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City to remember its 6,000 lost trawlermen

Kevin ShoesmithEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
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
Services will remember 6,000 trawlermen from Hull who died at sea, including those on the Gaul, which sank in heavy seas in February 1974

Hull's estimated 6,000 lost trawlermen will be remembered during services this winter.

Fishing heritage group Stand said its 37th annual Lost Trawlerman's Day service would be held at noon on Sunday 25 January at St John the Baptist Church, St George's Road.

Chair Ruth Creasey said: "It is so important to remember the losses of so many Hull trawlermen to the sea - men who were carrying out their everyday job to put fish on our plates."

Meanwhile, Jerry Thompson, from The Hull Fishing Heritage Centre, said four services would be held over the coming weeks to remember dozens of men lost on the trawlers St Romanus, Lorella, Kingston Peridot, Roderigo, Ross Cleveland and Gaul.

News imageKevin Shoesmith/BBC Jerry Thompson - a man in his 60s - wearing a navy sweatshirt and black baseball cap is standing next to a life ring displaying the name of the trawler Ian Fleming Hull.Kevin Shoesmith/BBC
Jerry Thompson was on the Hull trawler Ian Fleming that ran aground off the north Norwegian coast on Christmas Day 1973

Creasey added: "We look forward to welcoming the community - families, friends, shipmates and visitors - to the service again.

"It is always a poignant time to stand side by side in remembrance."

In previous years, services have focussed on key disasters, such as the 1968 Triple Trawler Disaster.

Creasey said: "This year we are especially remembering all single losses of trawlermen - those who make up the over 6,000 losses."

Thompson, from The Fishing Heritage Centre in Hessle Road, said the following services - all starting at 11:00 GMT, near Boulevard - would reflect the following losses:

  • Sunday 11 January (St Romanus)
  • Monday 26 January (Lorella, Kingston Peridot and Roderigo)
  • Thursday 5 February (Ross Cleveland)
  • Sunday 8 February (Gaul)

In 1973, Thompson - then aged 17 - was on the Hull trawler Ian Fleming that ran aground off the north Norwegian coast on Christmas Day. Three of his crewmates died.

He said: "I thought I was going to die that day.

"Over the years, I lost five members of my family on trawlers. The fishing industry made Hull a great port. It is really important we remember those who lost their lives."

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