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Mural honours 'brave' fishermen who swept seas

Lara Kingin Grimsby
News imageBBC/Lara King The side of a large house-shaped building painted with a colourful mural. It depicts a black and brown trawler called Lifeguard in rough seas. Floating in the sea are round black mines with nodules and chains. Bombers fly in the sky and searchlights rise from land, to either side of a tall dock tower. Three men in naval uniform salute as they look out from the painting. A large red poppy is painted next to the name of the mural, "A Tribute to Those that Swept the Seas 1914 to 1945". A black sign can also be seen with the words National Reserve Club, members only, in white lettering.BBC/Lara King
The mural pays tribute to fishermen who became minesweepers

A mural has been painted in tribute to trawlermen who helped clear mines during two world wars.

"A Tribute to Those that Swept the Seas" has been created on the side of the National Reserves club in Grimsby.

The town was a key base for minesweeping in and around the Humber estuary and many of the sailors who volunteered were fishermen in peacetime.

Steve Austin, the chairman of the club, said: "I didn't know much about this history until I read about it. They were so brave, some of the things they did was unbelievable."

News imageBBC/Lara King Man with short grey hair wearing a pale blue hoodie standing in front of a mural which is painted on the side of a wall. The wall is orange and grey and has part of a painted red poppy with the words: "Paint the town proud 2025". BBC/Lara King
Steve Austin says he is very proud of the mural

He added: "We have a few members in here and their grandads actually served on these minesweepers."

The mural is part of the Grimsby's "Paint The Town Proud" initiative.

It pays tribute to those who served and died in the Royal Naval Patrol Service during World War One and World War Two.

At the heart of the painting is the trawler Lifeguard, which has close links with the club, according to organisers.

A group of artists came together to create the mural, including Justin Fancourt, Kathleen Smith and representatives from Nomad Studio, Creative Start CIC, Dogma_art and Stakes ink.

Mr Austin said revealing the artwork was an "amazing" moment.

"I love it and it really means something."

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