Groundwork Hull has been working closely with communities in East Hull to capture and share cherished memories of life and work around the docks, with a special focus on King George Dock.
These heartfelt interviews shine a light on the vital role the docks have played in shaping Hull’s identity as a proud maritime city. For many, working on the docks was more than a job - it was a family tradition, passed down through generations.
The stories reveal the tough, demanding nature of dock work, where experience and quick thinking were essential to navigate a fast-paced and often hazardous environment, very different from today’s health and safety standards.
Alongside the challenges, the interviews also celebrate the strong sense of camaraderie and the tight-knit communities that flourished among dock workers and their families.
A special thank you to Karen from Groundwork Hull, and to everyone who generously shared their memories and stories, helping to keep this important part of Hull’s heritage alive.
‘The Docks were in my heritage’ - Family history
"I started my working life on the docks in 1962 at the age of 15. I was really nervous, the day I started there were thirteen of us lads that started that day and I knew a lot of them from school.
"The Docks were in my heritage, my family had sailed tugs and barges I was the 5th generation to go and work on the docks and it was all I had ever wanted to do." (Kevin Murphy)
"My Dad, his brothers, my mum’s brother in laws they all worked on the Dock." (Anonymous)
"My family were all from Hessle Road originally, they worked on the tugs. When King George Docks were built a lot of that work went to the east. My dad and brother walked all the way to work on the docks." (Anonymous)
"My Dad worked for 38 years, and I am just starting my 40th year. Most of the time its interesting work, you could describe it in lots of different ways lots of different jobs and that. It was more fun years ago now. I think people then had more respect for people that works on the dock, families had had generations who had worked on the docks." (Anonymous)
‘Him and all the other dockers always had hooks’ - Job roles and tools
"I started life as a Porter Lad before moving on to become a ‘Ticket Lad’. I remember one time I got the tickets mixed up on two wagons. One was going to Kings Cross in London and the other to Scotland. When I realised what I had done I was so worried that I chased down the wagons on my moped. I was driving down the train tracks with my front wheel banging up and down on the sleepers.
"It was scary being a ticket lad sometimes. Cargos of wooden props would be slipping and banging around you. You have to remember there was no safety helmets back then, you would be crawling between wagons with engines as quick as you could before they started moving." (Kevin Murphy)
"I remember the hook was [my dad’s] tool. Him and all the other dockers always had hooks, they used in the holds for pulling bags of stuff out." (Anonymous)
"I’ve done a little bit of Dock work but really most of my life crane driving, I’ve always enjoyed it, if you didn’t enjoy it you couldn’t have stuck it. You would get sleepless nights over it." (Anonymous)
‘You had some quite scary moments’ - A dangerous job
"Things have changed massively things that used to happen when I first started would not happen now. When you were the young lad, you had some quite scary moments let’s just put it that way… If people haven’t got experience or a bit of common sense, it can be really dangerous." (Anonymous)
"My worst memories of working on the Docks was just because of how dangerous it could be.’ (Kevin Murphy)
"In winter you really had to wear warm clothes, and take advice off older guys, they used to say wear thermal underwear when you are younger you think no not wearing that. It was a cold place and the equipment you were given weren’t the best. Ice and snow were the worst you can cope with rain but not ice and snow. You got some really bad days you could leave your home and it’s blowing a little bit and by the time you get to the docks its gusting at over 30 miles an hour. A lot of people would not even realise its windy but on the dock it’s worse than anywhere else." (Anonymous)
"There were certain things that used to happen that just wouldn’t be allowed now days." (Anonymous)
"The worst job though for us young lads was being the ‘Lamp Lad’ or Aladdin as it was nicknamed. They would have to climb up every signal along the main line and sidings from Saltend to Victoria Dock. The signals were over 50ft high, they would have to bring the lamp down, trim the wick refill it with paraffin take it back up and light it. Many times, the paraffin would spill all over the lads but the job had to be done whatever the weather or the trains couldn’t move." (Kevin Murphy)
"When they were on strike we used to have to live off banana sandwiches, he could make a loaf of bread and a banana last five kids." (Anonymous)
"The work was harder for my dad’s age group. My dad was a shunter he worked for the rail side the cargos would come by rail rather than road. It was hard work and a little bit dangerous if you didn’t have your wits about you." (Anonymous)
‘There is real camaraderie’ - Fond memories
"My fondest memory was it was nice to work alongside my dad for a few years, and my dad was well liked and hearing stories that he might not have told us." (Anonymous)
"There were just a lot of nice people there, when I first came on as a young 16-year-old they used to look after you." (Anonymous)
"I enjoy the job for most of the time there is real camaraderie." (Anonymous)
"I drove the cranes and the views from up there were brilliant. You could see the RAF bombers flying over." (Kevin Murphy)
You can also watch Kevin Murphy answer questions submitted by children in Hull and the East Riding, Kevin describes what life used to be like working at the docks and what jobs he did, before going on to explain how the development of modern technology impacted his career and how it affects the labour at the docks today.
Watch here.
