St. Andrews Memorial to Lost Trawlermen
OCTOBER 2019
The Environment Agency has now completed their work on the flood defence wall along the River Humber front up to where
the site on which the St Andrews Memorial to Lost Trawlermen is located on St. Andrews Retail Park.
In order to allow the EA to carry out their work and with particular regard for health and safety, the focal point figures of trawlermen were temporarily removed and placed in secure storage whilst the flood defence work was completed. The series of photographs shown below explains how the work was carried out. The photos show the figures being removed by a local company, W. Campbells Engineering Ltd and by the construction company, BAM Nuttall.
When the flood defence work is completed on the site, STAND’s Memorial Project will progress. At this point, the focal point figures will be replaced within an elevated ship’s bow shape at the East end of the design. ** Photos of the ‘bow shape’ can now be seen further down this report.
OCTOBER 2019 – AUGUST 2020
Working on the Flood Defence Wall at the Memorial site
The commissioning of a Memorial to Lost Trawlermen has been difficult and at times fraught with disappointment.
The photographs below show the work undertaken by the Environment Agency to prevent flooding of the Humber Frontage, businesses and residences.
The ‘bow shaped’ wall and stairs were completed in July 2020 so now will begin the process to construct the St Andrews Lost Trawlermen’s Memorial within the scheme; this work being commissioned by STAND.
The figures, removed early October 2019 and placed in temporary storage,will be replaced as part of the final stage of the Memorial Project.
STAND would like to thank KHCC and the Environment Agency for their support, and local businesses and the generosity of the general public who are funding this fitting tribute to those lost to the sea.
NOTE:
With the pandemic Coronavirus Covid 19 currently sweeping the world including the United Kingdom and restrictions in place, the start – completion period for the construction of the Memorial cannot be determined with any certainty at this time.
23rd October 2019
This photo shows the Environment Agency Flood Defence Wall foundations complete
JULY 2020
The Environment Agency complete the ‘bow’ shape of the integrated Flood Defence Wall
August 2020: The Environment Agency fill gravel around the ‘bow shape’ flood defence wall
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LATEST UPDATE REGARDING MEMORIAL PROJECT LEASE
SEPTEMBER 2020
To all supporters of STAND’s St. Andrews Memorial to Lost Trawlermen Project, we wish to convey positive confirmation regarding progress.
For many months protracted legal negotiations with the landowners of St. Andrews Retail Park (the location of the Memorial site) and Kingston upon Hull City Council have taken place in order to obtain an extended thirty year lease agreement. This has been a difficult time waiting for completion of the lease but STAND can finally and thankfully report that a thirty year lease has now been obtained.
Other delays to the commencement of the Project have also been the essential flood defence work on the Memorial site, undertaken by the Environment Agency, which include features allowing the integration of the Memorial plans.
*There are photos above of the flood defence ‘bow shaped’ wall and exit staircase.
Also, the restrictions relating to the Covid-19 pandemic have resulted in delays by key people not being able to work at their normal place of work and, although working from home provided some progress, delays were inevitable.
Now this vital stage has been reached, STAND have reached an agreement with our local Project Managers, City Care who are in negotiations with Kingston upon Hull City Council to award contracts through the Council’s procurement system in order to begin planning the construction phase. This will involve a tendering process and awarding of specific contracts.
City Care are a Project Management Consultancy Service, managing construction projects from the initial concept through to construction completion, with the added benefit of facilities management knowledge at front of mind. Their policy statement reads ‘wherever we build, irrespective of the scheme’s size, we focus on employing local companies and local people. This way, we engage respectfully with the end users of the facility from the earliest possible moment and help to leave a positive community legacy’.
Once construction begins regular updates on progress, stage by stage, will be promulgated. Once on site, construction is expected to take between 12 and 20 weeks; however, this timescale is inevitably subject to the approaching seasonal weather conditions and how long any Covid-19 restrictions will cause delays.
NOVEMBER 2020
The photos below show further progress by the Environment Agency of the St Andrews Retail Park Memorial site.
