NEWS | Opening and Blessing of ‘The City’s Memorial to the Lost Trawlermen of Hull’

The long-awaited City’s Memorial to Lost Trawlermen is a culmination of hard work and dedication by local fishing heritage group – STAND: St. Andrews Dock Fishing Heritage Group, a registered charity whose main objective has been to create a Memorial to all Hull’s trawlermen who lost their lives in pursuit of their work at sea.

The project has been managed by Citycare and the construction work on the Memorial site has been carried out by Wright Civil Engineering. Both companies have worked closely with STAND and Hull City Council to help deliver the Memorial design through to construction and final completion.

All the corten steel construction has been carried out by W Campbell and Son Ltd, a local steel fabrication company who has worked closely with STAND and with the designer of all the steel structures, local artist Peter Naylor. The Memorial sculpture depicts 13 trawlermen and is the poignant focal piece of the whole design situated within the ceremonial area designed as a ship’s ‘bow’.

The photos on the steel wall and the three information boards have been reproduced by local company, MRN Print. The photos depict the challenging conditions of working at sea and the information boards reflect the importance of Hull’s fishing heritage and its community.

STAND were awarded a grant, to install these information boards, by the Hull Maritime community grant scheme, the project transforming some of the city’s maritime treasures.

The City’s Memorial to the Lost Trawlermen of Hull, with the River Humber as its backdrop, offers a poignant setting for families, friends, the wider community and visitors to the city to come and pay their respects to all of Hull’s trawlermen who lost their lives at sea. It is a place to take time to wander, sit, remember and take a moment to reflect on memories of loved ones and a once great fishing industry.

Councillor Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “Thanks to STAND and the support from the council and other partners, the city now has a memorial to remember the thousands of men who went to sea, dedicated their lives to feed the city and country and paid the ultimate price.

“The Memorial overlooks the Humber and a poignant place for us all to remember, reflect and contemplate.”

Ruth Creasey, Chair of STAND said: “It has been a long journey but at last the people of Hull have got what they deserve; a Memorial to remember our city’s lost trawlermen.

“To see the Memorial complete after years of fundraising, planning and setbacks is a very special and exciting time but also a very poignant time. It is a time to stop and reflect on why it is so important to so many people. It is a lasting tribute to the thousands of hard working men who lost their lives in pursuit of their work at sea. These men never came home, and they have no grave.

“The Memorial will provide that place of solace and remembrance. The Memorial will also be a legacy to all those who have been involved in the history of the project and have worked hard with commitment and passion but have sadly passed away. We will remember them all.

“Many people have been involved in bringing the Memorial to fruition over many years but the dream would not be a reality without the kindness and generosity of so many individuals, community groups, local businesses and companies, the Council and the support and kindness of the general public.”

For more information on The City’s Memorial to the Lost Trawlermen of Hull, visit here.