Mal’s historic vessel visitor attraction mission
PROJECT: Mal Nicholson in the cabin of Spider T
By Angus Young
Mal Nicholson is a man on a mission.
Having brought his two historic vessels, HMS Pickle and Spider T, back to Hull Marina after three years in Grimsby, he’s keen to push forward with a new venture making his unique personal collection of sailing ships, classic cars and motorcycles, artworks and historical artefacts more accessible to the wider public.
It’s early days but his long-term ambition is to bring the collection together as part of a living and working visitor attraction, offering hands-on workshops to keep traditional boat-building and engineering skills alive alongside live demonstrations of the vehicles, trips out on the vessels and tours onboard when they are in dock.
“When we were in Hull before we had a lot of success and did a lot of events,” he says.
“We looked at doing this project in Grimsby but it didn’t work out there for various reasons so we’ve come back to Hull and want to make it happen here.”
BACK IN HULL: Spider T in Hull Marina
The Pickle – a replica of a 97ft schooner built in 1795 which took part in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 – and Spider T – a 1926 Humber Sloop – are obvious tourist draws.
The original Pickle actually visited Hull for a refit in1802, taking on new cannons, and made several return trips to the port as part of Nelson’s famous fleet.
Mal takes up the story: “Because she was so fast and manoeuvrable, Nelson used her as a spy ship to keep an eye on shipping going in and out of Lisbon. He preferred sending it to Hull rather than the southern ports because he was worried there were too many French and Spanish spies operating there and he didn’t want them finding out her latest reports.”
A cross between Guy Martin and Johnny Vegas, he bubbles with natural enthusiasm over his lifelong passions: “I’m an engineer so I love anything old that moves!”
We are chatting in Spider T’s cabin where he actually lived for a year after his home was flooded in the Humber tidal surge in 2013.
RESTORATION: Ongoing work to replace deck beams on HMS Pickle
“Outside, it looks like a cargo ship but in here I wanted it to look like an Edwardian gentlemans’ club, hence all the lovely dark woodwork and the Italian floor tiles,” he chuckles.
Later, we climb out onto the quayside to welcome the delivery of a 300-year-old chunk of hand-cut oak destined to be used as new deck beams on the Pickle.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” says Mal. “I’m like a little kid at Christmas watching this.”
He says he’s been encouraged by initially supportive talks with council officials and Aquavista, the Marina’s operators, but is keen to build some momentum while extensive restoration work takes place on the Pickle. There’s also an added reason for trying to turn his idea of a visitor attraction project into reality.
“I’m 67 and I’m not getting any younger,” he says. “I’ve had a few serious health issues recently and they have really been a tap on the shoulder. To be honest, the last couple of years have been a nightmare for me, healthwise.
‘BEAUTIFUL’: Mal Nicholson overseeing delivery of a 300-year-old chunk of hand-cut oak
“I’ve always been able to fund everything I’ve done in the past but it’s getting very expensive so I want to make it all sustainable in case something happens to me.
“I really want it to continue as a legacy if I’m not around.”
As a result, a community interest company has been formed as a vehicle to oversee the project as it develops while a team of volunteers continues to work on the two vessels.
“Time is ticking on so this needs to be done now,” says Mal. “Ideally, I would like to see everything in safe hands for the foreseeable future.”