10th January 2025
A memorial service to commemorate all of Hull’s lost trawlermen will be held on Sunday 26 January 2025 at St John the Baptist Church (known as ‘The Fishermen’s Church’), St Georges Road, Hessle Road, Hull HU3 3SP at 12noon.
STAND welcomes everyone to this important annual Service of Remembrance which lasts for about 45 minutes. Refreshments will be served after the Service.
Lost Trawlermen’s Day is organised by STAND: St Andrews Dock Fishing Heritage Group. The Service is held on the last Sunday in January every year; a time of year when many of Hull’s trawlermen were lost to the sea due to the harsh weather conditions. It is estimated over 6,000 men were lost from our port city of Hull.
A warm welcome to St John’s will be given by the Rev Richard Coutts, vicar of St John the Baptist Church and by Ruth Creasey, Chair of STAND.
The Service will consist of readings and prayers from community organisations and a short address from one of our valued STAND Patrons. The children from Chiltern Primary School choir will perform their special song ‘I, the Lord of Sea and Sky’.
The City of Hull Band will play a short medley at the start of the Service and will perform their poignant piece ‘Anchor for the Soul’ which adds to the reflective and respectful atmosphere. This will lead into a special time of remembrance led by the Hull Sea Cadets from TS Iron Duke when the ‘Gaul’ bell will sound followed by a two minute silence - a special time to unite in thoughtful reflection and to remember all of Hull’s lost trawlermen. The Cadets will ceremoniously lower and raise the standards and this will be followed by the presentation and blessing of wreaths.
The Service concludes with the hymn ‘Eternal Father’ accompanied by the City of Hull Band who will continue to play after the closing blessing by the Rev Richard Coutts.
This year’s Service will also mark the 70th anniversary of the tragic loss of the trawlers ‘Lorella’ and ‘Roderigo’ on this day, the 26th January 1955 lost with all hands – 40 crewmen.
Ruth Creasey, Chair of STAND, said: “This service held in the heart of the once thriving Hessle Road fishing community is an important and special annual event when we all can unite as one to remember the thousands of trawlermen who sailed from our once great fishing port but who were never to return.
“This year we also mark the 70th anniversary of the loss of 40 men on this day in 1955. As a city we must never forget the dedication, courage and ultimate sacrifice of over 6000 men. Their memory will live on in the hearts and minds of families, friends and the wider community.”
About STAND
St Andrews Dock Fishing Heritage Group is a registered charity dedicated to the remembrance of all Hull’s lost trawlermen and to preserving and promoting Hull’s rich fishing heritage. The group was formed in 1989. STAND commissioned and installed The City’s Memorial to the Lost Trawlermen of Hull on St Andrews Quay. They were also instrumental in saving the Arctic Corsair, Hull’s last sidewinder trawler currently being restored as part of the Hull Maritime Project. STAND delivers talks to schools and adult community groups and organises fundraising events to support the maintenance of the Memorial.
