Poignant memorial to lost trawlermen held up

A fishing heritage group from Hull insists it has made "considerable progress" over the last year in its drive to create a memorial to lost trawlermen, but revealed it is keenly aware that many of its supporters will never see it.

The group Stand has spent years campaigning and fundraising to create a memorial to those who served in the city's once mighty fishing industry. But in spite of passing its fundraising target of 100,000 more than a year ago, neither a design or location for the memorial has been established.

That is in marked contrast to a similar project to honour the poet Philip Larkin. In a matter of months, organisers of a series of events to mark the 25th anniversary of Larkin's death this year completed plans to create a statue of the former Hull University librarian at the city's Paragon Station. Sculptor Martin Jennings – who created a statue of Sir John Betjeman at St Pancras station in London – is to create a 7ft bronze of Larkin in time to be unveiled on the anniversary of his death on December 2.

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Stand said it had appointed Andrew Knight to act as project co-ordinator. It has been seeking an alternative site to its preferred location on St Andrew's Dock – the fleet's traditional home – which has proved problematic. Stand said another site should be considered as it would cost millions to buy and decontaminate the land at the dock.

The group said it had identified a site close to the dock, but could not say where it was until it had the agreement of the owners. Stand said: "The committee is sensitive to the fact that there are people who have contributed to the memorial hoping to see it erected, but have since died. We believe we owe it now to everyone, many of whom are elderly, to see that the memorial is in place, as soon as it is possible, in honour of the many thousands of Hull trawlermen who lost their lives at sea."

Stand has been seeking to re-establish itself since parting company with former chairman Adam Fowler. Mr Fowler, who was chairman for 15 years and acted as group spokesman, was ousted at a stormy meeting on December 1 after losing a no confidence vote.

He was replaced by Charles Pinder on December 3. Members of the committee have since been barred from speaking independently of the group, which now communicates by written statements.

Stand, now a registered charity, is believed to have 130,000 in the bank, which includes donations from Yorkshire Post readers.

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