7th November 2024
Hull Maritime Foundation was formed in 2018 as an independent charity to support the Hull Maritime regeneration project and to champion engagement with the city’s unique heritage that has evolved from its role as one of the UK’s leading ports for over 800 years.
Fast forward to 2024 and the charity has been successful in raising over £800,000 towards the capital project which is enabling the restoration and development of significant heritage assets including the Hull Maritime Museum, the North End Shipyard, the Arctic Corsair and Spurn Lightship.
Simon Green Managing Director of Hull Cultural and Leisure Ltd, said: “The ongoing contribution of the Hull Maritime Foundation is vital in helping us not only reach our financial targets but to engage a broader range of stakeholders and partners both regionally and nationally. We value the time and expertise that our volunteer trustees give willingly and free of charge to support and champion Hull’s Maritime story.”
After a recent restructuring process and a recruitment drive, the Foundation has elected existing trustees David Atkinson as Chair and Matthew Wright as Deputy Chair. It has appointed three new trustees: Nick Allen, Rebecca Theobald and John D Blake who join the rest of the board comprising of Ros Stuart, Jonathan Tasker and Susan Frankish.
David Atkinson is a Professor of Cultural and Historical Geography at the University of Hull, a leading academic, historian, writer and broadcaster. He's worked in the city since 1998 and has researched how Hull's histories inform our heritage, contemporary change, and the city's distinctive sense of place. David was an editor of Hull: Culture, History, Place - the University’s history of the city produced for UK City of Culture, 2017; he was also central to the best-selling Historic Map of Hull project (2017). His current research explores Hull's roles in the series of marine energy transitions from eighteenth- and nineteenth-century whaling, through twentieth century offshore oil and gas, to our growing wind turbine sector.
David, said: “I have joined the Hull Maritime Foundation to help this hallmark project promote and explain Hull’s unique, varied and important histories to its citizens and visitors. The Foundation represents a real opportunity to help generate funding which will allow the city’s stories to be told and more collections to be shared with everyone – it is exciting to be part of this cultural and charitable initiative.”
Matthew Wright brings his expertise of shipping and transport policy and management to the board and as a Trustee he is excited by the past and the future of maritime history. Matthew said: “Like nautical navigation, Hull Maritime Foundation is plotting where the city has been, to know where it is going. I’m really looking forward to the next couple years, bringing more people on the journey, and finding the next destination.”
Nick Allen, new trustee and Managing Director of Rix Shipping, said: “Having grown up in the local area and attended Trinity House School, I have always been aware of the unique maritime heritage that we have here. It later inspired me to join the Merchant Navy which has given me unique experiences and opportunities as well as a career in shipping ashore.
“Becoming a Trustee of HMF is an opportunity to help inspire the next generation to take up an interest in our maritime heritage and showcase our history, culture and famous local welcome to visitors from around the country and hopefully the world!”
Rebecca Theobald combines a career with the Fisherman’s Mission, singing and now being a trustee. With a love for history, and a specific interest in pre-history, Rebecca has always held an appreciation for keeping our history alive and frequented our wonderful (and free!) museums quarter in Hull. With experience in community engagement, partnership building, fundraising and a degree in Psychology – Rebecca hopes to engage with supporters on projects and looks forward to developing and sharing her growing understanding of Hull’s rich history.
John Blake lives in Northampton but his family roots are closely connection with Maritime History; “I’m originally from Beverley and inherited a pride and an interest in Hull’s fishing history through my Grandad who worked at the shipyard in Beverley where many of Hull’s trawlers were built. Over the years I learned about the Hessle Road community, the hardships that the trawlermen faced at sea, and the struggles their families had at home, three-day millionaires, electric blue suits and flattoed shoes, along with the impact of the cod wars and the impact they had on Hull as a city.
“I’ve been involved in charity fundraising for most of my career, working in a number of national and well-known organisations, and am looking forward to working with the trustees and staff to raise the profile of the foundation, the profile of Hull as a place to visit and spend time, and help to raise funds to deliver more fantastic projects around this great city and the East Riding.”
