11th May 2023
Work to create a Memorial Garden at St. Andrews Quay, commissioned by STAND, to remember more than 6,000 trawlermen who lost their lives at sea has got underway.
STAND: St. Andrews Dock Fishing Heritage Group started their plans for the Memorial Garden in 2003 and after years of fundraising, designing and planning, local contractors are now on site.
The original corten steel sculpture of 13 trawlermen at St Andrews Quay was temporarily removed and held in storage in late 2019 to make way for the delivery of a major programme of flood defence enhancement along the riverbank by the Environment Agency.
The long-awaited Memorial, ‘A City’s Memorial to Lost Trawlermen’, is a culmination of work and dedication by local fishing heritage group – STAND: St. Andrews Dock Fishing Heritage Group, a registered charity whose aim was to create a Memorial to all Hull’s trawlermen who lost their lives in pursuit of their work at sea.
Hull Citycare have been working alongside STAND and Hull City Council to project manage the scheme, helping to develop the original concepts for the Memorial through to the design and appointment of a local contractor to carry out the work.
Jordan Greaves, Project Manager for Citycare, said: “It’s fantastic to be part of the team delivering the Memorial Garden on behalf of the STAND Committee and I’m excited to see it start to take shape. Once completed, it will give the city a place to visit and pay their respects to those trawlermen who lost their lives out at sea. With thanks to many local organisations we’ve been able to realise the project and it’s down to the hard work of many people that this has become a reality. We’re also pleased that the work to install it will be carried out by local company, Wrights Civils.”
STAND have been supported by Hull City Council who have provided significant financial contributions and support; the Environment Agency who provided advice to integrate the Memorial within their recently constructed flood defences and the many local companies & individual businessmen who have made generous contributions to the cost of the Memorial. Above all, the generous support of the Hessle Road fishing and wider Hull communities has been crucial to making the Memorial happen.
Local building contractors, Wright Construction are now on site and have started clearing the area and foundation works have started to enable the main works to get underway. The Memorial sculpture, designed by local artist Peter Naylor depicts the crew of a trawler within a landscaped Memorial Garden, which benefits the historical importance of the dock to the local community.
Councillor Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “It is great to see work get underway to create the Memorial Garden and I am looking forward to seeing it take shape. I would like to thank all those who have made generous donations in order to make this lasting memorial happen.
“The council has worked closely with STAND and played a pivotal role to ensure the Memorial came to fruition, as we recognise the importance of the city’s fishing heritage. it will pay tribute to the thousands of brave men who dedicated their lives to the sea and never came home.
"The Memorial Garden will provide the poignant setting for people to visit for quiet acts of reflection and contemplation to remember their loved ones and a place where large-scale events of remembrance can also take place.”
Hull Maritime, the project transforming some of the city’s maritime treasures, also awarded STAND a grant to install information boards as part of the Memorial, through the community grant scheme.
It is expected the Memorial to be completed in August and will be a legacy to Ron Wilkinson, Chair of STAND who sadly passed away on 4 April 2023.
Vic Wheeldon, ex-skipper and STAND committee member, said: “I feel privileged to have been able to work on the Project with Ron and I am glad it is finally coming to fruition.”
Prior to Ron Wilkinson’s passing, Ron said: “Culmination of this tribute must be credited to the commitment and contributions gifted by the people of Kingston Upon Hull. STAND owes a debt to the many members and volunteers who have, over the years, given their time and energies freely to a worthy cause.”
When finished the Memorial will be open to everyone to learn about Hull’s proud fishing heritage and most importantly, to pay respects to all Hull’s fishermen lost at sea.
For more information on the City’s Memorial to Lost Trawlermen, visit www.hullfishingheritage.org.uk
