Venue shift for trawler memorial service

Rather than being held at its traditional home at the Bullnose on St Andrew’s Dock, the service will be held next to the Sailmakers Pub, the proposed site of a new memorial.

As many as 600 people are expected at the service, which is held around the time of year when most Hull trawlers were lost

Charles Pinder, chairman of Fishing heritage group Stand, accepted some people would disagree about the change of venue, but said: “There are tremendous difficulties with the Bullnose, with risk assessments and insurance so the committee decided we would use that.

“The reason it was chosen was because it was part of what was the fishing dock, from where trawlers left.

“This is the site chosen by the people as where the monument will be.”

Mr Pinder said progress was being made to lease the slab of land by the Sailmakers from its owners Threadneedle.

He, along with management consultant Andrew Knight and Hull Council representative Dave Bennett met with agent Phoenix Beard director Rod Witton at the site on Tuesday. “It was very encouraging particularly as we are fully supported by Hull Council in taking on this lease and we are just waiting now for a meeting in March which we hope to have with Threadneedle management.”

The service will be conducted by Rev Tony Cotson, Stand’s honorary chaplain, and the speaker will be Tracy Oliver, the newly appointed superintendent of the Fisherman’s Mission. Hull West and Hessle MP Alan Johnson is due to attend.

Three Hull trawlers were lost in one month alone between January and February 1968. Just one person survived from the Ross Cleveland, St. Romanus and the Kingston Peridot.