‘Forever grateful’: Memorial garden to lost trawlermen gets go ahead after council pledges extra £25,000

PLANS: Ron Wilkinson, chair of fishing heritage group STAND, left, with city council leader Mike Ross

By Simon Bristow

A memorial garden to Hull’s lost trawlermen is to be created on St Andrew’s Quay thanks to additional funding from Hull City Council.

The garden - which will feature a reinstated sculpture by artist Peter Naylor - is intended as a permanent memorial to the 6,000 men and boys who lost their lives while fishing from Hull to put food on the nation’s tables.

The original installation on St Andrew’s Quay was removed to storage in 2019 to make way for a major programme of flood defence enhancement along the riverbank by the Environment Agency.

Fishing heritage group STAND has raised about £220,000 towards the cost of the scheme, which includes a previous contribution from the council of £40,000 in 2008. The authority has now pledged an additional £25,000, as well as leasing the land on behalf the charity, so the plans can progress.

The sculpture, which depicts the crew of a trawler, will be placed within the landscaped garden.

LOCATION: Artist Peter Naylor, second left, with city council leader Mike Ross, fourth from left, and STAND committee members at St Andrew’s Quay

Councillor Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “The council has been working closely with STAND as we recognise the importance of this memorial. Our fishing heritage is so incredibly important to the city, and it is vital we remember the thousands of fishermen who sailed from Hull and lost their life at sea to provide fish for the city and beyond.

“They paid the ultimate sacrifice, and this memorial will give families a place to remember their loved ones.”

Ron Wilkinson, Chair of STAND, said: “STAND thanks Councillor Ross, Leader of Kingston upon Hull City Council, and his team for this most generous donation to STAND’s Lost Trawlermen’s Memorial Fund. 

“Their financial and administrative support has played a vital role in bringing to fruition what has been a long and extremely challenging project. Our charity, and I believe the relatives of the men and boys who gave their lives, will be forever grateful.”

Hull Maritime, the project transforming some of the city’s maritime treasures has also awarded STAND £1.500 to install information boards, through the community grants scheme.

The council plans to enter into a works contract on behalf of the charity, which it said will go out to tender shortly. Work is expected to start on site later this year.