views over the river (Humber) and will be accessible to people throughout the year. The memorial will be designed to ensure that this becomes a special place to preserve the memories of thousands of men who lost their lives fishing on Hull’s trawlers.”

Comments will be invited on designs selected for public viewing and a judging panel will choose the winner from a shortlist of three.

Hull West and Hessle Labour MP Alan Johnson, a long-standing supporter of Stand and the city’s fishing community, will host an event in Westminster on September 18 to launch the competition.

He said: “There has been remarkable community commitment to the project and it is a credit to all of those involved. The fundraising which continues offers those companies, who in one way or another have benefitted over the years from Hull’s fishing industry, the opportunity to make their contribution to the memorial.”

The memorial is expected to be in place by April 2014.