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Hull remembers 36 trawlermen lost at sea

Leanne Brown,in Hulland
Eleanor Maslin,East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
News imageBBC A man is smiling and looking to the side, wearing a navy cap with a yellow logo and a navy jumper, with a yellow logo that says 'Hull Fishing' at the top, with a white shirt underneath. The background is blurred but you can see the corner of a street with cars parked, and to the left people can be seen congregating behind a placard. BBC
Jerry Thompson, from Hull Fishing Heritage Centre, says recent services to remember the lost trawlermen have been well attended

A memorial service has been held in Hull for 36 trawlermen who died at sea more than 50 years ago.

The Gaul ship sank in the Barents Sea, off Norway, on 8 February, 1974, claiming the lives of 30 trawlermen from Hull and six from North Shields.

At the time, it was described as the worst ever single-trawler tragedy.

Jerry Thompson, from The Hull Fishing Heritage Centre, which held the event, said: "Although we are in the midst of winter, people brave it out of respect and their duty to come."

News imagePA Media A black and white image showing a large trawler. The vessel is berthed. The upper deck is white, with the hull painted in a dark colour. PA Media
The Gaul sank in heavy seas in February 1974

The service was one of four held in the past few weeks to remember dozens of men lost on the trawlers St Romanus, Lorella, Kingston Peridot, Roderigo, Ross Cleveland and Gaul.

During the service, which was held at 11:00 GMT on the junction of Hessle Road and Boulevard, several people gathered for a minute's silence and the Gaul's bell was rung.

Names were also read out of the men who had lost their lives and wreaths were laid by families.

'Memories always stay'

Thompson described the sinking of the Gaul as "a great big disaster for any community", and said it "brought Hessle Road to its knees".

He said: "When you lose somebody at sea you've got no grave.

"It's nice when you can lay flowers and get to know the families through men lost on the same ship.

"It's a great gathering and it's consoling yourself with other people who have lost a family member."

During a speech at the service, Thompson reflected on people he had lost at sea.

He said: "Times pass, but the memories always stay. I lost a great friend on the Gaul, identical age as myself.

"That lad once said to me I was his hero."

Addressing the crowd, Emma Hardy, MP for Hull West and Haltemprice, said: "Thank you for standing strong as a community that will never forget the sacrifice of these great people."

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