The bow shape of the flood defence wall can be clearly seen, ready for construction to begin within its walls.
The walkway and the staircase with railings has now been completed.
August 2022
An Update: STAND’s Memorial to Lost Trawlermen on St Andrew’s Retail Park
Recently there have been a number of enquiries relating to the STAND Memorial to Lost Trawlermen asking about the status of the Project and questioning why the focal point figures were removed, where they are now and when will they be reinstalled on the St. Andrews Quay site.
In Feb 2017 STAND commissioned the trawlermen figures which were installed as Phase One: the Ceremonial Space of a two part Project. At this time there was no information from the Environment Agency that an intended flood defence wall was to be erected which would transit the Memorial site.
The EA then made it known that their work would extend over the Humber frontage from Paull to Hessle and would include St. Andrews Retail Park meaning that the Memorial site had to be cleared for this important flood defence work to take place.
This meant that all work on the Memorial Project had to cease and as a result, and at additional cost, STAND had to remove and store the figures throughout the period of the EA’s work.
During this period the original Lease of the Memorial site land expired and had to be renegotiated. This was a protracted process that again cost STAND funds and meant loss of time.
These delays were exaggerated by the Covid-19 pandemic which initially brought the Project to a standstill. The consequences of the virus has caused materials and labour cost to rise leading to further delays and a review of costing the Project.
The current situation is that the planned work for Phase 2 of the Project, including the re-location of the focal point figures of the trawlermen, is imminent with the appointment of a contractor. Landscaping and the addition of other features which complement the Memorial figures will complete the site. This work is scheduled to begin in September 2022.
STAND are as frustrated as anyone that the timeframe has been affected by so many variables but with the recent assistance from other stakeholders we are looking for the Memorial to be completed before the year end. This would mean the site being available for our City’s Annual Service to Lost Trawlermen which will be held on its civic calendar date of the last Sunday in January 2023.
We thank the community for their patience and support during what has been two years of extremely difficult times.
Ron Wilkinson – STAND Chairman
FEBRUARY 2023 UPDATE
Delivery of the Memorial Project has been a protracted process taking much longer than we all had anticipated. After a number of false starts and unexpected obstacles, key tasks have now been completed including the following:-
- The Memorial landscaped design is now agreed
Amendments have been made to both the entrance and interpretation wall to the west of the site. Peter Naylor, local artist who designed the corten steel trawlermen figures that form the focal piece of the Memorial, has also designed the entrance and interpretation wall. These are very much in keeping with the figures and the overall design concept of the Memorial. Both these features will be manufactured by Campbells, a Hull company who constructed the original figures.
The photos on the interpretation wall will be printed by local company, MRN Digiprint. Thank you to Peter, Brian Campbell and Andy Turner(MRN) for all your ongoing patience and support.
- The Memorial Garden is now fully costed and funded
There have been significant cost increases in materials over the last year. STAND is delighted and not a little relieved to confirm that a fixed price has now been agreed which is within the funds raised. Again, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has and continues to support STAND throughout our Memorial Project – to the generosity of local private sponsors, Hull City Council and above all, the people of Hull and beyond.
- Contracts have been signed appointing Wrights, a local contractor to build the Memorial
Orders have been placed with suppliers. Once those materials have been delivered over the coming weeks, Wrights will be in a position to make an immediate start on site.
Like everyone else, STAND is keen to see the commencement of construction works as soon as possible. Citycare, the Memorial Project’s locally based Project Managers, have worked hard to complete the practical tasks that needed to be done to make construction of the Memorial happen. Our thanks to all at Citycare. Subject to there not being any delays in delivery of materials, works are programmed to start early April with completion by early July 2023.
Finally, STAND can confirm the Yorkshire Maritime City Project has approved a community grant to fund three information boards to be positioned throughout the Memorial site. These boards will provide text and images which will document the loss of men at sea; a brief history of St Andrew’s Dock and the role of the local community to secure safety improvements at sea. The frames for the boards have been designed by Peter Naylor and will be constructed by Campbells.
Further updates will be issued as significant events happen.